Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you well as you adapt to our new normal during this pandemic period. COVID-19 continues to affect our communities – amidst the incredible efforts of amazing medical and research personnel, first responders, and military teams who are on the front lines each and every day fighting this medical war. Here at Home Base, we want you to know we remain committed to working together to build a community of care for those we serve.

As our nation begins to shelter in place and our hospitals shift to a wartime footing to combat this insidious virus, Home Base has developed new solutions to adapt to this rapidly changing operating environment so that we can continue delivering critical care and support to our community.  The number one priority at Home Base has always been to deliver the best care possible for the health and well-being of our warriors and their families. Based upon guidance from federal, state, and local government and input from Mass General Hospital leaders, we believe the significant effects of COVID-19 could extend into the summer.  Therefore, we have made the decision to continue our work from home model and to treat our patients virtually until July 5, 2020.  To reduce the disruptive effect of multiple future changes, we feel it is best to identify a more conservative estimate for our return and be ready to adjust to an earlier date to resume all of our clinical and non-clinical programs if the COVID-19 situation were to change.

As we all do our part in flattening the curve of COVID-19, we realize that many people will have extended quality time at home with their families or alone and will need to maintain their mind, body, and souls to face the challenges ahead. Over the past week, our dedicated clinical team has worked diligently to develop expanded means to deliver telehealth care and support for those in need, and remains committed to exploring ideas to further enhance new virtual care models.  This week we will launch a daily virtual wellness program that will provide coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health for our entire Home Base family.  The newly launched Home Base Operation Health@Home will feature our experts in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and psychology who will deliver curated daily content to help navigate through these unprecedented times.

We hope to shed some positivism and comfort through our email and social channels as we navigate this new and changing reality. Many of you are members of the grateful nation of supporters who have funded the life-saving care at Home Base for more than a decade. You are joined in this effort by the thousands of Veterans, Service Members and Military Family members who have received care or support from Home Base. Collectively, you all comprise our Home Base Family, and during difficult times such as this, families take care of each other. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and those you care about, during this period of medical risk and uncertainty.

Medal of Honor recipient and former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey once said “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” In closing, I ask that you reach out to someone who may not be doing well and extend a simple act of kindness. We will do our part to continue supporting you and our extended Home Base family over the coming months.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out or let us know how we can support you through these challenging times.  Together, we can accomplish great things and persevere.

In deep appreciation,

Jack Hammond
Brigadier General (Ret.), US Army
Executive Director, Home Base, Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program