Courtside seats may get you quicker consults
Certain Boston Celtics season ticket holders will pick up concierge access to New England Baptist Hospital doctors along with their courtside seats, the Boston Herald reports today.
Courtside Club members will now be able to call a special number at the hospital to speak to a nurse who can coordinate their care, perhaps with the same personnel who treat the Celtics, the story says. The hospital is known for its orthopedic services, including surgery performed by Dr. Brian McKeon on Celtics star Kevin Garnett's knee. New England Baptist has been the Celtics' official hospital for 23 years.
That begs the question about another hospital-team relationship.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox, but as with all teams, players are free to see doctors elsewhere, including Red Sox medical director Dr. Thomas Gill of Massachusetts General Hospital. Beth Israel Deaconess has a presence at Fenway Park, providing first-aid in the park and supporting the Red Sox Scholars program in the community.
Would Beth Israel Deaconess offer Red Sox season ticket holders anything like Courtside Club access to its doctors?
"This is not something that we're considering," hospital spokesperson Judy Glasser said in an interview. "The goal is to give everyone the same level of access and quality care."
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BIDMC pays to be the official hospital of the fans not the players! Not the same as the Baptist. I have called the Baptist on a number of times for myself and family members and have always had access to the same specialists as the professional athletes. They treat everyone the same. By the way isn't the Baptist and BIDMC part of the same healthcare system... CareGroup? Hmmm.... now that's a way to be a teamplayer Judy!
Isn't this the way it works anyway? You have more money you get 'concierge service' from your health care. If you don't , you wait in the emergency room for 12 hours.
This is outrageous. And what an inappropriate time for the HOSPITAL to peddle better access for the rich. Pay $1200 a ticket and get priority coordinated access. Buy a Balcony seat and wait for hours in the ER waiting room......Maybe I'll support Single Payer despite my reservations. The Boston Celtics and New England Baptist just pushed me in that direction.
Comment #2 nailed it dead on.
The greed in big time sports-both college and pro- along with same greed in the health care "system", make it a marriage made in you know where.
And, is any one else absolutely sick of the "official donut of the Boston Red Sox", or "the official pen of the New England Patriots", or the "official donkey of the Boston Celtics". What's next, the "official condom of the Boston Bruins"
I understand that these "brands" are paying money to these teams for the tie-in, but enough is enough. What. exactly, does official mean, other than you were paid to mention my name.
How about " ---------, the official automobile of armored car robbery getaway drivers everywhere"
This is deplorable. What lengths the Baptist will go to to toot their own horn. To NEBH: thanks for taking us "common folk's" care so seriously. We know where we stand - at the back of the line.
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