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Spotlight: Preparations for the DNC

s Boston braces itself for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which rolls into town July 26 to 29, hospitals in and around the Longwood Medical Area (LMA), including Children’s Hospital Boston, are preparing for impacts to patients, families and employees.

Children’s has convened a DNC planning committee to look at several issues that may arise from the four-day national political conference. “It’s likely that most patient families and employees will be affected by the upcoming convention,” says Patricia Hickey, RN, MS, MBA, vice president of Cardiovascular and Critical Care Services, who is on the committee. “However, the hospital has extensive planning efforts in place and will remain open and operational throughout the DNC.”

Traveling to and from the LMA is anticipated to be the biggest challenge during the DNC, so, Children’s has been working on a number of commuting options for patients, families and employees.

The Parking and Transportation Office is collaborating with the Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization, Inc. (MASCO) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to gather
up-to-date information regarding road closures and public transportation changes affecting the LMA. As an alternative for employees who typically drive to the hospital, Parking and Transportation has also procured three-day and multi-ride MBTA passes, as well as single-ride tokens for staff to purchase should they decide to use public transportation during the DNC.

“The convention will cause a lot of extra traffic that will affect all forms of travel, from the T to the roadways,” says Susan Richelson, director of Parking and Transportation. “We’re doing everything we can to help make commuting as stress-free as possible for patient families and our employees.”

Should traveling to the hospital not be feasible, Patient Services and the Center for Families are teaming up with Emmanuel College to offer lodging options during the convention. A block of 50 dorm rooms will be available at a cost of $25 per night to families and at no cost to staff. Employees should contact Lisa Kendrick in Patient Services at ext. 5-6048 to reserve rooms.

For patient family rooms, staff should call Cynthia Levin, in the Center for Families
at ext. 5-6134. “For patient families and employees who just can’t battle the traffic problems from the DNC, our partnership with Emmanuel College will provide another option,” says Levin.

Children’s has developed a Web page to provide the latest travel information and commuting alternatives—including road closures, public transportation changes, area maps and lodging options. It can be accessed via links on the hospital’s internal and external Web sites. Information will also be available in handout form at the reception desk in the main lobby of the hospital. Staff can obtain handouts on shuttle buses and at shuttle stops as well.

“The DNC will create some interesting challenges for the hospital,” says Gary Vassar, director of Human Resources. “We feel convention week is best viewed as a major snowstorm—an inconvenience but eminently manageable if we plan carefully and well ahead.”