BWFH Pulse Now Available in 150 Languages
Roger Clark, DO, has been named Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in recognition of the expanded role he has taken on during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Senior Director of Surgical and Procedural Services Jeffrey Blackwell recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. Read more.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital hospitalist and infectious disease specialist Pooja R. Chitneni, MD, has recently been awarded a grant from the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, which she will use to create and validate a tool to measure HIV disclosure in Uganda. Read more.
The Mass General Brigham Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) has released its second annual Check-Up on DE&I Report: Equity in a Time of Crisis. To read the full report, click here.
Recently, a safety report was submitted regarding an equipment issue in the OR. While the Biomed team performed preventative maintenance on the anesthesia machines at BWFH, some staff reported problems with the anesthesia machines not updating to Epic. Read the complete edition of Last Week In Patient Safety.
The purpose of the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals is to improve patient safety. The goals focus on problems in healthcare safety and how to solve them. Click here to read the goals for 2021.
This National Stroke Awareness Month, remember BE FAST. Symptoms of stroke can be very subtle, so it is important not to overlook even the smallest changes in a patient’s health. When it comes to stroke, BE FAST and call 911 (or Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s RRT team).
Balance – Loss of balance, dizziness
Eyes – Vision changes
Face – Facial drooping, severe headache
Arms – Weakness, numbness
Speech – Trouble speaking, confusion
Time – Call 911
Interested in brushing up on or learning some new computer skills? We have a limited number of seats available for one-hour remote classes with United Training. BWFH employees, click here for a list of topics and to register for a course. Click here for instructions on how to register. When registering for a course, be sure to choose I am paying through a Company and Prepaid Training. Have questions or need help registering, email Mary Duggan or call ext. 4634.
Here at BWFH, patient, visitor and staff safety is always our top priority. That’s why infection prevention is so important. If you have a question or concern about infection prevention—environmental concerns, questions about precaution status, information on donning and doffing PPE, etc.—page 61695. Infection Preventionist Brittany Herrick, BSN, RN, is on call to address concerns and answer questions.
Will you lace up your sneakers and join us for the Virtual B.A.A. 10K (June 25-27) presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital? Start a team, join a team or participate on your own to support any area of Brigham Health. Teams raise money to support cancer research, Alzheimer’s research, the Caregivers Fund, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion fund to name a few. Simply sign up by May 27 and commit to raising at least $100 to guarantee your shirt and receive it before race day! Register now! Learn more at runbwh.org/10K or email Caroline Duncan at bwhteam@partners.org.
The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation is now accepting applications for the 2021 Stepping Strong Innovator Awards. The $100,000 awards fund outstanding research and innovation to improve the prevention, treatment and care of traumatic injury. The center expects to provide several grants, to be announced at the 2021 Stepping Strong Trauma Research and Innovation Symposium in November of 2021. Learn about the Innovator Awards program and this year’s focus areas, read the Frequently Asked Questions and view the application. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 23, 2021 at 12 noon EST.
Following the decision by the FDA and CDC to lift the pause on the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the Mass General Brigham COVID-19 vaccination program expanded to the inpatient setting on May 3, launching with the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, starting at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a pilot. Now, the program is available at all acute care hospitals, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. Additional information on the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 FDA Emergency Use Authorization may be found on The Pulse. Questions? Contact the Pharmacy at ext. 7247.
Across Mass General Brigham employees are continuing to get vaccinated. In fact, as of May 5, 82 percent of MGB employees have received the vaccine. If you have not yet received the vaccine, it’s not too late! The vaccines are safe, and they protect you, your family and friends, but many colleagues still have questions. If you need answers, simply look for a colleague wearing a badge that says “Ask Me About the COVID-19 Vaccine.”
Mass General Brigham is offering first-dose appointments for the COVID-19 vaccines to patients who are eligible under the state’s vaccine distribution plan. MGB patients can schedule a vaccine appointment on our new scheduling website. Please note, any patient under 18 needs a parent or guardian’s consent which can be found here.
As vaccination coverage increases and the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community decreases, public health guidance around masking for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals is changing. And while the CDC has provided guidance on activities that are safe for fully vaccinated individuals, they note that their new recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings only. As such, the Mass General Brigham Universal Mask Policy remains in effect for all employees, patients and visitors—regardless of their vaccination status. Please note that masking rules outside of the healthcare setting are set by state and local authorities.
As we continue to make progress with vaccination coverage and declining community prevalence of COVID-19, public health guidance and state/local regulations are adjusting as well. As of Monday, May 3, the Facility Density and In-Person Gathering Policy has been updated to allow for individuals to be unmasked in outdoor locations on Mass General Brigham premises when reliably separated by six feet, consistent with the Mass. Masking Order. This policy has also been updated to permit guests for approved off-site social gatherings. Read the full policy.
In concert, the Universal Mask Policy has been updated to reflect the application of state/local regulations related to face coverings in outdoor locations on Mass General Brigham premises. Read the full policy. Note that common questions, including about holding outdoor meetings, off-site events, gatherings and group photos, are addressed in the accompanying updated FAQs. Employees should continue to adhere to state/local regulations with respect to masking, distance and other public health measures, which may differ from state to state.
EAP Webinar: Estate Planning
Tuesday, May 18
12 noon to 1 pm
ZOOM
5th Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit
Wednesday, May 19
8:30 am to 12 noon
ZOOM
Volunteer Opportunity: George Washington Carver Lodge
Wednesday, May 19
11 am to 5 pm
80 Talbot Ave, Dorchester, MA
Schwartz Rounds: Coping with the Loss of a Young ICU Patient from COVID-19
Wednesday, May 19
12 noon to 1 pm
ZOOM
NRC Patient Experience Survey Service Alert Training Session
Wednesday, May 19
2 to 2:50 pm
ZOOM
Faulkner Fit
Wednesday, May 19
4 to5 pm
Meet in Atrium Lobby
NRC Patient Experience Survey Service Alert Training Session
Friday, May 21
8 to 8:50 am
ZOOM
De-Escalation Recert/Initial Training
Friday, May 21
8 am to 12 noon
ZOOM
Volunteer Opportunity: George Washington Carver Lodge
Monday, May 24
11 am to 5 pm
80 Talbot Ave, Dorchester, MA
NRC Patient Experience Survey Service Alert Office Hours
Monday, May 24
1 to 1:30 pm
ZOOM
NRC Patient Experience Survey Service Alert Office Hours
Tuesday, May 25
8:30 to 9 am
ZOOM
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