Pulse Employee Newsletter - November 17, 2020

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November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Reasons to Quit Smoking

Every smoker has their own personal reasons for quitting. Check out these common reasons from the American Lung Association and think about what is most important to you. Remember: selecting a quit day is the first step to quitting for good. If you have questions or would like to learn more about BWFH's Lung Cancer Screening Program, contact Sabrina Klein at 617-983-4586 or BWFHLCS@Partners.org.

Dr. Norman L. Sadowsky Award for Excellence nomination period now open

The Dr. Norman L. Sadowsky Award for Excellence goes to an individual who best exemplifies the qualities Dr. Sadowsky himself demonstrated throughout his career. Dr. Sadowsky made extraordinary contributions to BWFH’s patients and staff during his more than 40 years of leadership in radiology. As a radiologist, colleague, friend, teacher, researcher and administrator, he always brought the highest levels of caring, compassion, creativity and service excellence to his work.

To nominate a BWFH employee for this year’s Dr. Norman L. Sadowsky Award for Excellence, click here. You may also complete this form and submit it on paper or via email to Michelle Casey in Human Resources, 7th Floor. Nominations are due by Friday, December 4.

Susan Bezanson Patient Safety Award nomination period now open

The Susan Bezanson Patient Safety Award is presented annually to a BWFH employee who demonstrates superior levels of excellence and the same dedication to patient safety and quality assurance that Sue Bezanson exhibited. Sue’s participation on several interdisciplinary committees shed light on the vital role of ancillary services in patient care. Sue was a champion for all patients prior to her death from breast cancer in 2008.

To nominate a BWFH employee for this year’s Susan Bezanson Patient Safety Award, click here. You may also complete this form and submit it on paper or via email to Michelle Casey in Human Resources, 7th Floor. Nominations are due by Friday, December 4.

Emerging Leaders Committee: Call for New Members

The Emerging Leaders Committee (formerly the Young Professionals Committee) is returning from their COVID-19 hiatus and seeking out new members! The Committee, which is open to all employees, helps foster growth, improve retention and create a sense of community among our young professionals and early careerists. The committee organizes and promotes professional development, career advancement and networking opportunities geared towards the early career healthcare workforce and also offers community service opportunities. Interested employees are encouraged to contact co-chairs Katie Plante at 617-983-7819 or Jorge Villanueva at 617-983-7976 and both new and returning members are invited to take this survey to give input on upcoming events.

Buy a Pie on November 24 and Feed a Neighbor in Need for an Entire Week

Stop by the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 24, and buy a freshly made Thanksgiving pie in support of Community Servings' Pie in the Sky annual fundraiser. Community Servings delivers healthy meals to members of our community who are struggling with an illness such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Your $30 purchase will feed a neighbor in need for an entire week. Thanks to you, neither they nor their family will have to worry about going hungry this holiday season and you'll get to enjoy a delicious apple or pecan pie as a thank you! For more info or to place your order in advance, stop by our info table outside the cafeteria on Wednesday, November 18 from 12 noon to 1 pm.

College and University Program Tuition Discounts Available

Thinking about returning to college? Worried about the cost? Good news! Now all employees across the Mass General Brigham network can take advantage of tuition and fee discounts from multiple colleges and universities offering both local and distance learning options. Participating universities include Boston College, Chamberlain University, Framingham State College, Regis College, Simmons University, Southern New Hampshire University, Suffolk University, and more. To learn more about these discounts, visit the HR Portal. If you have questions, contact Dena Lerra, Incumbent Program Manager, Workforce Development, Mass General Brigham.   

COVID-19 Updates

Employee Asymptomatic Testing at BWFH

Starting Wednesday, November 18, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital will be offering on-site COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic (no signs of illness) staff members free of charge, with results returned to you approximately 24-36 hours later.  Learn more and schedule a test.

Coping with the Holidays During COVID-19

The holidays are just around the corner. During the holidays, we normally experience a range of emotions from excitement and joy to feelings of stress, loneliness and sadness. The 2020 holiday season, and the ways in which we celebrate, will look significantly different. Here are some tips on how to maintain your emotional health and wellbeing during this holiday season. If holiday stress and anxiety start to have a negative impact on your life, call Mass General Brigham Employee Assistance Program at 866-724-4327 for support.

Ensuring a Safe Holiday Season

Unfortunately, COVID-19 rates are increasing throughout our region and the country, and gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in cases. We urge all employees to continue to use caution this holiday season and avoid traveling unless necessary. If you do travel, you must follow our travel protocols listed below which include testing or quarantining when returning to the state. It is also important to note that the increased need for testing around the holidays means everyone who is going to need testing must plan and schedule in advance.

We encourage you to implement safe practices this holiday season. The CDC offers helpful tips for holiday celebrations and small gatherings. As a health care organization, we share the same commitment to protecting our patients and one another and we thank you for continuing to maintain our Safe Care Commitment to patients, visitors and staff.

Massachusetts Travel Order Remains in Effect

The Massachusetts Travel Order affects members of our workforce who travel to a state other than ‘lower-risk’ states which currently include Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont (please note, the list of states is as of November 14, and is subject to change). Despite an exemption for certain essential workers, the order states that “workers who travel to or from Massachusetts for personal or leisure reasons cannot rely on this exemption.”

While travel outside of this region is strongly discouraged, if necessary, all employees must consider the following guidelines:

Prior to travel (except for the states listed above)
Employees must attest to their travel in advance in this Travel Attestation.

Upon return from travel and before being able to return to work
Employees will need to do the following:

• Complete the required Massachusetts Travel Form.
• Demonstrate proof of a negative COVID-19 test result
  • must be from an FDA EUA-approved molecular (PCR) SARS-CoV2 test; antigen and serology testing is not acceptable
  • testing can be obtained up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts or upon return, although the employee must maintain quarantine until a negative COVID-19 PCR result is produced.
• If testing is not obtained, quarantine for 14 days.
• If requesting testing at one of these Mass General Brigham test locations, please call Occupational Health Central Services at 617-724-8100 to order and schedule testing. Testing can be scheduled in advance of your return and we strongly recommend that you schedule your test in advance. Schedules are currently open up to one month from the current date.   
• Please note that in general, while we expect test results to return on average in 24 hours, it can take upwards of 48 hours or longer in some instances. In order to return to work on time, please schedule your testing in consideration of the time it may take for tests to be resulted.
• Employees may also utilize one of the new employee self-testing sites for asymptomatic testing, if offered by your site. Sites currently offering this benefit for asymptomatic travel testing include: BWH, MGH, SRH, MEEI and NWH. Additional sites are planned to launch later this month.
• If you have tested at one of the Mass General Brigham self-testing locations listed above or at a non-Mass General Brigham site, please email your test result to: phsohscovid19@partners.org with “Travel Follow-up” in the subject line of the email. Of note, the call center can only accept test results with identifiers such as first and last name and date of birth. You do not have to submit test results if you tested at a Mass General Brigham test location.
• Employees who test negative with no symptoms after travel may immediately return to work; clearance from Occupational Health is not required.
• Employees who test positive must stay home from work. They should expect a call from Mass General Brigham OHS Central Services and their local OHS team within 24 hours to review the return to work protocol in our current Return to Work Policy.

We continue to strongly urge all employees not to travel to areas outside of those areas listed above and to comply with all aspects of the travel order. Thank you for maintaining our Safe Care Commitment to patients, visitors and staff.

To date, employees who are referred for COVID-19 testing for symptoms and who test negative by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), have been required to contact Occupational Health Services (OHS) once their symptoms have resolved to confirm resolution of symptoms prior to return to work. Based on feedback from employees and managers and to simplify and streamline existing workflows, a new process is now in place (internal link).

Employee Mental Health Support and Well-Being

There are many ways this crisis might affect your mental health and emotional well-being. There is no need to worry alone.  Support is available through the following resources and services (internal link).

Save the Date

What Managers Should Know about the EAP
Tuesday, November 17
10 to 11 am
EAP Webinar 

Faulkner Fit After Work Meetup
Tuesday, November 17
4 to 5 pm
Meet in Atrium Lobby 

Schwartz Rounds
Wednesday, November 18
12 noon to 1 pm
Virtual via Zoom

Buy a Pie in Support of Community Servings
Wednesday, November 18
12 noon to 1 pm
Outside the Cafeteria 

De-Escalation RECERTIFICATION Training (AVADE, Trauma Informed Care, CO, Restraint/Seclusion, Care of the Suicidal Patient)
Wednesday, November 25
3 to 7 pm
Tynan 2 Conference Room

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