Pulse Employee Newsletter - February 16, 2021

More News

Employee Applause Event – Friday, February 19 from 6:30 – 8:30 am

Members of the Rewards and Recognition Committee will be handing out a special treat on Friday, February 19 from 6:30 – 8:30 am in the third floor lobby to recognize and thank staff at all levels of the organization for their incredible commitment to taking care of our patients, their families and each other, especially during these trying times. Visit BWFHconnect (intranet) for additional dates and times for Employee Applause events.

Donation Drive: Diapers, Wipes and Feminine Hygiene Products

BWFH's Community Health and Wellness team is out weekly in Boston neighborhoods distributing food, health screenings, COVID-19 tests and more. They have identified a critical need for diapers, wipes and feminine care products. BWFH’s Emerging Leaders Committee is hosting a donation drive to help collect these much-needed items. If you are able to help out, please drop off your donations outside BWFH’s cafeteria between 12 noon and 1 pm on Thursday, February 18. Questions? Contact Katie Plante at kdplante@bwh.harvard.edu.

Clarifications Regarding Leaves of Absence

Do you need assistance navigating the new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave process for your upcoming leave of absence? Find helpful resources and guidance on Ask My HR such as LOA Process Information, FAQs, and LOA Eligibility guidance.

Get Ahead of the Winter Blues

Winter in New England is long and cold. For some people, this leads to feeling more tired, less energy or motivation, sadness and even depression. This may be more pronounced this year with the added stress from the pandemic and less access to some regular ways of coping. For information on coping with Winter Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder read our Mass General Brigham EAP article.

U.S. Citizenship Information Session for Employees on February 16

Are you interested in learning more about the process to become a U.S. citizen for yourself or a family member? If so, please join an informational webinar on Tuesday, February 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m. that is open to all Mass General Brigham employees. This one-hour webinar will cover eligibility requirements, fees and fee waivers, the application process and exemptions from English and civics requirements. You will also learn about support available for exam and interview preparation, free workshops and all materials needed to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Complete the registration form or contact Dena Lerra, Workforce Development Program Manager, for more information.

Virtual Schwartz Rounds – Wednesday, February 17 at 12 Noon

Join us for a special Virtual Schwartz Rounds for a discussion on the moral distress around a team’s struggle to manage the only option for a patient’s discharge plan: sending a patient home where she believes she will die.

This virtual meeting can be accessed via this Zoom link: https://partners.zoom.us/j/5752069216?pwd=bjdGamR3Mmlqdm5hM3NaZnoxVDVUdz09
Meeting ID: 575 206 9216
Passcode: 072053.

BWFHconnect Now Available in More than 80 Languages

Content on BWFHconnect (intranet) can now be translated into more than 80 languages using the Google Translate feature. The Google Translate drop down menu appears at the top of each BWFHconnect page, and users can select their preferred language to have the text on the page translated. Please note, this feature works only in Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers.

February University Webinars: Chamberlain University Virtual Information Sessions – MPH, RN-BWN, MSN, DNP

Are you interested in learning more about advancing your nursing or public health education? Join Jennifer Pratt from Chamberlain University to learn more about these exciting online opportunities.

Monday, February 22: Master of Public Health (MPH) and Pubic Health Certificate Programs
11 – 11:30 am Register Here
6 – 6:30 pm Register Here

Thursday, February 25: RN-BSN, MSN with 7 Specialty Tracks, and DNP
11 – 11:30 am Register Here
6 – 6:30 pm Register Here

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Surveillance and Monitoring Dashboard
MA Situational Update as of February 14, 2021

45,833 active COVID+ cases
1,480 new daily COVID+ cases
The 7-day percent positivity average is 2.19 percent

BWFH Situational Update as of February 16, 2021:

Admitted COVID+ Patients as of 6 am: 15
Admitted COVID PUI Patients as of 6 am: 16

BWFH Vaccine Update of February 15, 2021:

65 percent of BWFH based employees have chosen to receive their first dose of vaccine
58 percent of BWFH employees have received their second dose of vaccine

Mass General Brigham to Suspend Scheduling of First Dose Vaccinations

Because of vaccine supply constraints, we are no longer able to schedule first dose vaccine appointments for patients or employees. We have been assured by the state that we will receive enough vaccine to fulfill all first and second dose appointments that are already scheduled. As a result, we will administer vaccine to ALL employees and patients who are currently scheduled to receive their first or second dose, ensuring we follow clinical guidance and best practice for completing vaccination. We continue to work closely with state officials to address this situation.

Information for employees needing to schedule their first dose

If you are a Mass General Brigham employee who has not scheduled your first vaccine dose, please visit the state's website for information about how to get your vaccine at a state vaccination location. Due to high demand and severely limited vaccine supply, COVID-19 vaccination appointments at these locations may take several weeks to schedule. More appointments will be available based on supply from the federal government.

• All health care workers including COVID-facing health care workers home-based health care workers and non-COVID-facing health care workers are eligible to receive the vaccine and are considered part of the state’s Phase 1 vaccination plan.
• Massachusetts is providing all health care workers with several options for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder to search for a vaccination location and view appointment availability before scheduling. The tool can be accessed via the state’s vaccination website or directly at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov.
• Learn how to prepare for your appointment and what you need to bring with you. The vaccine is free.
• You will need to confirm that you are in Phase 1 of the state’s vaccine distribution phase. This is called “attesting.” Depending on where you book your appointment, you may attest differently.
• You may be asked to attest online or over the phone when booking.
• If you are not asked when booking, you will be asked to attest when you arrive at your appointment. Vaccination locations will likely have an attestation form available, however, you can fill out the COVID-19 Massachusetts Vaccination Attestation Form and bring it with you to your appointment to be prepared.
• You should bring your Mass General Brigham issued ID badge with you to the vaccine appointment.

Reminder: Masking, Hand Hygiene and Social Distancing Remain Critical After Vaccination

Even after you receive your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it is critical to continue to adhere to all the interventions we know to be effective: mask wearing, hand hygiene and social distancing. This protects ourselves, our colleagues and our patients.

Volunteers Needed for Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Among Health Care Workers

Project PREVENT is a CDC-funded study to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among people working in health care to inform vaccine policies and pandemic response efforts. Learn more about the study here. If you are eligible for enrollment, be on the lookout for an email from ohsprevent@bwh.harvard.edu with more details about how to participate.

Save the Date

Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series
Tuesday, February 16
12 noon to 1 pm
Webinar

Faulkner Fit After Work Meet Up
Tuesday, February 16
4 to 5 pm
Meet in Atrium Lobby

Schwartz Rounds
Wednesday, February 17
12 noon to 1 pm
Virtual via Zoom

Donation Drive (Diapers, Feminine Products)
Thursday, February 18
12 noon to 1 pm
Outside the cafeteria

Employee Applause Event
Friday, February 19
6:30 to 8:30 am
Third Floor Lobby

De-Escalation Recert/Initial Training
Friday, February 19
8 am to 12 noon
Via Zoom

Chamberlain MPH and Pubic Health Certificate Programs
Monday, February 22
11-11:30 am and 6-6:30 pm
Webinar

Faulkner Fit After Work Meet Up
Tuesday, February 23
4 to 5 pm
Meet in Atrium Lobby

Chamberlain RN-BSN, MSN with 7 Specialty Tracks and DNP
Thursday, February 25
11-11:30 am and 6-6:30 pm
Webinar

Zoom/Teams Tips and Tricks
Thursday, February 25
12 noon to 1 pm
4 North Computer Lab and/or Zoom

De-Escalation Recertification Training
Friday, February 26
3:30 to 7:30 pm|
Via Zoom

BWFH Links

• APP Affair
• BWFH Calendar of Events
• BWFHconnect
• BWFH MD News & Views
• BWFH Nurse
• BWFH Perks
• BWFH Pulse – Email Edition
• BWFH Pulse – Print Edition
• Employment Opportunities
• Last Week in Patient Safety
• Monthly Education Calendar