The Boston Public Health Commission ensures the preservation of accessible, high quality, and community-based health care to Boston residents regardless of ability to pay. The overall mission of the Boston Public Health Commission is to protect, preserve and promote the health and well being of Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Our mission is met through the provision and support of accessible, high quality and community based health care, disease and injury prevention, health promotion and health education. In fulfillment of its mission, the Commission works collaboratively with area hospitals, community health centers and community based organizations to foster access to health services for the culturally and economically diverse communities of Boston.

• FY09 Quarter 4 Performance Report 
• FY09 Quarter 3 Performance Report 
• Detailed FY09 Budget Information 

• During the fourth quarter, the Mayor's Health Line handled 2,837 calls, about 15% more than during the previous quarters of FY09. This increase was due to calls related to H1N1 influenza (formerly known as swine flu).
• During FY09, 100% of the individuals with active TB cases in Boston completed their recommended treatment course.
• During FY09, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response times to emergencies decreased substantially compared with FY08. The median response time by EMS to Priority 1 calls was 5.7 minutes - 8% shorter than in FY08. The median response time for Priority 2 & 3 calls was 7.2 minutes - 13% shorter than in FY08.
• Funding from the DelValle Institute enabled the Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC) to increase the number of Boston residents in its medical interpreting training program during the fourth quarter of FY09. In this quarter, 94 bilingual healthcare workers completed the program, bringing its annual total to 181, which is 145% of the annual target.
• During the fourth quarter, the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program held 47 neighborhood coalition meetings, activities, and youth outreach events to bring its annual total to 110, which is 157% of the program target. An increase in coordination, including biweekly meetings, between city partners and the four VIP neighborhoods led to a rise in neighborhood activities.

• Implement violence prevention programming that provides children, youth and their families with tools and strategies to handle conflict and trauma without resorting to violence.
• Prevent disease, address emerging health care crises, and increase access to critical health services such as substance abuse prevention and treatment, dental services and primary care.
• Eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities through a systems level approach that engages institutions and community members in addressing the causes of health inequity. These initiatives complement existing programs with similar goals, such as Healthy Baby Healthy Child, Boston Healthy Start Initiative, and BAHEC/Youth to Careers.
• Coordinate preparedness work of public health with healthcare and public safety partners in Boston to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies.