BWFH Pulse Now Available in 150 Languages
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in Massachusetts has increased by 59 percent—the highest increase recorded in the country. Tracy Sylven, CHHC, MCHES, Director of Community Health and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, recently teamed up with Samara Grossman, LICSW, who is part of a multi-disciplinary team of recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars program, to address the issue. Read more.
Through June 20, we’re celebrating Men’s Health Week to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Here, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital urological surgeon Quoc-Dien Trinh, MD, explains two new innovations now available at BWFH that improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Newsweek recently partnered with data firm Statista to develop a list of 250 hospitals that best equip themselves of the most advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, digital imaging, telemedicine, smart buildings, information technology infrastructure and EHRs. Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital is proud to be among the hospitals on this list.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s I CARE Award recognizes staff members who go above and beyond their regular job responsibilities to make BWFH a great place to work and receive care. Six South’s PCA and Unit Secretary Diane Norris was a recent recipient of an I CARE Award. Read more.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Service Awards are an annual event honoring employees celebrating milestone work anniversaries from 5 to 45 years of service. While this year’s ceremony was virtual, honorees were invited to pick up flowers in Human Resources. Visit BWFH’s Facebook page to see photos of our 25- to 35-year employees picking up their flowers!
The latest EAP post discusses how to be an ally to your LGBTQ colleagues. As part of the article, the Mass General Brigham EAP recently spoke with Jamie Quinkert, Assistant Director of the MGH Center for Clinical Research Education and Communications Officer for the MGH LGBTQ Employee Resource Group, about respectful use of an individuals’ pronouns in the workplace. Read the full article.
Last week, staff in several locations throughout the hospital, including 2 South, the Pain Management Center, ED Observation, the Laboratory and the OR, noted that temperatures in their departments felt higher than usual. These concerns were quickly escalated to Senior Leadership via RL Safety Reporting and at Daily Safety Huddle. Read the complete edition of Last Week In Patient Safety (on BWFH's intranet).
Our patients and their visitors should feel welcome the moment they walk through our doors. You can do your part to ensure everyone feels that way by reserving public spaces like the Atrium Lobby and Hillside Lobby for their use. We ask that employees only take their meal breaks in the cafeteria or break rooms. Thank you for all you to make Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital a great place to work and receive care!
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.
While the vaccines are safe, and they protect you, your family and friends, 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 recently announced changes to our Visitor Policy, Facility Density and In-Person Gatherings Policy and Universal Mask Policy that go into effect today, Tuesday, June 15. Read the announcement here and review a list of FAQs for more information.
Massachusetts has announced a new COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Paid Sick Leave program, which went into effect on May 28 and provides all employees with a job-protected, paid leave of absence of up to 40 hours for certain reasons related to COVID-19. Examples of time covered under this program include time off for isolation/quarantine and recovery from COVID-19, to care for a family member with COVID-19 and for getting COVID-19 vaccinations and any necessary recovery time after vaccination. View the legal notice, which includes a complete list of eligible leave criteria.
Effective yesterday, this new leave program replaces the current Mass General Brigham COVID Pay programs for employee illness, testing and recovery. This program covers all employees at all affiliates, including those who work in states other than Massachusetts. Employees currently receiving pay under any Mass General Brigham COVID Pay program will be unaffected.
Review additional information on Ask My HR and mass.gov. If you have questions regarding the new law or resulting policy changes, please contact the HR Support Center by opening an online request or calling 1-833-275-6947 during normal business hours.
As of June 11, requests for work-related travel that is prohibited by the Employee Travel Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be submitted to Mass General Brigham leadership. Instead, such requests will be evaluated and, when appropriate, approved at the local level following normal departmental processes. Mass General Brigham employees seeking exceptions to work-related travel that is prohibited by the policy (domestic travel for non-fully vaccinated employees and international travel for all employees regardless of vaccination status) should seek permission from their manager.
Last August, Mass General Brigham resumed requiring signed consents for patient care interventions (procedures, blood transfusions, etc.), while maintaining verbal consents for administrative forms. As we continue to return to normal operations, the system will return to requiring signed consents for administrative forms effective today, Tuesday, June 15. This marks a return to our pre-pandemic process at patient check-in/registration points, including outpatient clinic check-in and Emergency Department/inpatient admissions. Examples of administrative forms include “Consent for Treatment,” “Surescripts” and “HIPAA.” For virtual care, continue current process; work is underway to develop a written consent document and an operational approach to support patients, providers and practices.
22nd Annual Harvard Nutrition and Obesity Symposium
Tuesday, June 15
8 am to 5:30 pm
ZOOM
EAP Webinar: 30 Minute Yoga at Your Desk
Tuesday, June 15
12 noon to 12:30 pm
ZOOM
NRC and Patient Experience Office Hours
Wednesday, June 16
12 noon to 12:30 pm
ZOOM
QPR Training Presented by the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation
Wednesday, June 16
12 noon to 12:30 pm
ZOOM
EAP Webinar: Get Started and Save for the Future You
Wednesday, June 16
12 noon to 12:30 pm
ZOOM
Faulkner Fit After Work Meet Up
Wednesday, June 16
4 to 4:40 pm
Meet in the Atrium Lobby
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month at BWFH’s Cafeteria
Thursday, June 17
11:30 am to 2 pm
“The BOI Doc” Screening with Keynote Speaker Evolve Benton
Thursday, June 17
12 noon to 2 pm
ZOOM
De-Escalation Recert/Initial Training
Friday, June 18
8 am to 12 noon
ZOOM
Join Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Emerging Leaders Committee and special guest speaker Operations Director of Non-Invasive Testing Ben Pariser on Tuesday, June 22, from 12 noon to 1 pm via ZOOM or in the 4 North Computer Training Room for a workshop on the Basics of Excel. All are welcome to attend. To register and receive the ZOOM link, email Katie Plante.
Mass General Brigham's Innovation Digital Education Academy (IDEA) is focused on Innovation and Digital Health. Each month, we will host a special session highlighting key individuals and innovations happening within the digital health space. Join us on Thursday, June 24, at 12 noon for Making Your Digital Health Pitch featuring Donald Gummow, Business Analyst, Brigham Digital Innovation Hub, BWH, Jennifer Shin, MD, SM, Associate Surgeon, BWH, Sara Silacci, Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Managing Director, Center for Innovation in Digital HealthCare (CIDH), MGH, and Haipeng (Mark) Zhang, DO, Medical Director, Brigham Digital Innovation Hub, BWH, to hear from experts on crafting a pitch, finding a champion, assessing funding and other resources and learn best practices in pursuing a digital project.
Dana-Farber LGBTQ+ & Friends ERG invites all transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, two-spirit and gender non-conforming staff in the Longwood Medical area, MGH and satellites to gather in a virtual space on Wednesday, June 30, from 4 to 5 pm for community and connection.
Looking for more news from BWFH? Go to News to find articles about health, updates to our programs and services and stories about staff and patients.
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