Don't Miss a Beat Employee Newsletter - October 11, 2022

Joint Commission Preparedness Tip: Do not store any materials under sinks

Are you prepared to speak with a Joint Commission surveyor during our anticipated accreditation survey? For help preparing, visit the Continuous Readiness page on Vitals (employee intranet).

Party in the Parking Lot 2022 - Relive the fun in photos!

Last week, BWFH staff were invited to attended Party in the Parking Lot, a free annual event that included food trucks, games, music and fun! Night shift workers were treated to a special stop by the Roxy’s Grilled Cheese food truck the night before. Check out the photos from both events on Facebook!

If you were unable to attend, stop by Human Resources on the 7^th floor to pick up your free long-sleeve BWFH T-shirt. One per person while supplies last. Hospital ID required for pick-up.

7 South does its part to improve weight loss surgery outcomes

Each year, as part of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing the safest, highest quality care to our patients, departments across the hospital are charged with developing and implementing their own Quality Assurance Process Improvement (QAPI) plan. This year, the 7 South team, led by Nurse Director Mary Anne Barry, MBA, BSN, RN, and Chief PA for Surgery Meaghan Klempa, MMSc, PA-C, is focused on reducing the length of stay for post-operative bariatric patients. Read more.

Meet the Department of Radiology’s newest team members

The Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital recently welcomed two new team members: Radiology Program Manager William Sticka and Radiology Project Manager Mirela Andoni. Read more.

BWFH celebrates National Physical Therapy Month

October is National Physical Therapy Month and this year marks the 30^th anniversary of recognizing the transformative role physical therapists play in people’s lives, their unique value as movement experts and the benefits of regular physical activity. Here at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, it’s a time to celebrate the profession and all the ways physical therapists help improve the lives of our patients, in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

BWFH celebrates Healthcare Security and Safety Week - through October 15

During Healthcare Security and Safety Week and throughout the year, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety celebrate the role of healthcare security and safety professionals in serving healthcare facilities, personnel, patients and visitors. The theme for Healthcare Security and Safety Week 2022 is “Leading with Excellence. Protecting with Care.” At BWFH, we want to thank our entire Security Department for their commitment to making our hospital a safe place to work and receive care!

BWFH celebrates Emergency Nurses Week - through October 15

Every year, the second week of October signifies the celebration and appreciation of emergency nurses around the world. In addition, October 12 is Emergency Nurses Day. This year, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital would like to thank our emergency nurses for always standing strong in the face of adversity. Emergency nurses face many challenges, and no day follows the same routine, but you remain strong. Thank you, and happy Emergency Nurses Week and Emergency Nurses Day!

Calling all creative minds! Help us name the new intranet

This winter, finding information will become easier at Mass General Brigham. We are designing a new intranet experience that will begin rolling out across some areas of our system in early 2023 (including BWFH!), and we need your help to come up with a name!

Initially, the new intranet will replace only the enterprise-wide Pulse intranet and those at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital (BWFHconnect) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (PikeNotes). Other member organizations will follow in 2023.

The new intranet experience will put an end to having to search multiple sites for announcements, policies and need-to-know content. This new, personalized intranet will make finding the information you need—about your local organization and Mass General Brigham—easier than ever!

Submit your name ideas here by Wednesday, October 12. The best of the submissions will be put to a systemwide vote later this month.

We look forward to sharing more updates on the new intranet later this year – stay tuned.  

Nominate colleagues for a Pillars of Excellence Award by October 13

Mass General Brigham has a long-standing history of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of talented employees from across the system through the Pillars of Excellence Awards. Please take a moment to recognize a colleague or team who exemplifies excellence. You may now submit individual and team nominations for the 2022 Pillars of Excellence Awards. Additional information is available on The Pulse, or you can contact Mass General Brigham Employee Programs at 857-282-9743 or PillarsAwards@partners.org.

Attention New England Patriots fans! 

Thanks to the longstanding relationship between Massachusetts General Hospital and the New England Patriots, we will make tickets to Patriots home games available to all Mass General Brigham employees through drawings throughout the season. Winners will receive two free tickets and be guests of Mass General Brigham at a pregame “tailgate party.”

To enter your name in the drawing to attend the game on Monday, October 24 at 8:15 pm. vs. the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium, please complete this online entry form by 5 pm on Friday, October 14.

Please note:

• Winners will be notified on Monday, October 17, and tickets will be distributed electronically.
• Only one entry per employee. Entries made on behalf of other employees are accepted.
• Because this is a Mass General Brigham-hosted event, you may not resell the tickets or give them away. The winning employee must be in attendance.

Flu vaccination program: five things to know

Learn the five things you need to know about the Mass General Brigham flu vaccination program, including why it’s so important to get vaccinated, who is required to get vaccinated, what are the upcoming deadline dates, where you can get your flu vaccine and how to document your vaccination appropriately (if necessary depending on where you received your flu shot).

Flu shot clinics at BWFH

Flu shot clinics will take place onsite at BWFH on the following dates and times:

• Friday, October 14, 10 am to 2 pm, Chapel area
• Wednesday, October 19, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, Chapel area
• Tuesday, October 25, 11 am to 7 pm, Chapel area
• Thursday, October 27, 10 am to 4 pm, Chapel area
• Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, Chapel area
• Tuesday, November 8, 11 am to 5 pm, Chapel area
• Thursday, November 10, 11 am to 3 pm, Chapel area

All clinics are walk-in only—no appointment required. Please be sure to bring your BWFH ID badge, wear a shirt with loose-fitting sleeves and observe physical distancing guidelines while in line.

Learn more about the Mass General Brigham Flu Vaccination Program on The Pulse.

Today is National Coming Out Day

To bring awareness to this important annual day, Communities at Mass General Brigham is featuring personal coming out stories from 22 employees across the system, and the first two stories are available now. New stories will be released every other day, so make sure to keep checking in. Later this month, we will add some videos of employees telling their story.

Communities also offers helpful resources about Coming Out Day and our employee resource groups, which are employee led and affinity-based groups that foster inclusivity and build a stronger sense of community.

Phone and paging directory - new look and improved functionality

Beginning October 12, the Mass General Brigham Phone and Paging Directory (PPD) will have a cleaner, simpler look designed to make using the directory and finding information easier.

New features include:

• On-call directory tab on home page
• Easy access to change paging status using drop-down menu on the home page
• “Go to my profile” tab makes retrieving pages and changing pager status easier
• Quicker access to other applications using the drop-down menu

While using this new and improved version of the PPD, you will still be able to use the “Classic PPD” (previous version) by clicking the tab on the bottom of the home page (see included screenshot). This functionality will be removed on December 2.

Please review your PPD entry to make sure your contact information is current, including phone number and assistant if you have one.

For more information and details on how to access the new functionality, view this tip sheet.

Systemwide COVID booster clinics schedule available

Mass General Brigham Occupational Health Services is offering the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines at clinics across the system. Please note that some clinics are offering both the flu and bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines. When attending a clinic, remember to bring your ID badge and wear clothing that rolls easily up to the top of the arm. View the list of clinics, and book your appointment today.

Information Security and Privacy Week Drop-In Sessions - October 17 and 18

Have questions for the Information Security or Privacy Teams? Join one of our upcoming virtual information sessions to speak with an Information Security or Privacy Team member. To join the session on Monday, October 17, between 11 and 11:30 am, click here. To join the session on Tuesday, October 18, between 1 and 1:30 pm, click here.

Virtual Schwartz Rounds - October 19

October’s Schwartz Rounds topic will be “Prolonging life or delaying death: The complex impact of a patient’s decision to prolong her (end of) life from a metastatic, terminal illness.” BWFH’s Schwartz Rounds will cover this in a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 19, from 12 noon to 1 pm. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

Bi-Annual Medical Staff Meeting - October 19

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s medical staff are invited to the next Bi-Annual Medical Staff Meeting on Wednesday, October 19, from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Mary Ann Tynan Conference Center. The guest speaker will be Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Executive Vice President for Mass General Brigham.

Mass General Brigham Town Hall: Emergency Preparedness in the Changing World - October 20

Join Paul Biddinger, MD, Director of the Mass General Brigham Department of Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity, for a Town Hall on Thursday, October 20, from 2 to 3 pm. Dr. Biddinger will discuss Emergency Preparedness in the Changing World and address how we as a community can approach preparedness at home and at work, including in the clinical environment, as we confront new and persistent challenges in climate change, capacity and more. The Town Hall will be led by Rose Sheehan, Chief Human Resources Officer for Mass General Brigham. The Town Hall will be recorded and made available for those who are unable to attend the livestream. Click “Join” on this calendar item to add the Town Hall to your Outlook calendar. Click here to join the Town Hall livestream on October 20 at 2 pm.

BWFH Volunteer Opportunity: Community Servings - October 20

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness Department is seeking volunteers to help prepare meals for critically ill individuals and their families in our community. Join us on Thursday, October 20, from 4 to 7 pm at Community Servings (179 Amory Street in Jamaica Plain) to peel, chop and package meals for Community Servings’ clients. Volunteers must be 13 years or older, vaccinated against COVID-19 (please have proof of vaccination when you arrive) and register in advance. For more information or to register, contact Katie Plante.  

DFCI/BWH Blood Drive - October 25

The DFCI/BWH Blood Mobile, the traveling extension of the Kraft Family Blood Donation Center, will be at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital on Tuesday, October 25, from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance. To make your appointment, click here. As a thank you, all donors will receive a donors will receive a Kraft Family Blood Donor Center $10 gas gift card! Questions? Email blooddonor@partners.org.

Groundbreaking Ceremony - October 26

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital cordially invites you to a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday, October 26, at 10 am. Please join us in the third floor hillside parking lot as we celebrate the start of construction for our building expansion project.

United Against Racism Specialty Care Symposium - October 27

In the Spring of 2021, Mass General Brigham funded 18 quality improvement projects to reduce inequities in patient experience and/or outcomes across our system. Each project received operational and project support to reduce an inequity within a specialty field with well-defined, measurable outcomes. Please join us virtually on Thursday, October 27, from 8 am to 12:30 pm to hear updates on each team’s accomplishments, progress and challenges over the past year and their plans for the future. The intended audience is clinical, research and administrative staff from across Mass General Brigham.

Basics of Excel, Presented by the Emerging Leaders Committee - October 31

Join Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Emerging Leaders Committee on Monday, October 31, from 12 noon to 1 pm in the 4 North Computer Training Room for a workshop on the Basics of Excel taught by Katy O’Loughlin. All are welcome to attend. To register, email Katie Plante. Seats are limited in the computer lab, so please contact Katie to reserve your spot.