Children's Hospital Boston Endorsement

One of the largest paediatric medical centres in the United States, the Children's Hospital Boston (CHB), is supporting the Nightingale Declaration Campaign.

Karen Hinsley (centre) and Mary Eisenhaur, both nurses from the Cardiovascular Program at CHB, with patient Lisa and her father in Kumasi, Ghana.	CHB responds swiftly to help victims of natural disasters: Michele Morin, MSN, administers a vaccine during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The centre is also an internationally renowned paediatric hospital that provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care. Every year, CHB cares for thousands of patients coming from over 150 countries, providing personalized assistance, including medical and non-medical services. Nurses play a critical role in surgical teams from CHB, which  undertake regular missions to developing countries to provide healthcare and expertise.

Eileen M. Sporing: Senior Vice President for Patient Care Operations and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at CHB:
"To be involved in the worldwide Nightingale Declaration Campaign is a natural extension of the ability and desire of CHB nurses to create alliances and partnerships with others who intend to and who are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others, especially children, around the world."

In her statement of support, Eileen M. Sporing, MSN, RN, CNAA, BC, senior vice president for Patient Care Operations and chief nursing officer (CNO) at CHB states:

"Essential to nursing at Children’s Hospital Boston (CHB) is the partnership between our expert nurses and the children and families who we provide care to. Finding out how children and their families want to be cared for and involving them in decision making is the foundation of our nursing practice.

"So to be involved in the worldwide Nightingale Declaration Campaign is a natural extension of the ability and desire of CHB nurses to create alliances and partnerships with others who intend to and who are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others, especially children, around the world.  CHB is proud to join the worldwide Nightingale Declaration Campaign and to continue in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale."

CHB’s vision is to be a worldwide leader in improving children’s healthcare. In support of this vision, CHB strives to be a leading source of research and discovery, seeking new approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood diseases, educating the next generation of leaders in child health and enhancing the health and well-being of the children and families in our local community.

The history of CHB is rich and diverse. In 1869, shortly after the end of the American Civil War, Dr. Francis Henry Brown organized a small group of physicians and civic leaders in the Boston area and established a 20-bed hospital in a town house in Boston’s South End neighbourhood, which was dedicated to the care of children.

The hospital continued to grow in size over the past 138 years and now consists of 397 inpatient beds at the main hospital campus which is located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston and as well as supporting four satellite facilities out in the surrounding communities.

CHB has been recognized by others for its care and its work environment. It has ranked first or second in paediatrics in all 17 years of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list and second in all four years of Child magazine’s annual ranking of hospitals. In April 2007, it was named one of the “100 Most Wired” hospitals by Hospitals & Health Networks, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

The “Most Wired” distinction recognizes hospitals and health systems that make the most use of information technology in five areas: safety and quality, customer service, public health, business operations and workforce training and performance evaluation.

CHB’s core values of excellence, sensitivity, leadership and community serve as guideposts for CHB staff and employees.

CHB's International Health Services aims to bridge its staff with their colleagues around the world to share their expertise and work collaboratively to improve the global health of children. CHB's global outreach programs include: telemedicine and second opinions; webcasts; residencies and fellowships; observerships; hospital tours and online newsletters. Recently, CHB helped an  immigrant family from Guatemala to get health insurance and safe transportation for a little girl with cancer .

CHB has been awarded Magnet status, an exclusive designation developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to recognize health care organizations that exemplify nursing excellence.

CHB is a Gold Sponsor of the Nightingale Declaration Campaign.