Dear Friends, 

We have always cherished the difference you make in the health of the adults and children we serve through your generous and thoughtful support. We know that choosing to help an organization with a charitable gift is also a cherished experience, and we are eternally grateful for the support you have offered to Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children’s Hospital. 

As you have likely heard in the news, and perhaps from friends, changes are underway at Tufts Children’s Hospital. With the health care landscape ever-changing, including here at Tufts Medical Center where we have seen major changes in the health care needs of our communities, we have come to an important but difficult decision. Pending regulatory approval, we plan to transition our pediatric inpatient services to Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) effective on or about July 1, 2022. 

This decision is largely due to two competing needs: the treatment of seriously ill children has, and will continue to, become increasingly intricate requiring even more focused systems of highly specialized care. At the same time, the number of adults needing complex care has risen dramatically. Through this new collaboration with BCH, we will together be able to help more pediatric and adult patients with advanced diseases and injuries than we are treating today.

Our 40-bed, Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will remain in operation. We will also continue our pediatric primary care services, including the Pediatric and Adolescent Asian Clinic, an important resource for our Chinatown neighbors. In addition, the Center for Children with Special Needs will remain. We are talking with Boston Children’s Hospital about a thoughtful plan for collaboration in the delivery of pediatric ambulatory specialty services.

We recognize that this change is bittersweet news for many people – our patients and their families, both from the past and from today; our devoted caregivers and employees; our local community; and dedicated friends like you who give so much of yourselves in supporting the work of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children’s Hospital. Please know that you continue to make a tremendous impact on our efforts, and that every donation you so generously give plays a direct role in our ability to save and improve the lives of the patients and families we have the privilege to serve. 

With its origins as Floating Hospital, the hospital ship that sailed on Boston Harbor beginning in 1894, coming to land in 1927, Tufts Children’s Hospital has long meant a great deal to members of our community. We invite you to tell us your memories of Floating Hospital for Children and Tufts Children’s Hospital, which we will share with our caregivers, who would love to hear about your experiences, both past and more recent. Please use this link to send us your stories.

I invite you to reach out if you have any questions or if you would like to learn more about what the future holds for us here at Tufts Medical Center. I can be reached anytime at 617-636-2278 (office) or treed1@tuftsmedicalcenter.org. 

As always, thank you for your friendship to the patients and caregivers of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children’s Hospital.

My very best,

Tiffany E. Reed
Interim Vice President, Chief Development Officer