Tufts MC continues a tradition of health care innovation, education, and treatment
Tufts Medical Center has long been a household name in national health care. Founded in 1796 by trailblazing American patriots, including Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, Tufts MC is one of the oldest permanent medical facilities in the country—and one of the most internationally renowned. An academic medical center and teaching hospital, we're globally known for groundbreaking bench research, clinical trials and developments in health policy. But locally, Tufts MC is also acknowledged for the compassion with which our staff administers care to our patients and the region as a whole through a network of 1,600 affiliated physicians. And the ongoing pandemic has only emphasized the Tufts MC's critical role in the community.
Even before COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., Tufts MC was well-trained and ready for any health emergency that could hit. The sickest patients in the region turn to Tufts MC and Tufts Children’s Hospital. Throughout the pandemic, we took every precaution to ensure the highest quality and safety, for our patients, families, employees and community. This meant not only bolstering the already thorough cleaning and disinfecting practices in our facilities and boosting personal protection for our staff and patients, but keeping the public informed, offering COVID-19 testing and opening a regional vaccine site. Tufts MC and Tufts Children’s Hospital have been committed to not only providing top-quality care to patients dealing with this disease, but to educating members of the community about the importance of seeking care for other medical issues and symptoms that require fast hospital attention.
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We’ve taken steps to ensure you are safe with us.
All patients and employees coming into the Medical Center will be provided with a mask to wear while they are here
All patients will be asked about possible COVID-19 symptoms before making an appointment and again upon arrival.
Visitors and guests will continue to be limited
Our clinical spaces have been upgraded with plexiglass barriers at check-in, and waiting areas have been set up to ensure proper distancing between chairs
Our environmental services staff is using advanced technology and the highest grade cleaners to disinfect areas frequently
Floor decals will be placed six feet apart throughout the Medical Center to remind everyone of social distancing
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Staying calm and strong
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Some helpful tips to keep you and your family well
Infographic on How to Wear
a Mask
Some tips for wearing and removing face masks
Safe with Us and Bob
Watch as Bob shares why you are Safe with Us while visiting our Tufts Children's Hospital
COVID-19, Flu or Cold?
Watch as Dr. Huang explains how you can tell the difference
Acne from Mask Wearing
Dr. Moustafa offers seven tips to prevent pimples, dryness and other signs of maskne
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Care Close to Home
1796
1803
1814
1873
1883
1886
1894
1899
1911
Innovations and Milestones
The Boston Dispensary is established as the first permanent medical facility in New England and the third in the United States
First public health vaccination campaign for smallpox began
The Boston Dispensary became the first medical facility to assign nurses to needy patients
The first dental clinic in the country for the poor was established
The first U.S. scientific use of Swedish massage and the beginnings of rehabilitative medicine begins at the Boston Dispensary
The first Visiting Nurse Association established
Floating Hospital for Children (now Tufts Children’s Hospital) was founded on a ship, where doctors’ believed the sea air of Boston Harbor would help the sick kids get well
The Boston Dispensary opens the first U.S. lung clinic
Floating Hospital
(now Tufts Children’s) started hospital-based human milk collection for sick babies
1918
1919
1927
1929
1930
1938
1947
An artificial milk product is invented at Tufts Children’s Hospital, that is later successfully marketed as Similac
The Boston Dispensary opened the first nutrition clinic of its kind in the world
Modern diagnostic test for syphilis discovered at the Boston Dispensary
The Boston Dispensary begins an affiliation with Tufts Children’s Hospital and Tufts University School of Medicine
The world’s first experiment in group psychotherapy takes place at the Boston Dispensary
100-bed Pratt Clinic, the largest diagnostic clinic in the world, is constructed at the Boston Dispensary
First children’s playroom established to apply recreational therapy
Maurice Raben, MD a pediatric endocrinologist at Tufts Children’s Hospital purified hormones from human pituitary glands to create the first growth hormone treatment
1958
Immunosuppression therapy is developed to aid in successful organ transplants
1963
1965
1981
1987
1992
1997
2007
2008
2014
The first neighborhood health center is founded by Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston’s Columbia Point housing project
The Family Participation Unit is established at Tufts Children’s Hospital, allowing parents to stay overnight with their children
The world’s first pediatric trauma center established at Tufts Children’s Hospital
Staff at Tufts MC create the practice of case management, the first hospital to do so
The first, full-service private teaching hospital in Boston is created with the addition of a maternity service
Neely House is established; first-of-its-kind bed and breakfast-style home within the hospital to host cancer patients and their families
Paul Pierce Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery is established with funds from Boston Celtics great, Paul Pierce
Tufts-New England Medical Center is re-named Tufts Medical Center
Tufts MC becomes founding member of Wellforce system
Rooftop helipad opened for pediatric and adult Medflight patients
Tufts Medical Center/ Tufts Children’s Hospital
Tufts Medical Center is a 415-bed academic medical center, providing everything from routine and emergency care to the members of our Boston neighborhood to treating the most complex diseases and injuries affecting adults and children throughout New England. As part of a broad health system, we work to provide the very best care to all people in need, keeping care in their community when possible.
800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
617-636-5000 | tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Cape Cod Hospital
Tufts Children's Hospital is proud to provide inpatient pediatric support and neonatology expertise at Cape Cod Hospital, providing the very best care for sick children and babies on the Cape.
27 Park St, Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 771-1800 | capecodhealth.org
Signature Healthcare Brockton
Tufts Children's Hospital has teamed up with Signature Healthcare - Brockton to bring around-the-clock, expert inpatient pediatric and neonatal care. A nearby pediatric outpatient clinic supports ongoing wellness care for this Southeastern Massachusetts community.
680 Centre St, Brockton, MA 02302
(508) 941-7000 | signature-healthcare.org
MetroWest Medical Center (Framingham)
If you are having a family in the MetroWest region, rest assured the very best care is available for children who need medical care. Working with MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, pediatric specialists from Tufts Children's Hospital care for children admitted to the hospital and our expert neonatal team provides support for babies born early or with issues.
115 Lincoln St, Framingham, MA 01702
(508) 383-1000 | mwmc.com
Lawrence Memorial Hospital (Medford)
From urgent care, to diabetes care and travel health services, are provided at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, part of MelroseWakefield Healthcare. Tufts Medical Center is proud to be a partner with MelroseWakefield Healthcare.
170 Governors Ave, Medford, MA 02155
(781) 306-6000 | melrosewakefield.org
MelroseWakefield Hospital
MelroseWakefield Healthcare, formerly Hallmark Heath, which includes MelroseWakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, works closely with Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children's Hospital. This partnership enhances the services at facilities and brings academic medical center specialists to the communities directly north of Boston.
585 Lebanon St, Melrose, MA 02176
(781) 979-3000 | melrosewakefield.org
Lowell General Hospital
Tufts Medial Center and Tufts Children's Hospital have teamed up with Lowell General Hospital to bring world-class specialty care right to your doorstep in the Merrimack Valley. So rather than traveling into Boston for medical appointments, you and your family can stay right where you are, and still receive the advanced care provided by an Academic Medical Center.
295 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 937-6000 | lowellgeneral.org
Lawrence General Hospital
Tufts Children’s Hospital and Lawrence General formed a clinical affiliation in 2010. Since then, we’ve collaborated to expand the range of pediatric services and specialties available in Lawrence. Now, pediatricians from Tufts Children’s Hospital are onsite at Lawrence General providing inpatient pediatrics and neonatology expertise should you need it. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for your family.
1 General St, Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 683-4000 | lawrencegeneral.org
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Tufts Medical Center is proud to work with these health care providers across Eastern Massachusetts
Click on dates on the timeline below to learn about the rich history of Tufts Medical Center.
Tufts Children's - Woburn
Tufts Children's Hospital provides a full list of pediatric specialty services at our office in Woburn.
Seeing top physicians close to home has never been easier.
Baldwin Park II 7 Alfred Street,
Suite 300 A Woburn, MA 01801
781-897-0240 | tuftschildrenshos…ialty-centers/woburn
Tufts Children's - Chelmsford
Tufts Children's Hospital provides a number of specialty services for children and teens so you can get the best specialists close to home.
20 Research Place, #210 Chelmsford, MA 01863
978-937-6362 | tuftschildrenshos…istings%20Management
Staying calm and strong
As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation, we are faced with uncertain times ahead. Schools are going remote, college students may be living at home, and most non-essential employees are continuing to work from home. Though we’re already longing for social distancing to end, it’s important to remain calm and try to keep a clear head during these trying times. Here are some helpful tips to keep yourself and your family well.
Don’t Forget To Exercise
With many gyms and boutique fitness studios temporarily closing their doors and sports not in session at school, it’s important to maintain some sort of exercise regime– even in your own home. Staying active will help to give your immune system a boost, and not to mention it’s a good activity to pass the time.
Peloton is offering new users a 90-day free trial of streamed fitness classes. Users can choose various workouts from yoga to strength training. The best part? Many classes do not require a Peloton bike or treadmill. Some are even appropriate to do with your children if you are looking for an activity for them as well.
The Nike Run Club app is a free way for novice or seasoned runners to maintain their miles. And as the weather turns nicer, it’s an excuse to get outside for a short period of time (experts say that running outdoors on your own or with a few others at a healthy distance is safe). The app also tracks your distance and helps to ensure you’re still getting those daily steps in.
Keep it Cleaner, an Australian-based program, offers free workouts through their YouTube channel. Users can browse many options ranging from Pilates, yoga, and HIIT workouts, many of which require little to no equipment.
Cook Healthy Meals (That You Otherwise Wouldn’t Have Time To Make)
Temporary restaurant closures coupled with more time at home may mean we are forced to utilize the kitchen more than usual. Looking on the bright side, we should take advantage of this time, and seek recipes that may otherwise be too time consuming. Slow cookers and instant pots do the hard work for us. If you have one, put it to good use. Here is a helpful list of 50+ slow cooker recipes.
Other resources for easy, healthy cooking include:
Freezer meals to cook now and eat later
Utilize pantry staples like dry and canned goods
Take advantage of
live cooking classes with your favorite Food Network stars
Be Mindful Of Your Mental Health
People with and without anxiety are understandably feeling anxious, and witnessing other people worrying can heighten our own. Meditation can help you pass the time, while also effectively managing stress. There are hundreds of meditation apps available in the Android and App Store that can be useful for people of all ages.
Insight Timer is the #1 free meditation app, offering guided meditations and talks led by the world’s top meditation and mindfulness experts to help calm the mind, reduce stress, and improve happiness.
Headspace, one of the most popular meditation apps, offers hundreds of guided mediations focusing on everything from managing anxiety and stress, sleep, productivity, and even physical health. (7 day free trial, then $15/mo).
Stop, Breathe & Think is an award-winning meditation and mindfulness app will help you find peace anywhere. It offers 55+ short, guided meditations as well as yoga and acupressure videos. It even offers a version for kids! (Free for foundational meditations, plus two paid membership options ranging from $10-$12/mo).
The ideas/recommendations within this article are from Tufts Medical Center – this is not a paid advertisement.
The above content is provided for educational purposes by Tufts Medical Center. It is free for educational use.
For information about your own health, contact your physician.
Maskne- And other mask related skin issues
As we get ready to leave our homes for work, to run errands or to visit family, we grab our keys, our purse or wallet and of course, our mask. The onset of COVID-19 has many people wearing masks for a significant portion of the day, and dermatologists are beginning to see some irritating side effects.
“With the ongoing pandemic, we are noticing a lot of skin irritation and acne flare-ups due to mask wearing,” said Farah Moustafa, MD, FAAD, Director of Laser and Cosmetic Clinic in the Dermatology Department at Tufts Medical Center. “It’s likely the result of trapped oil, dirt, sweat and bacteria, combined with the friction caused by the mask itself for long periods of the day, a condition known as maskne.”
Dr. Moustafa offers seven tips to prevent maskne:
1. Wash Your Face Every Day
Now more than ever, you need a good routine and you need to stick with it, suggests Dr. Moustafa. “Use gentle cleansers on the skin and lukewarm water at the end of the day of mask wearing,” she says. “Avoid fragrances or any unnecessary ingredients which can worsen the irritation.” Dr. Moustafa says if you are acne prone, use face wash with active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide (in low concentrations <4%) or salicylic acid, but limit this to evening use before bed to avoid excessive irritation under your mask. Micellar water can be a great adjunct after face washing to get any residual dirt or oil left behind and is a gentle alternative to toners which often contain alcohol.
2. Avoid Wearing Makeup Under The Mask
Over the course of the day, makeup can combine with sweat and oil to worsen breakouts.
5. Spot Treatment
Use spot treatments directly on problem areas at night, when no mask is needed. Rinse in the morning. Ingredients such as retinols/retinoids can become even more irritating when worn under a mask so be mindful that you may actually need to limit their use instead of increasing use.
Posted October 2020
The above content is provided for general educational purposes by Tufts Medical Center. Unedited copies of the article may be copied and distributed for the purpose of educating the public. For information about your own health, contact your physician.
3. Avoid Too Much Product And New Products
They can spur on irritation that can be hard to control. Keep your routine simple and minimal.
4. Moisturize
Using a light moisturizer labelled as “non-comedogenic” actually helps provide a barrier between your skin and the mask. Again, choose gentle products and avoid fragrance. Gel-based moisturizers are good options for acne-prone skin. Other ingredients such as dimethicone and zinc oxide (found in sunscreen) can help provide and extra barrier between the skin and a mask.
6. Switch Mask Daily
If you are wearing a cloth mask, alternate them and wash after each use. Cotton masks are best for those who are acne-prone and silk masks works well for sensitive skin. Polyester and other synthetic materials are more likely to cause skin problems.
7. Other Conditions May Require Physician Consult
Dr. Moustafa notes that eczema, rosacea and other dermatologic conditions can also be worsened by mask wearing. She suggests seeing a board-certified dermatologist for the appropriate diagnosis and management.
Skin isn’t the only facial area that can be affected by masks – lips can also be a problem.
“Lots of mouth breathing makes for a dry mouth and dry lips under the mask,” says Dr. Moustafa. She recommends avoiding lip licking, however attempting and not using chapsticks or lip products with fragrances or color. “Using plain Vaseline or lanolin-based ointment (Aquaphor) daily before dawning the mask is your best bet. Reapply before bedtime for best results,” she says.
For an appointment with Dr. Moustafa,
call 617-636-0156.
By Rhonda Mann, Tufts Medical Center Staff
COVID-19 vs. Flu
Dealing with the novel coronavirus at the tail end of flu season, and in the thick of allergy season, has raised a lot of questions, concerns and confusion among people who think they may be affected. One of the most common questions the public has seen floating around in recent weeks since this whole thing started is: isn’t this disease a lot like the flu?
The quick answer? No.
Even though there are some overlapping symptoms, COVID-19 can cause more serious illness in some people.
This by no means should downplay the seriousness of the seasonal flu (it’s important to get vaccinated!), especially for the high risk population. Regardless, what are the major ways that COVID-19 differs from the seasonal flu?
Symptoms
Both COVID 19 and flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms that are similar such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, tiredness, sore throat, headache, and muscles aches. COVID 19 can cause symptoms, like loss of taste or smell, that influenza does not cause.
Learn more about the difference in symptoms between COVID 19 and flu
Transmission
The speed of transmission is a major point of difference between the two viruses. In general, the flu has a shorter incubation period (the time from infection to appearance of symptoms) with an average of 2 days. Recent research shows that COVID-19, however, has an incubation period of around 5 days but can be anywhere from 1-14 days.
According to data from China, experts estimate that each person infected with the novel coronavirus infects between 2-3 others, which is twice as high as the seasonal flu. It’s also important for people to keep in mind – especially those who are young and healthy – that the coronavirus can be transmitted to others even if you are not presenting any symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment options for COVID-19 and the flu are in general limited. While the flu has been around for 100+ years, this particular strain of the coronavirus was not even known to science prior to January 2020. The seasonal flu vaccine is widely available – and encouraged, and those infected with the flu are also sometimes prescribed an anti-viral medication to help with symptoms. Thanks to the hard work of many scientists we now have a safe and effective COVID 19 vaccine available in the US. If you are offered the COVID 19 vaccine we encourage you to get it.
If you think you have symptoms above please call your primary care doctor.
Updated February 2021
The above content is provided for educational purposes by Tufts Medical Center. It is free for educational use. For information about your own health, contact your physician.