Pulse Employee Newsletter - July 6, 2021

More News

Introducing the new BWFH brand and logo: Five things to know

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital recently unveiled a new brand and logo, representing a vision for enhanced collaboration with colleagues throughout the Mass General Brigham system for the benefit of patients and their loved ones. Here are five things to know about the new brand and logo and how they will be implemented at BWFH (intranet).

Providing the Right Care in the Right Place: MGH Division of Pediatric Radiology Now Available to BWFH Outpatients

All radiological examinations at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital are read by Brigham and Women’s subspecialized radiologists, who have advanced training in certain organs, areas of the body or diseases. Taking advantage of Mass General Brigham’s systemwide PACS (picture archiving and communications system) technology, subspecialized pediatric radiologists from Massachusetts General are now able to view and read elective pediatric examinations performed at BWFH. Read more.

IV nurse receives I CARE Award

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. Jestin Jose, BSN, RN, VA-BC, from the IV Therapy Team, was a recent recipient of an I CARE Award. Read more.

Announcements

Ask David: Submit your question today!

Do you have questions for BWFH President David O. McCready? Submit them to AskDavid@bwh.harvard.edu to get a response from David.

Skype for Business to be decommissioned; Microsoft Teams available to all

In anticipation of Microsoft retiring Skype for Business at the end of July, Skype for Business will be decommissioned across Mass General Brigham on Wednesday, July 14. Moving forward, Microsoft Teams will be the go-to application for chat, calls and online meetings. Visit BWFHconnect to learn more about Microsoft Teams and the actions you may need to take before July 14.

Stop tobacco use for good with this free employee program

Did you know there is a free smoking cessation program available to you, your spouse and your adult dependents? Partners in Helping You Quit (PiHQ) offers one-on-one, over the phone coaching for Mass General Brigham employees, spouses and adult dependents. This evidence-based approach has helped many employees successfully quit smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use like vaping, cigars or chewing tobacco. Learn more about this program on The Pulse. If you would like more information, you may also email PiHQ@partners.org or call 617-724-2205.

Apply today! Stepping Strong Innovator Awards

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.

COVID-19 Updates

Employee Screening Protocol Change

• Employees no longer need to show COVID Pass upon entering the hospital.
• The Department of Public Health still requires hospital daily symptom screening, which can be completed via a Kronos terminal, Epic login or the COVID Pass app.  
• Employees must continue to sanitize hands, put on a new hospital-issued mask and ensure your hospital ID badge is visible above the waist.

Visitor Policy

Mass General Brigham continues to affirm the importance of visitors and Support Persons to the health and well-being of our patients. The Visitor Policy has been updated to permit up to two visitors or Support Persons per day to inpatients, either: two visitors; two Support Persons; or one visitor and one Support Person, and to extend visiting hours from 11 am to 8 pm at BWFH. Under extraordinary circumstances, facilities may need to restrict visitation. The Universal Mask Policy applies to visitors and patients, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status; all patients and visitors are required to use a facility-issued facemask. Screening of visitors and patients for symptoms of COVID-19 continues; all are encouraged to utilize Mass General Brigham Pre Screen Pass. Read the full policy.

Infection Control for Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGP) Policy

• Lower endoscopy (i.e., colonoscopy) has been removed from the list of procedures that are considered aerosol-generating. This decision was made after extensive review of the current body of evidence and public health guidance and gathering input from system-wide clinical leadership.
• With this change, all asymptomatic patients undergoing colonoscopy/lower GI procedures will no longer be subject to the Infection Control for AGP Policy, do not require testing for COVID-19 prior to the procedure, and the procedure will take place under Standard Precautions with addition of transmission-based precautions as indicated (i.e., Contact for MRSA). The full list of procedures that require testing in advance is provided in the Infection Control for AGP Policy and includes esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)/upper GI procedures as well as intubation and other airway management maneuvers. Patients who require monitored anesthesia care (MAC) are not subject to the policy and will not be routinely tested. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be available at all endoscopy sites, and ERI protocols will be followed for unanticipated AGPs.

Please be aware that there will be a transition period where patients who are already scheduled may still receive their pre-procedure testing until this change becomes widespread.

Universal Eye Protection Policy

Due to declining community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, public health authorities no longer recommend use of universal eye protection. This means that eye protection will no longer be used when entering an enclosed patient area or having sustained face to face interactions within 6 feet of patients outside of an enclosed patient area. Eye Protection is still required as part of Standard Precautions during care that generates splashes or sprays of blood or other bodily fluids and Transmission Based Precautions (i.e., Enhanced Respiratory Isolation, Droplet Isolation, Strict Isolation) as described in the policy. The policy will be renamed Eye Protection Policy to reflect these changes. Read the full policy.

Extended Use, Reuse and Conservation of Personal Protective Equipment Policy

Throughout the pandemic we have used conservation strategies supported by our infection control experts and public health guidance. As public health guidance changes, our supply chain improves, and our COVID-19 case counts decline, the following changes have been made to the policy:

• N95 respirators: End of extended use and reuse of N95 respirators; this means a return to single use of this product, with disposal after each patient encounter. Please pick up an N95 respirator from the 5^th floor distribution center at the start of your shift.  If you need to change it during your shift, the supply room of each unit has additional N95 respirators.
• Facemasks:        
  • End of extended use and reuse of facemasks when they are used as part of Standard and Transmission-based precautions (i.e., Droplet).
  • When used only as source control (i.e., not in the care of patients per Standard and Transmission-based precautions), they will continue to be used under extended use and reuse per the policy.
  • Note that facemasks that are soiled, contaminated or damaged must be disposed of immediately.
• Eye Protection:
  • Disposable eye protection is single use.
  • Reusable eye protection will continue under reuse; but extended use will end. This means that the eye protection will be removed, cleaned and stored in between use for patient care, as long as they are not damaged and retain their structural integrity. Read the full policy.

Save the Date

Don’t miss a beat! This week’s events at BWFH

NRC and Patient Experience Office Hours
Wednesday, July 7
12 noon to 12:30 pm
ZOOM

Innovation Digital Education Academy (IDEA) presents Collaborating with External Partners - July 26

While there many resources within Mass General Brigham for digital health innovation, are you interested in how to maximize your opportunities and work with startups, industry and other collaborators outside the system? Join Michael Band, Senior Director of Business Development and Innovation at MGB, Michael Freni, MBA, Senior Director of Business Development and Innovation at MGB, and Tracy Sykes, JD, Senior Director of Business Strategy and Commercialization and Senior Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, on Monday, July 26, at 12 noon via ZOOM for an informative session to learn what it takes to work with external partners. The panelists will share tips on how to identify external digital health vendors, considerations for working with start-ups, sources of funding, IP policies and collaboration agreements.

DFCI/BWH blood drive - July 27

The United States is currently experiencing an urgent blood product shortage. You can do your part to help patients within the Brigham Family and at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute by donating blood to the Kraft Family Blood Donation Center. 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, July 27, from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance. To make your appointment, visit tinyurl.com/FaulknerJ21. As a thank you, all donors will receive a Kraft Family Blood Donor Center Beach Bag! Questions? Email blooddonor@partners.org. If you cannot attend the event on July 27, you can donate anytime by calling 888-LETS-GIV (538-7448) or view a listing of other upcoming local blood drives taking place aboard the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Hospital Blood Mobile.

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