A PUBLICATION FOR EMPLOYEES AND STAFF OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
Walking dead infuse life
into classrooms
The apocalypse is coming: Schlozman, right, and Bialik demonstrate the technology to students.
I
“In space, no one can hear you scream.” This original – and
factual – quote was introduced into pop culture as a tagline for the
1979 movie “Alien.” Today the saying is an example of how the magic
of the big screen can engage students in classrooms across the country,
says Steven Schlozman, MD, of the MGH Department of Psychiatry.
“Sound actually needs molecules to vibrate, and there are no molecules
in the vacuum of space. If you watch ‘Star Wars’ they use all kinds of
sound effects in space, but ‘Battlestar Galactica’ doesn’t use sound and
kids want to know why.”
The MGH psychiatrist has been hurled into the Hollywood spotlight
since the 2011 release of his debut novel, “The Zombie Autopsies: Secret
Notebooks from the Apocalypse,” providing expert advice to filmmakers
through The Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of the
National Academy of Sciences. Most recently, Schlozman was contacted
by Texas Instruments to assist with the development of a Zombie
Apocalypse curriculum, part of its “STEM Behind Hollywood” program.
This free Hollywood-inspired online education activity is aimed at
getting middle and high school students excited about careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
(Continued on page 2)
Everybody’s library
When it comes to researching health care, everyone wants high-quality,
trustworthy information. At the MGH, the Treadwell Library has been a valuable
resource for MGH employees, patients and their families for more than 150 years.
“We provide what has been published and peer-reviewed by knowledge leaders in
the field. We can help a patient gain a deeper understanding of a health problem
or save an MGH employee time by creatively searching biomedical literature. We
teach our users how to find and manage the resources they need,” says Elizabeth
Schneider, director of the Treadwell Library.
Although the library has changed significantly in recent years as more information
(Continued on page 2)
Between the stacks:
A quiet spot in the Treadwell Library
photo courtesy of Texas Instruments
08.16.13
MGHHOTLINE
08.16.13
— Treadwell Library
In Memoriam
(Continued from page 1)
Sandra Hession, RN, BSN, CGRN
has become available electronically, it remains relevant by
offering thousands of online books, a mobile phone version
of its website and new services such as a downloadable
foreign language tool with 40 languages and 15 ESL courses.
More than 1,500 people walk into the library in Bartlett
Hall Extension every week, some to find solitude or
work quietly in groups, others to use print resources
or public-access computers. The MGH Learning Lab –
which connects hands-on, simulation-based learning with
reflective learning is also located at the library.
“The resources at Treadwell are comprehensive,” says
Schneider. “Clinicians can use tools to find supporting
evidence for clinical decisions and practice; researchers
can use QUOSA, which helps automate knowledge
management workflow; and students and faculty have
access to online books, journals and videos.”
Schneider says she wants to eliminate the common
misconception that the library is only open to clinical staff.
“Treadwell is a place for everybody,” she says. “We are
available not only to consult on clinical questions, systematic
reviews, publications or grants, but also to assist employees
going back to school who need help finding information for
their paper or project. Or to answer questions ranging from
‘What is the preferred treatment for a particular cancer?’ to
‘What was the typical life span of a Neanderthal?’”
The Treadwell Library is located next to the Their
Building, across from the Wang lobby. Hours of operation
are 7 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday and 7 am to
7 pm Friday. For more information visit www.massgeneral.
org/library/ or call 617-726-8600.
Sandra Hession, RN, BSN, CGRN, who worked at the MGH for 34 years, died July 11
at the age of 66. Hession is remembered by her colleagues as a dedicated leader
and a wonderful teacher who was a valuable resource for information.
“Our unit has lost a dear friend,” says June Guarente, MS, RN, CGRN. “Sandy will
be remembered not only as an expert GI nurse, but also as a
vibrant spirit – whom many came to know outside of work
and will remember her passion for life.”
Hession began her MGH career as a staff nurse on
Bigelow 7 and also worked for Internal Medical Associates,
but the Endoscopy Unit is where she made her greatest and
longest lasting impact, her colleagues say.
“She passed on her own ‘lamp of knowledge’ to many
nurses, physicians, scope techs, GI/surgical techs and
PCAs,” says Guarente. “It is no wonder she was given the
nickname ‘Flo’ – short for Florence Nightingale – by one
of the Endoscopy nurses.”
A resident of Tewksbury, Hession graduated from
Malden Hospital School of Nursing in 1978 and earned a
BSN from Northeastern University in 1988. In 2002, she
became certified as a GI nurse and was the first nurse in
the Endoscopy Unit to receive recognition as a clinical scholar. Hession was an
active member of the Endoscopy Advisory and GI Endoscopy committees. She
retired from the MGH in 2012.
“I knew Sandy for 26 years,” says Susan Leavitt, RN, of the Neuromuscular
Diagnostic Center. “She was a mentor. She was patient, kind and always willing
to help everyone. I will miss her so much.”
Hession is survived by her husband, Peter Hession; mother, Alma Marquis;
sons, Paul Hogan Jr. and Keith Hession; sister, Janine Myers; brothers, Noel and
Gene Marquis; and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held July 15.
— Zombies in the classroom
“It’s fun,” says Schlozman. “I used to be an English and science teacher.
The idea of using stories to teach makes sense because there is a lot of data
out there to support the idea that kids believe what they see. We have a real
opportunity to tease the science out of them so they might pursue careers
they normally wouldn’t.”
Zombie Apocalypse was developed with assistance from actress and
STEM education advocate, Mayim Bialik, who – like her character in
“The Big Bang Theory” television show – has a PhD in neuroscience.
Schlozman joined Bialik in New York City earlier this month to promote
the technology during the program’s launch.
“We want to get the word out to teachers and administrators,” says
Schlozman. “Using the notion of Hollywood stories – zombies in this
instance – to teach students about epidemiology and neurology is
ground-breaking. We are taking real-life scenarios like ebola outbreaks
and modeling the transmission of a hypothetical zombie contagion
through the human population, the infection rate and logistics patterns.”
In addition to zombies, “STEM Behind Hollywood” downloadable
activities will feature other popular movie themes including space, superheroes
and forensics. For more information visit www.stemhollywood.com. n
A lesson in zombies: Handheld devices depict the spread of airborne infection.
photo courtesy of Texas Instruments
(Continued from page 1)
MGHHOTLINE
One patient
•
One Record
One patient,
one record
the MGH is one of the first hospitals in the
Partners network to begin using the new Epic
electronic health record system, called Partners
eCare. Once complete, it will offer a single,
integrated system that will replace most of the
existing clinical and administrative systems
at the MGH.
The overriding goal is “one patient, one record,
one team, one Partners statement,” enabling
patient clinical and administrative information
to seamlessly flow anywhere within the Partners
system. This is planned to improve coordination,
reduce duplication of care, avoid unnecessary tests
and support the nation’s urgent health care quality
and cost imperatives. Partners eCare will be fully
implemented throughout the Partners system by
2017, making it the largest program of its kind in
the history of Partners.
•
O n e Te a m
•
One Partners Statement
MGH puts new system to the test
A year after Partners HealthCare partnered with Epic to design and configure its new
enterprisewide electronic health record, the first phase of the Partners eCare system will
be tested at the MGH. Over the next several months, representatives from the MGH and
Partners eCare will analyze dozens of real-life scenarios to ensure it meets the needs of the
hospital’s staff and patients.
Testing of the “revenue cycle” portion of the new system – which supports administrative
tasks such as patient appointment scheduling, billing, coding and admissions – is expected
to run through May 2014, with the system officially going live that July. The clinical portion
of the system is scheduled to be in place by 2016.
“This is the first time we get to see the system come together,” says Olivia Roberts,
Partners eCare program manager for MGH/MGPO. “We have worked closely with Epic, the
Partners eCare teams and MGH leadership to develop patient scenarios that are specific and
appropriate to our institution. It isn’t feasible to test every patient scenario, but our goal is to
test the new system by putting it through as many scenarios as possible.”
The revenue cycle testing comes after months of validation sessions where more than
800 MGH staff shared their expertise to help guide, build and strengthen the new single
patient record system. “Testing is the next important step in the process that lets us put the
new system through its paces prior to bringing it inside the hospital,” Roberts says. “Later in
the integrated testing process, we also will involve MGH site representatives, allowing us to
introduce them to the new system prior to training, which is great exposure.”
MGH staff seeking more information can access https://partnersecare.partners.org/ and
sign up for email alerts to receive important updates. n
Neurology Infusion Center: A feeling of family
When a patient visits the MGH Neurology Infusion Center it doesn’t feel like a hospital setting, says Cheryl Tierno, RN. “Because we see patients
so frequently – often up to five times per month – they become a part of our family and are treated like family. Even patients develop relationships with other
patients. It’s very unique. I love my job and look forward to coming to work every day.”
Tierno has worked for the MGH for 30 years and has been with the Neurology Infusion Center since its 2006 inception. The center is an ambulatory
outpatient unit that delivers infusion and intravenous (IV) services
to patients, ages 18 and older, who have a variety of neurological
disorders. On average, the unit sees 12 to 14 patients per day but
more referrals from MGH clinicians for ambulatory patients are
welcome. The infusion center offers intravenous immunoglobulin,
monoclonal antibody therapy, steroids and low-dose chemotherapy
agents for patients with autoimmune disorders, enzyme therapy for
lysosomal storage disease and hydration treatments for patients with
complex medical issues.
“We are really trying to reach out to the entire MGH community,”
says Tierno. “We originally opened our services to other departments
and are now working with rheumatology, immunology, dermatology
and GI. We look forward to providing infusion services to other
departments in the future.”
The infusion center is equipped with eight reclining chairs,
individual LCD TVs, wireless internet access and a private room. But
Compassionate care:
as the center’s practice manager Melissa Thurston Appleton points
Tierno answers a call in the infusion center.
out, the calm and inviting setting is secondary to the compassionate
care. “When patients come here they receive not only excellent physical care but also emotional care. Nurses guide them through the process, answer their
questions and form a really nice partnership. That’s how it is throughout the MGH and that’s what patients say makes a difference to them and what’s special
about the infusion center.”
For more information about the Neurology Infusion Center, located on the eighth floor of 165 Cambridge St., email Appleton at [email protected]
or call 617-724-7013.
MGHHOTLINE
08.16.13
Partners in
Excellence award
nominations
Announcements
available online
To read this week’s
“What’s Happening”
items, visit
http://intranet.
massgeneral.org.
Since 1996, the Partners in Excellence
(PIE) program has recognized employees
who go above and beyond in contributing
to the success of Partners’ institutions.The
deadline to submit nominations for the 2013
award is Sept. 13. Individuals and teams can be
recognized in one of the following categories:
Submit news tips
and story ideas
to MGH Hotline
• Quality treatment and service
• Leadership and innovation
• Teamwork
• Operational efficiency
• O
utstanding community
contributions
editor
Colleen Marshall
617-726-0275
Nomination forms may be completed
online by visiting http://pulse.partners.
org/PIE/InstructionsWEB.asp or for paper
nomination forms, call 617-724-9743.
The selection committees will review
nominations in January and the annual
PIE Award ceremonies will be held at the
MGH in April 2014.
Assistant editor
Emily Williams
617-724-2753
contributor
Mae Driscoll
email
[email protected]
mail
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Suite 830
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MGH Hotline is
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Find MGH Hotline
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Rolling out fun
Waiting for appointments
in the MassGeneral Hospital for
Children’s (MGHfC) Pediatric
Imaging waiting room became a
lot more fun this week thanks to
a donation of a new Starlight Fun
Center. The secure, portable,
all-in-one gaming and video
console features a Wii gaming
system with 22 games, a DVD
player and a plasma TV.
“The game consoles are a way
for kids to just be kids during their
hospital experience,” said Katie
Weagle, Pediatric Imaging child life
specialist.“They can help provide a
WHEEL-Y cool: Scuccimarra, center, cuts the ribbon on the new Starlight Fun
bit of distraction as well as alleviate
Center with support from fellow Shaw’s employees, from left, John Anderson,
some anxiety for not only the
Paul Nerney and Matt Celona.
children, but also for parents.”
The device was presented to
MGHfC by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, through a $5,000 sponsorship from Colgate-Palmolive and Shaw’s supermarkets,
during a ribbon-cutting and thank-you ice cream party on Aug. 14. It is the sixth console donated by the foundation to MGHfC’s
pediatric units. Weagle said the consoles are popular with children and their parents who often play the games together.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to do something for the children,” said John Scuccimarra, Shaw’s district manager.
“These games help kids feel comfortable and we’re happy to be a part of this. It’s important to help children feel normal
in this abnormal environment.” n