Accessibility

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is committed to providing equal access to high-quality care for all patients. When you come here for a visit or care, you may see a patient or employee being assisted by a service animal. Americans with Disability Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog that is trained to do work or task(s) for the person with a disability. Disabilities can include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disabilities.

We are also committed to providing a comfortable and safe environment for our patients, visitors and staff, and appreciate that the presence of a dog may be uncomfortable for some. We make every effort to minimize exposure to dogs for those with allergies or significant fear. Hence, we respectfully ask that our patients come with service dogs only.

Service Animals at BIDMC

Can I bring my service animal to BIDMC?

Yes, BIDMC welcomes the use of a service animal by any person with a disability.

Please be aware, while service animals are allowed in public and most patient care areas, there are some restricted areas due to infection control and safety. Areas where BIDMC must take special steps to reduce the risk of infection, include but not limited to:

• Operating rooms (ORs) or procedural areas
• Rooms/units that require special air quality for patients at high risk for infection (transplant or oncology area/units)
• Intensive care units (ICUs)

We encourage you to talk to your provider’s office prior to your visit to determine if your service animal is allowed in the area you will be visiting.

Can I bring my comfort or emotional support animal to BIDMC?

Unfortunately, no. According to the ADA, comfort or emotional support animals are not considered service animals.

A comfort or emotional support animal is an animal that provides comfort or emotional support to its owner but is not individually trained to perform a task. Although comfort or emotional support animals are important, they are not allowed at BIDMC.

What questions will staff ask me about my service animal?

BIDMC staff will ask a handler, person with a service animal, to complete a form during their visit. The form outlines responsibilities and accountability for the animal’s behavior while on BIDMC property.  Before completing the form, staff may ask:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What task or service is the dog trained to perform? (The dog doesn’t need to demonstrate task /service.)

What are my responsibilities for the care of my service dog?

You or your designee, someone you have chosen, are responsible for the service animal at all times. This includes: feeding, walking, toileting, and its safety. We recommend having a plan for your service animal in case you are unable to care for it at any point or must go to an area of the medical center where service animals are not allowed. If you are admitted, your designee will need to care for the service animal’s needs. If a designee is not available, staff will provide a pet sitting or boarding option.

Please be advised the staff cannot provide care for your service animal.

BIDMC expects your service animal to:

• Behave properly. This includes not jumping, barking, growling, biting or posing a direct threat to the safety of others.
• Stay off furniture.
• Be housebroken.
• Remain under your control.
• Remain leashed or harnessed at all times. Except when the dog must be off-leash to do its task.
• Be clean, well-groomed and free from fleas, ticks, and mites.
• Have city/town registration and rabies tags easily seen.

Is there a pet relief area for my service dog?

Please ask the staff for the nearest outside area to walk the dog.

Pet Therapy Program

A therapy dog is part of a BIDMC approved pet therapy program and is permitted in the hospital only after screening and approval.

We will ask for any dog to be removed immediately from the premises if they are not housebroken, or exhibit behavior such as barking, growling or other aggressive behavior, or impede safe travel of others.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to:

• Email us
• Call Patient Relations at 617-975-9750
• Ask to speak to an administrator at your location of care

Safe Patient Handling is dedicated to ensuring that every patient receives full access to care regardless of disability or mobility.

Accessible parking spaces are available in all four of the Medical Center's parking garages (Lowry, Pilgrim, Shapiro and Feldberg). However, only the Shapiro Parking Garage has Hi-Top Van Accessible parking spaces. There are additional Hi-Top Van Accessible parking spaces available on both the East and West Campuses in close proximity to the building entrances. Accessible parking is labeled on our campus map and printable campus maps.

Valet Parking

Beth Israel Deaconess offers valet parking from the Shapiro Clinical Center entrance at 98 Binney Street on the East Campus and from either the Rosenberg Building entrance at 1 Deaconess Road or the Klarman Building entrance located at 111 Francis Street on the West Campus. Valet parking is labeled on our campus map and printable campus maps.

Wheelchair-accessible shuttles operate between the East Campus (Feldberg Building and Shapiro Clinical Center) and West Campus (Rosenberg Building, Lowry Building, Klarman Building) as well as to our Ambulatory sites at Bowdoin Street and Chelsea.

Our free shuttle service runs in a continuous 20-minute loop between the east and west campuses, Monday - Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The inter-campus shuttle stops are labeled on our campus map and printable campus maps.

1. Rosenberg Building entrance on the West Campus at 1 Deaconess Road
2. Farr Building entrance on the West Campus at access via 1 Deaconess Road
3. Feldberg Building entrance on the East Campus at 330 Brookline Avenue
4. Lowry Building entrance on the West Campus at 110 Francis Street
5. Klarman Building entrance on the West Campus at 111 Francis Street
6. Shapiro Clinical Center entrance on the East Campus at 98 Binney Street

All main entrances at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are accessible and are labeled on our campus map and printable campus maps.

East Campus

There are two main entrances to the East Campus:

• Feldberg Building at 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA
• Shapiro Clinical Center Building at 98 Binney Street, Boston, MA

Once inside, all patient care areas can be reached without having to exit the building via the Blue Corridor on the second floor.

West Campus

There are four main entrances on the West Campus:

• Rosenberg Building at 1 Deaconess Road, Boston, MA
• Lowry Medical Office Building at 110 Francis Street, Boston, MA
• Farr Building access via 1 Deaconess Road, Boston, MA
• Klarman Building at 111 Francis Street, Boston, MA

Once inside, all patient care areas can be reached without having to exit the building via the Sky Bridge on the third floor.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center provides accessibility at our satellite Community Health Care locations:

• Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare-Lexington
  482 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420
  
  
• Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare-Chelsea
  1000 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150
  
  
• Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare-Chestnut Hill
  200 Boylston Street, Newton, MA 02467
  
  
• Bowdoin Street Health Center
  230 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester, MA 02122