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Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, has been named President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Executive Vice President at Mass General Brigham, effective in December of this year. A distinguished academic and clinical physician with a long track record of collaborative leadership, Dr. Higgins currently serves as the William Stewart Halsted Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Director of Hopkins’ Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief.
“I am personally thrilled to welcome Dr. Higgins to his new role and very much look forward to collaborating with him,” says Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital President David O. McCready. “A special relationship exists between our two hospitals that will no doubt continue to flourish under his leadership.”
A research team from the Brigham has found that delivering acute care at home for non-COVID-19 patients freed up substantial inpatient capacity during the COVID-19 surge last spring. From March 15 to June 18, 2020, the Brigham’s Home Hospital program provided care for 65 acutely ill patients at home, amounting to 227 bed-days at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and 177 bed-days at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In addition to freeing up beds for patients at the two hospitals, the Home Hospital program offered a care option for patients who may have otherwise deferred care during the pandemic.
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. Two PCAs—6 South’s Beverly Jobson and 7 South’s Stacie Welch—were both recent recipients of I CARE Awards. Read more.
Recently, Rose Sheehan, Mass General Brigham’s Chief Human Resources Officer, and Tom Sequist, MD, Mass General Brigham’s Chief Patient Experience and Equity Officer, hosted a Town Hall. Sheehan focused on Where We Work and other HR-related updates, and Dr. Sequist updated us on the latest COVID-19 trends. A recording can be viewed here.
For many, alcohol offers a means of social connection and unwinding. However, data shows that the pandemic represented an increase in drinking for many women. This trend is consistent with recent pre-COVID-19 patterns, which showed alcohol in-take for women, (especially those in their 20s and 30s), rivaling drinking levels of men. Many are not aware that even moderate alcohol use may have more significant long-term health impacts on women. In this EAP news article, John Kelly, PhD, from Mass General Hospital, discusses the importance of understanding health-related facts about alcohol, so women are in the best position to make decisions about their own drinking behaviors.
Each year, the Italian Home for Children celebrates SunSplash. The event, which will take place on Thursday, August 26, caps off the summer camp activities and features an array of fun activities for the students and staff to enjoy. Volunteers from Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital have been invited to help make the day special for our neighbors. If you’re interested in helping out, email Katie Plante with the hours you are available. Volunteers are needed for set up between 9 and 11 am and for the event itself between 11 am to 3 pm.
Looking for a primary care provider? Jiani Guo, DO, at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Community Physicians in Hyde Park, is currently accepting new patients! Learn more.
In light of the fact that we are currently experiencing significant demand for services in our hospitals as noted by Chief Operating Officer of Mass General Brigham Ron M. Walls, MD, Mass General Brigham has made the decision to move the go-live date of our Where We Work strategy to November 1. This decision supports efforts to address increasing density in our facilities. This includes the need to provide distanced dining and break locations for employees when they need to remove their masks.
Next steps:
Our Mass General Brigham telephone systems have been updated! Going forward, you can no longer dial 1 before the area code when making outbound calls from a Mass General Brigham phone. For more information, click here.
Recently, a safety report was submitted regarding the coordination of care for a patient in the ICU who needed a procedure in Interventional Radiology. Read the complete edition of Last Week In Patient Safety.
In a heartfelt thank you to healthcare professionals and essential workers for their courage and dedication during the pandemic response, the hosts of Soiree on the Bay are offering one-time financial grants in support of individuals with exceptional stories of courage and heroism. Any healthcare professional or essential worker who worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated exceptional courage, resilience, determination and/or dedication is eligible. To be considered for a grant, please submit nominations by Friday, August 27. Click here for more details and the nomination form.
As the healthcare landscape becomes more complex, with increasing demands on Nurse Leaders, we believe that those who create an environment of compassion and recognition for others strongly deserve to be recognized themselves. That’s why we’re asking you to nominate the extraordinary Nurse Leaders you know for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. At Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Nurse Leaders include Nurse Directors, Nursing Supervisors, Nurse Educators and Program Managers in the Department of Nursing. This annual recognition recognizes the incredible work that Nurse Leaders do every day. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, September 10. Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and employees may nominate a deserving Nurse Leader here.
Experts across the system are adjusting our policies based on the latest data and public health guidance. The following are important changes to several policies.
Due to the recent increases in community prevalence of COVID-19, public health authorities have now recommended use of eye protection for all clinical encounters. This means that eye protection should 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.
|
Reuse |
Extended Use |
Single Use |
|
|
Eye Protection – |
No disposable |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Eye Protection – reusable |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Throughout the pandemic we have used conservation strategies supported by our infection control experts and public health guidance. As public health guidance changes, the following changes have been made to the policy:
All current Mass General Brigham employees must have received a complete series of COVID-19 vaccine by October 15, 2021 (both doses Pfizer or Moderna, or single dose Johnson & Johnson). Requiring COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment is consistent with our approach to the influenza vaccine requirement implemented in 2018.
To satisfy this requirement, you must do one of the following:
Employees seeking an exemption for medical or religious reasons for the COVID-19 vaccine must submit a request by September 3. Access the medical exemption request form. Access the religious exemption request form.
We remain fully committed to supporting our colleagues who may have concerns about receiving the vaccine and have developed guidance to help answer questions. As always, employees are strongly encouraged to discuss specific questions with their healthcare providers.
Public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have recommended a third dose of the vaccine for certain people who got the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Among those who qualify are healthcare workers. Plans are currently in place to stand up third dose vaccine clinics on site for all employees this fall. At this time, the earliest that booster administration is expected to begin is September 20, and we anticipate additional guidance from CDC prior to that time, as well as updates to FDA vaccine authorizations. More information will be announced as it becomes available. Booster shots are currently available to moderately to severely immunocompromised people at local pharmacies. No referrals or appointments are needed.
The health and safety of our patients, their families and our staff is our top priority—and we all play a role in curbing the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our communities. You can do your part by:
Thank you for making Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital a great place to work and receive care!
Linen Awareness Day
Tuesday, August 24
10 am to 2 pm
Outside the Cafeteria and Rounding
Coping with Change
Tuesday, August 24
12 noon to 1 pm
Zoom
School Supply Drive
Tuesday, August 24
12 noon to 1 pm
Outside the Cafeteria
NRC and Patient Experience Office Hours
Wednesday, August 25
12 noon to 12:30 pm
Zoom
De-Escalation Recertification Training
Friday, August 27
3:30 to 7:30 pm
Zoom
In the United States, there are more than six million stroke survivors. Like so many others, you may have unique needs and interests, as well as questions. Open to all stroke survivors, family members and friends, the Stroke Support Group at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital is a way for you to meet other stroke survivors and caregivers who understand just what you’re going through. Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom from 12 to 1 pm on the first Wednesday of every month, beginning Wednesday, September 1. For more information or to print a flyer for your patients, click here.
Many local students of all ages are in dire need of essential educational supplies as they struggle to adjust to challenges that the pandemic brought to schools. Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Community Health and Wellness is collecting new school supplies for kids in need at JP Manning Elementary School to help them succeed in the year ahead. To donate, stop by our School Supply Drive days outside the cafeteria from 12 noon to 1 pm on August 24, September 1 or September 14 or contact Katie Plante to schedule a pick up. For a list of needed items, click here.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness Department is seeking volunteers to help prepare meals for critically ill individuals and their families in our community. Join us on Tuesday, September 14, from 4 to 7 pm at Community Servings (179 Amory Street in Jamaica Plain) to peel, chop and package meals for Community Servings’ clients. Volunteers must be 13 years or older, vaccinated against COVID-19 (please have proof of vaccination when you arrive) and register in advance. For more information or to register, contact Katie Plante.
Join us on Monday, September 13, 20 and 27, from 6:30 to 8 pm for Mindful Stress Reduction with Christina Luberto, PhD. This three-session virtual course will introduce the practice of mindfulness to help manage stress and improve well-being. It is offered free through the support of a BWPO grant for well-being. For more information or to register, click here.
Today’s highly effective leaders need tools, methods and strategies to manage and champion transformation. The Primary Care Leadership Summit, taking place virtually on Friday, September 17, from 8 to 11 am, will give you resources to inspire your teams and create a highly productive culture. For more information, click here. Register by Thursday, September 16.
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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