Amenities, Hospital Resources and Services

ATMs

Automatic teller banking machines are located:

• on the first floor of the Tower Building next to the set of stairs off the main lobby;
• in the Ambulatory Services Building Cabot Atrium;
• on the second floor of the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center.

Chaplaincy Services – (617) 732-7480

Chaplains can offer support by providing prayer and conversation. They also can arrange sacraments and special rituals, such as:

• communion for Catholics who wish to receive the sacrament;
• kosher meals and Sabbath candles for Jewish patients;
• anointing for Catholic patients who desire the sacrament but who were unable to receive anointing in a local parish before coming to the hospital;
• prayer rugs in the chapel for Muslims;
• rituals for Hindus and Buddhists.

The hospital chapel is open 24 hours-a-day for prayer and contemplation, and chaplains offer brief interfaith mid-day services daily. Click this link for more information in the Chaplaincy website.

The chapel is just off the Schuster Lobby at the 75 Francis Street entrance, on the first floor by the Tower elevators.

Family and Visitor Areas

• The Robert and Ronnie Bretholtz Center for Patients and Families (617) 732-6636, provides support and information for family and friends. The Center also offers recreational items for patients to borrow including books, magazines, puzzles, games, and playing cards. The Center is located behind the 75 Francis Street information desk.
• Michele and Howard Kessler Health Education Library (617) 732-8103, located in the Bretholtz Center, provides patients and their families with up-to-date resources – including internet access – and staff support to better understand their health issues or those of a loved one.
• The Family Liaison/Waiting Area (617) 732-7440, located in the Bretholtz Center, is a comfortable waiting area for families and friends of patients undergoing surgery or other procedures. The staff in the Family Liaison area can provide you with up-to-date information on the patient in terms of progress of surgery, admission and other details. The staff keeps in contact with the surgeon and keeps track of the name and location of the people to be notified when the patient’s procedure is completed.
• The Shapiro Family Center (857) 307-1251, located on the second floor of the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center provides support and information for families and friends who are waiting for loved ones having a cardiovascular surgery or procedure.
• The Blum Patient/Family Resource Center (617) 632-5570, located off the main Lobby at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, provides information to Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center patients and their families on cancer care and support services, computers with internet access, and a lending library of books and videotapes.

Gift Shop and Flowers

Shop on the Pike - (617) 732-7445
Floral counter – (617) 732-7878
Shop on the Pike, located up the escalators from the 75 Francis Street Lobby on the second floor mezzanine, offers a full-service florist and a wide selection of merchandise including flowers, balloons, greeting cards, toys, logo apparel, magazines, and a huge selection of gifts for every occasion. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. Shop on the Pike is open weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and on weekends between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and you can order flowers by phone for patients in the hospital. Click here for more information and to visit the gift shop website.

Interpreter Services – (617) 732-6639

We are committed to communicating clearly and thoroughly with all patients about the care we provide. Informing your doctor in advance about your language or hearing needs will help make you more comfortable. If you need an interpreter while in the hospital, your nurse or doctor can arrange for this service at no cost for you.

Mail and Flowers

Mail and flowers are distributed daily to inpatients. Friends and family should address deliveries to:

(First and last name)
(Room number)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

Important Points:

• Certain patient areas – such as intensive care units and the bone marrow transplant unit – restrict flower delivery so check with the nursing staff before bringing or sending flowers to a patient.
• Medical oncology units completely prohibit flower delivery.
• Latex balloons are not permitted, but Mylar balloons are accepted.

Meals

Food Service provides room service to inpatients every day, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (617) 732-7120 to make an order, and the meal will be delivered within 45 minutes. For patients unable to place their own order, assistance will be provided.

All menu items are available throughout day. For patients on specially prescribed diets, a Food Service employee will review their meal order to assure that selections are appropriate. Any recommended modifications will be discussed with the patient. We are also happy to assist in meeting dietary requirements for patients with kosher, vegetarian, or gluten-free diets, or patients who have food allergies. If you have any questions about your food, the menu selection process or your special diet, please call (617) 732-7120 while in the hospital.

Meal times vary, but general times are:

Breakfast:

Tower: 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Connors Center: 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Shapiro Center: 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch:

Tower: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Connors Center: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Shapiro Center: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Dinner:

Tower: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Connors Center: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Shapiro Center: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Cafeteria

Food Services operates the Cafeteria and Café X-Press. They are both located on the second floor of the Patient Tower. For more information, please call extension 2-7461 while in the hospital.

Cafeteria Hours:
Monday through Friday
Breakfast/Morning: 6:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Snack/Dinner: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Late Night: 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday
Breakfast/Morning: 6:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Snack/Dinner: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Late Night: 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Café X-Press Hours (Weekdays Only):
Gourmet My Way: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Pizza and Grinders: 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Au Bon Pain

Privately operated, Au Bon Pain serves soup, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, specialty drinks, coffee and soft drinks. It is located in the Schuster Lobby at 75 Francis Street and is open 24 hours-a-day. The staff at Au Bon Pain can be reached at (617) 739-6860.

O’Naturals

Privately operated, O’Naturals focuses on using natural and organic ingredients. The restaurant offers a variety of brick oven flatbread sandwiches, pizzas, soups, specialty baked goods, snacks, candies, soft drinks and Starbucks coffee. O’Naturals is located on the first floor of the Shapiro Building at 70 Francis

Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Pat’s Place

Privately operated, Pat’s Place offers a full hot and cold menu and is located in the Peter Bent Brigham Building. If you are calling from within the hospital, please dial extension 2-4088.

Hours:
Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: closed

Important Point:
• Any food other than our food services for a patient must be cleared with the patient’s nurse.

Newspapers

An attendant visits patient floors once a day to announce the sale of newspapers, including the Boston Herald, Boston Globe, New York Times, and USA Today. Newspapers also are available at stands in the main lobby.

Notary Public – (617) 732-6636

A notary public can authorize important documents regarding:

• power of attorney;
• living wills;
• banking statements;
• absentee voting.

Parking

Parking in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area can be difficult due to heavy traffic. We suggest that you leave extra time to park when coming to the hospital.

For Patients

Valet parking is for patient use only and is available at all three of the hospital’s Francis Street entrances – 15 Francis Street, 45 Francis Street, and 75 Francis Street. The 75 Francis Street entrance offers full valet services 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. Valet service at 15 and 45 Francis Street is available Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Handicapped parking is available at 45 Francis Street, and any patient may self-park at the 80 Francis Street ServiCenter Garage, located at the corner of Brookline Avenue and Francis Street.

For Visitors

Visitors may park in the 80 Francis Street ServiCenter Garage, located at the corner of Brookline Avenue and Francis Street.

Please call the Parking Office at (617) 732-5877 with any questions, including information about parking rates or visit the patient and visitor parking information page.