Chief of Surgery Celebrates 25 Years at BWFH

News for and about BWFH Staff and Employees

Good Chief of Surgery celebrates Health 25 years at BWFH

At an event held at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, BW- FH’s Medical Staff honored Dr. IT’S IN Pardon Kenney for his 25 years YOUR as Chief of Surgery at Brigham HANDS! and Women’s Faulkner Hos- pital. “Having somebody stay in one position over 25 years is truly amazing,” said Chief Operating Officer Dr. Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA.

Dr. Kenney came to BWFH in Dr. Pardon Kenney, Dr. Erika Rangel and President of the 1989. “It seemed like a good BWFH Medical Staff Dr. John Lewis fit. It did not require the heavy- duty laboratory research that I wasn’t “You can be both a surgeon and a very good at, but I could do what I like to wonderful human being.” do which is to teach and educate,” says Dr. Kenney. Over the years, Dr. Kenney Dr. Kenney’s devotion to teaching goes has focused on providing quality care to beyond the technical skills. He says, “We patients in the community while guid- can teach them the technical skills. They ing residents and fellows into successful can see how we do things technically, but careers in surgery. learning judgment is as much a part of surgical residency as anything else.” So “At the end of the day, it’s important to much of his job is helping his students to think about your legacy. What is it that’s be confident in their ability and guiding going to make you stand out in people’s them to be good decision-makers. minds? Well, it’s got to do with the people you have helped to teach,” He says, “A surgeon first and foremost Wash or says Dr. Kenney. should be a physician, a doctor, who does sanitize before operate, but who doesn’t always operate At the event, Dr. Erika Rangel, a former if he or she thinks it’s not the right thing and after resident of Dr. Kenney’s, said, “The most to do. Sometimes you have to stand up to each patient important story to tell is the story about your colleagues.” Pardon’s role as a surgical educator over interaction. the past 25 years.” She described his ded- Over the years, the field of surgery ication as “irrefutable” and his talent for has grown and evolved. Residents have teaching as “completely irreplaceable.” come and gone. Dr. Kenney has remained. But, she said the most important lesson He says simply, “I can’t see myself she learned from Dr. Kenney is this: elsewhere.”

BWFH Pulse 1 New Orthopedic Surgery Center opens at BWFH

After a two-and-a-half-week renovation project, the 6th floor During the renovation project, surgical pavilion was reopened this fall as the Orthopedic Sur- all 6th floor operating rooms gery Center. The refreshed space is designed with a specific fo- were closed. Key players from all cus on orthopedic procedures, including total joint replacement. areas worked together to ensure the project was completed in a timely and efficient manner. The team was led by Associate Chief Nurse, Ambulatory and Perioper- ative Services Kitty Rafferty, RN, Vice President, Clinical Services Susan Dempsey, OR Nursing Partners eCare hardware Director Patricia McCarthy, NP, and OR Business Manager Paul Riley. Administrative Director of Surgical Services Jeffrey Blackwell worked with the block sched- uling to allow for a full surgical case load on the 1st floor. Central Processing Department Manager Michael Viveiros created a new inventory of surgical instruments specifically tailored for the services being rendered. Finally, Project Manager Bill Andreas from the Real Estate and Facilities group at BWH was responsible for Orthopedic Surgery Center operating room coordinating the architects’ and engineers’ design work, managing the construction contract and equipment vendor purchases The Orthopedic Surgery Center at BWFH features new monitors and coordinating with all the different hospital groups to get the for the x-ray system, Partners eCare hardware and upgraded project designed, scheduled and implemented on time and on video equipment, including new LED monitors, new cameras and budget. new scopes that enable surgeons to broadcast procedures to colleagues and students around the world. The renovation also included replacing the UV light sterilization system with a laminar airflow system.

“The refreshed area gives our orthopedic surgeons the state-of- the-art space they need to perform total joint replacement on the 6th floor, as well as other orthopedic procedures. The laminar airflow system reduces the risk of infection, which is safer for the patient,” says Dr. Brandon Earp, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at BWFH.

Laminar flow system Surgical workstation

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2 BWFH Pulse BWFH receives national recognition for meritorious outcomes from the American College of Surgeons

For the second year in a row, the tion, ventilator > 48 hours, renal failure, cardiac incidents (cardiac American College of Surgeons arrest and myocardial infarction), respiratory (pneumonia), SSI National Surgical Quality Im- (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and provement Program (ACS NSQ- organ-space SSIs) or urinary tract infection. BWFH achieved the IP®) has recognized Brigham and distinction based on our outstanding composite quality score in Women’s Faulkner Hospital as the eight areas listed above. one of 44 ACS NSQIP participat- ing hospitals that have achieved “The goal of ACS NSQIP is to provide reliable data that helps meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care. Similar to last reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgi- year, BWFH is the only hospital in New England to be recog- cal procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgi- nized with this honor. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, BWFH is cal procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgi- apply what is known as the ‘best scientific evidence,’” says Dr. cal procedures, collecting data that informs patient safety efforts Pardon Kenney, Chief of Surgery. “I am extremely proud of all of and the quality of surgical care improvements. our physicians and nursing staff, and their exemplary commitment to the highest standards of surgical care. This recognition The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group from the American College of Surgeons is another testament to of hospitals for achieving superior outcomes related to patient their dedication.” management in eight clinical areas: mortality, unplanned intuba-

BWH Department of Dermatology expands at BWFH

For more than 25 years, Dr. Eva Balash has been a dermatologist As part of Brigham Dermatology Associates, Dr. Balash finds at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. She recently left her she can focus on the “bread and butter” dermatology she loves. private practice and joined Brigham Dermatology Associates at And when a patient is more challenging, she consults with other BWFH where she and two medical assistants see patients four dermatology colleagues. “Sometimes diagnoses get really, really days a week. These services include the evaluation, diagnosis esoteric. And maybe the person who wrote the article on that and treatment of a happens to be over at Longwood. So when that happens it’s wide variety of skin nice, both for the patient and for me,” she says. conditions. Dr. Balash says she will continue to see patients Monday through Dr. Balash says, “I Thursday. Dr. Jason Frangos has also come on board to expand see anyone with the practice to five days a week. Dr. Frangos earned his medical skin.” In her office, degree at Yale University. In 2010, he completed an internship she treats patients in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before of all ages with completing a dual residency in dermatology and internal medi- rashes, psoriasis, cine through the Harvard Combined Medicine-Dermatology poison ivy and Training Program. At BWFH, he will see both outpatient and Dr. Eva Balash Dr. Jason Frangos more. “We see inpatient cases as the Director of the BWFH Inpatient Consulta- everything from a little kid with eczema to an older person with tion Service. skin cancer, even melanoma,” she says. To make an appointment with Brigham Dermatology Associates, call 617-983-7324 today.

BWFH Pulse 3 BWFH welcomes new Chiefs of Hematology and Urology BWFH Director of Police, Security, Safety and Parking Dr. Nathan Connell has been named clini- program at BWFH. This includes the chairs two professional cal Chief of Hematology at Brigham and expansion of general urology access and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. In his new services, as well as subspecialty urology security organizations role, Dr. Connell will provide clinical lead- programs. ership for the hematology division, in- In January of cluding oversight of the quality of patient Most recently Dr. Malone served as Chief 2014, Ashley care, provide hematology consultation of Surgery for Dedham Medical Associ- Ditta, Direc- for outpatients at the Brigham Medical ates. He has also been a staff urologist tor of Police, Specialties practice at BWFH and coor- with our Department of Surgery for more Security, Safety dinate coverage for the BWFH inpatient than a decade. and Parking hematology consult service. In addition, at Brigham Dr. Connell will work with BWFH leader- Dr. Malone completed his undergraduate and Women’s ship committees on matters related to work at Brandeis University and then went Faulkner Hos- hematology, including the blood bank, on to the University of Massachusetts pital, assumed transfusion committee and pharmacy and Medical School where he was a surgical the role of Ashley Ditta therapeutics committee. Dr. Connell will intern, surgical resident and chief resi- Chapter Chair also serve an important role in medical dent. He completed his training as urol- for the American Society for Industrial resident and medical student education. ogy resident and chief urology resident Security (ASIS). In April, she assumed the at Lahey Clinic Medical Center, where he role of Chair for the Boston chapter of the Dr. Connell earned a bachelor’s degree in later spent 14 years serving as a distin- International Association for Healthcare biological sciences from Cornell Univer- guished member of their urology team. Security & Safety (IAHSS). Chairing both sity and a master’s degree in biomedical organizations at once is certainly a big sciences from Barry University before Among his many accolades, Dr. Malone commitment, but one Ditta finds extreme- attending medical school at the Univer- was selected by both U.S. News & World ly rewarding. sity of Miami. He completed his intern- Report and Boston Magazine for their ship and residency in internal medicine annual listings of top doctors in 2012 and Both organizations provide network- at Brown University in affiliation with 2013. He is currently an assistant clinical ing opportunities and education for the Rhode Island Hospital where he was also professor in urology at Tufts University private security industry. IAHSS specifi- chief resident from 2010 through 2011. School of Medicine, as well as a clinical cally focuses on healthcare security, a field Dr. Connell then completed a clinical and instructor in surgery at Harvard Medical that poses a unique set of challenges. At research fellowship in hematology/oncol- School, a position he’s held for more than IAHSS, Ditta is able to learn what chal- ogy, also at Brown University and Rhode 20 years. lenges other hospitals in the area face and Island Hospital, where he was elected to how they address them. She can also share the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor BWFH’s best practices. “My colleagues society. In 2014, Dr. Connell earned his at other hospitals and other institutions, Master of Public Health degree with a they’re amazing. They have such a wealth focus on clinical effectiveness from the of knowledge. It’s always so nice to talk to Harvard School of Public Health. them because they’re going though the same thing I’m going through or they’ve Dr. Michael Malone has been named done it in the past,” says Ditta. Section Chief of Urology at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. In his new Ditta originally became involved both role, Dr. Malone will work closely with Dr. groups for the networking experience. “I Adam Kibel and senior BWHC leader- wanted to be more than just someone in ship to expand and improve the existing one hospital. So I wanted to get my name Dr. Nathan Connell Dr. Michael Malone robust Brigham and Women’s urology out there,” she says. As Chair of both organizations, she has more than made a name for herself. She is now truly a leader in the field of healthcare security.

4 BWFH Pulse Three generations, one care team

Pulmonologists, neurologists, gastroen- of her patients’ lives. It also makes the terologists. When Niurka Pitt’s daughter logistics easier for Niurka. “I’m very busy. was born at just 25 weeks she had to be I have my child who has complex medical seen by all of them. She weighed just 1 issues, I have my parents who have their lb. 11 oz. and measured only 12.5". “She own medical issues and I have to work. was very tiny and a very sick baby,” says I have two jobs so I don’t have the time Niurka. to navigate around,” she says. Now, at Brigham and Women’s Family Care As- Niurka spent months in the NICU at sociates, the entire family can receive the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with care they need all in one place. her tiny baby. “When my daughter was born, we were told a lot of things could Today, Niurka’s daughter is doing well go wrong with her and there were a lot Niurka Pitts looks on while daughter Carmen under the care of Dr. O’Hare. Niurka says, of things they couldn’t rule out then,” is examined “She is a four-year-old. She is behaving she says. As a young mother, Niurka was like a four-year-old and doing everything understandably frightened, sad, anxious Dr. O’Hare, was then a physician with the that a four-year-old should be doing at her and frustrated by this news. Martha Eliot Health Center in Jamaica age.” Plain. A year ago, when the Martha Eliot Trying to comprehend the barrage of Health Center closed to adult patients, The physicians at Brigham and Wom- information from the panel of specialists she joined Brigham and Women’s Family en’s Family Care Associates are cur- treating her daughter was overwhelm- Care Associates at Brigham and Women’s rently accepting new pediatric patients. ing. Niurka eventually turned to her own Faulkner Hospital and Niurka followed To make an appointment for your primary care physician, Dr. Kitty O’Hare. her. She says, “It was the wisest decision child, please call 617-983-7025 Monday It was then that Niurka discovered her for me to make.” In addition to treating through Friday between 8 am and 5 doctor was also a pediatrician, and one Niurka and her daughter, Dr. O’Hare also pm. Appointments are conducted in who specializes in caring for children with sees Niurka’s Spanish-speaking parents English or Spanish. chronic illness. “I knew her. I already had a and her husband. relationship with her. But I didn’t know she Niurka Pitts is a Family Support Special- sees children with chronic illness. When Through our doors, at Brigham and Wom- ist for the BWH NICU and Patient Partner I got that information, it became easy en’s Family Care Associates, a unique for Brigham and Women’s Family Care for me. I wanted her to be my daughter’s family-centered approach to primary care Associates. doctor,” says Niurka. allows Dr. O’Hare to get a full picture

INVEST IN THE FUTURE You can make an incredible impact life insurance policy. Every planned OF BRIGHAM AND in your community for years to gift ensures that the BWFH patients of WOMEN’S FAULKNER come when you include Brigham today and tomorrow get the right care and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in in the right place–their own backyard. HOSPITAL your estate plans. By planning your gift today, you are promising that For more information on how to excellent specialty care, services include BWFH in your estate plans, and treatment options in orthopedic please contact Kathleen Duffy, surgery, cardiology, cancer, neurology senior director of gift planning, at and general surgery will always be 617-424-4326 or [email protected]. available, far into the future.

There are many ways to make this If you have already included BWFH in your plans, please let us know so that we may welcome special gift–you can name the you into the Legacy Society–a society created hospital as a beneficiary of your to recognize and celebrate donors who have remembered the hospital in their estate plans. will, trust, retirement account or

BWFH Pulse 5 BWFH Palliative Care Consultant teaches foundational course to nurses in the Middle East

In the United States, palliative care is recognized as an essential component of healthcare. By managing the symptoms of patients with chronic diseases and serious illnesses, palliative care providers help improve quality of life by managing pain or other severe impairments. Palliative care providers assist patients and families in the coordination of care and in the process of making difficult care decisions. They also help foster collaboration within an interdisciplinary medical team. In much of the Middle East, however, the term palliative care is not yet widely recognized in academic literature or integrated in the plan of care for patients with chronic disease or at the end of life.

Recently, a group of five nurse practitioners from the Oncology Nursing Society, supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, were asked by the Oncology Nursing Society and Mid- dle Eastern Cancer Consortium to travel to Hacettepe Univer- Julie Vosit-Steller with her students sity in Ankara, Turkey to conduct a foundational course in palliative care for nurses from various countries in the Middle East, Vosit-Steller says of her students, “The nurses are already pro- including Iraq, Iran and Turkey. Among those nurse practitioners viding a palliative care approach.” However, they did not have was Julie Vosit-Steller, DNP FNP-BC AOCN, from Brigham and academic vocabulary with which to discuss their work. “By the Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Palliative Care Consult Service. end of the fourth day everyone was exhausted, but they had something to take back to where they’re working and begin to Vosit-Steller, who is also an associate professor at Simmons implement something, whether it be a pain assessment scale, or College, says of the group of nurse practitioners, “All of us a spiritual assessment scale, or something for parents to learn have international experience teaching palliative care.” They to better support their children who are dying. A beginning in came together to give presentations on a wide range of topics, order to start a formal palliative care service in their hospital or including symptom management, the psychosocial and spiri- institution,” she says. tual components of palliative care, palliative care structures, setting up palliative care service and caring for the caregiver. It “The experience was so moving because they wake up in places was important that all of the material was delivered in a cultur- every day where they don’t know what’s going to happen, their ally appropriate and sensitive format. After each session, each communities are filled with uncertainty and political/social member of the team led smaller groups in break-out discus- violence. They don’t know if they are going to be able to go to sions. It was in the small groups that more intimate conversation work or not. This is something they clearly need. Being able to and in-depth understanding of translating knowledge into their say, ‘We’re going to be developing professionally and we want own practice occurred. to move in this direction,’ gives them hope. It also let them know that they could cross the boundary of what traditionally Particularly in the culturally mixed break-out sessions, Vosit- they’ve been told they could never do and it was safe and Steller was awed by the level of involvement among the nurses. now they have ways to communicate with each other,” explains “Prior to arriving, we were concerned that the nurses may not Vosit-Steller. openly share their thoughts and nursing practices. We had no problem at all with them engaging! There was no need for us For Vosit-Steller the experience was highly rewarding. She to wait for them to open up. Even though they don’t speak and learned much about the rich cultural history of the Middle East share openly in public, they do share among themselves and and helped empower a group of nurses to better themselves. they were very interested in what we had to say,” she says. “This was a very successful trip,” she says.

6 BWFH Pulse Brigham and Women’s Primary Physicians accepting new patients

Brigham and Women’s Primary Physicians (BWPP), located at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital is pleased to highlight several primary care physicians currently accepting new patients. The primary care physicians accepting new patients are: Dr. Stephanie Berman, Dr. Natalie Cohen, Dr. Maria Co- pello, Dr. Linda Lauretti, Dr. Laura McCord, Dr. Lisa Owens, Dr. Orietta Miato, Dr. Karl Laskowski and Dr. Neil Wagle.

Primary care plays a key role in your health, which is Dr. Stephanie Berman Dr. Natalie Cohen Dr. Maria Copello why the staff and providers at BWPP strive to foster long-term healing relationships with patients. At BWPP, 12 primary care physicians and two physician assistants (PAs) coordinate and deliver the full spec- trum of your care, from same-day access to diagnoses and treatment to specialty referral. At BWPP, our patients reside at the center of world-class care.

Dr. Roy Welker of BWPP finds having the practice within BWFH very helpful for both staff and patients. “It’s great for me because when I see someone I can literally give them anything they want within these Dr. Linda Lauretti Dr. Laura McCord Dr. Lisa Owens four walls,” says Dr. Welker. With so many services available within the hospital, ordering tests and procedures is simplified, and the patients can get all of their care in the same place rather than traveling to wide-spread facilities. “Patients really love one- stopping shopping, that’s why they like it here. They like to be able to come in for things as simple as a cough or a cold and for their primary care needs, which would be annual exams, pap smears, mammo- grams, that kind of thing. But they can also get their colonoscopy, they can have their knee surgery, they can be admitted if they need to be admitted, they Dr. Orietta Miato Dr. Karl Laskowski Dr. Neil Wagle have access to our emergency department, they have all the subspecialties here,” says Dr. Welker. Whether you are looking to establish a relationship with a new primary care provider, not feeling well or have general ques- Patients visit BWPP for more than just annual exams tions about your health, make BWPP your first point of contact. and preventative medicine. In addition to the physi- Available for both annual exams and same-day urgent care, the cians on staff, there are PAs who field urgent care BWPP team works diligently to meet all your healthcare needs in problems and perform wellness visits, RNs who one convenient location. develop care plans with patients and two embed- ded social workers who do short-term psychother- To make an appointment, please call 617-983-7300 between apy and provide access to community resources. the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Patients get complete care, eliminating the need for We look forward to seeing you. visits to urgent care centers and the ED.

BWFH Pulse 7 Taking care of patients, and each other, on the night shift

In a hospital setting, patients require care tients walking around and there are fewer my coworkers a lot,” says Lerebour. And around the clock. While most people are visitors. But most importantly, “It’s almost when her shift is over, Lerebour is lucky at home and asleep, staff members at like close family because everybody enough to be flexible about when she Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital knows each other. There’s not as many sleeps and when she is active. “I need to are hard at work caring for our patients people and staff so you get to work more have a life. I am very big on spending time and their families. Some of them are with the staff that’s here. We all take care with my friends and family. I’m not going simply night owls, some find it makes child of each other,” says Ramos. to stay home and sleep all day. I’ll sleep if care easier and others are in positions I need to, but if I have to do things, I’ll just where they just have to be flexible. But Like Ramos, 6 go,” she says. there is one thing everyone who works North staff nurse over night agrees upon: We take care of Sowaya Lerebour each other. is also a night person. She de- For the last ten scribes the pace years, Oswald of the hospital at (Ozzie) Ramos has night as slower. worked the night Patients don’t go shift at BWFH. As out for testing, security supervi- Sowaya Lerebour, RN there are no sor he oversees visitors, there are no doctors rounding, Caroline King, RN, and Bernadette Javier, RN two other officers there’s no physical therapy and there are on the night shift. no social services. “It’s a little quieter,” For 7 North staff nurses Caroline King The two officers she says, but it’s far from boring. “People and Bernadette Javier, who’ve worked Oswald Ramos take turns staffing have the misconception that patients together for the better part of 25 years, the ED, leaving Ramos and one officer to sleep. Patients do not sleep,” she says. working the night shift afforded them patrol the rest of the hospital. Ramos says During the night, patients must be woken the opportunity to be present when their he was initially interested in the supervisor periodically for vitals, and by 5 am every- children were growing up. When her kids position on the night shift because, “I was one is getting up and call bells are going were little, “My husband would bring the always kind of a night owl anyway.” Over off. Because there is limited staff at night, girls to school. I’d sleep like two or three the years, he’s come to enjoy the hospital those who are there must rely on each hours in the morning if I could and then at night. It’s quieter, there are fewer pa- other. “I like the night shift because I like pick them up and bring them to wherever

CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL RECERTIFICATION

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Cardiac heart attacks, stable angina, coronary artery bypass Rehabilitation Program recently earned its recertifica- graft surgery, angioplasty and stent placement, valve tion with the American Association of Cardiovascular repair and replacement and heart transplant) recover and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The Cardiac faster and improve their quality of life. Certified Rehabilitation Program is now certified through 2017. AACVPR programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation The AACVPR Cardiac Rehabilitation Program because they offer the most advanced practices Certification process is the only peer-reviewed ac- available. creditation process designed to review individual facilities for adherence to standards and guidelines “This certification lets our patients know our program developed and published by the AACVPR and other is aligned with current guidelines as approved by the professional societies. AACVPR,” says Aggie Casey, RN, MS, Cardiac Reha- bilitation Manager. They can be sure we are provid- Cardiovascular rehabilitation programs are designed ing appropriate and effective early outpatient care to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g. for their cardiac issues.”

8 BWFH Pulse they wanted to go–library, sports, whatev- have worked nurses who you er. By 6 pm I’d have to be in bed because together for 20 can bounce ideas I’d have to wake up at 10 pm,” says Javier. or 25 years. It’s a off of. At night, It was never easy. “Not everybody could really nice group Dr. Brooks is often do it,” she says. But it worked. Similarly, of people,” says the only doctor when her children were young, King was McLean. Much like in the ED after able to work nights, sleep off hours and King and Javier, midnight. There is be awake when her kids needed her. “I working the night usually a physi- was at every game. I was at every awards shift just works cian’s assistant on ceremony,” she says. “My husband used for McLean. “I until 3 or 4 am, as to be annoyed when I was on nights all the Leandra McLean, RN choose it because Dr. Jessica Brooks well as the team of time, but now he’s so used to it. He used I have young kids. nurses and secu- to always say, ‘I think you should come off I have three kids in elementary school. I rity, all working together to treat patients the night shift.’ But it was really the best work 7 pm to 3:30 in the morning, which and help one another. “The night shift is thing for our family,” she explains. Just like is a very odd shift. But I go home, I take nice because the hospital is quieter,” says at home, during their shift, it’s all about a nap and I’m able to get up with my kids Dr. Brooks. “We all work well together as making it work. “We know each other re- in the morning, get them ready for school a team to care for anyone and anything ally well. We depend on each other. We’ve and get them off to school. I go back to that walks through the door,” she says. worked together for years and years and bed and then get up when they’re getting There are other perks to the night shift as years. It’s like a small family,” says King. out of school so we can do afternoon well. “The nice part about the night shift is She explains, “We know who’s on all the activities,” she says. It’s not always easy to being home to put my kids to bed before I time and who we can call.” Javier agrees, find time for sleep, but “It works. You do go into work,” she says. saying, “We help each other.” what you need to do,” she says. Those that work the night shift do so for Leandra McLean, RN, is clinical leader in For Dr. Jessica Brooks, attending physi- a range of reasons. One thing that is true the ED. She says, “Because there are so cian in the ED, working the night shift across the board is this: With limited re- few of us at night, we do tend to work a from time to time is just part of the job. sources, staff members must lean on each little better together.” She describes the She splits her time between the ED at other to get the job done. It’s BWFH’s workflow as a group of people taking BWFH and BWH, working both day and dedicated staff, who care for both patients care of a group people. This team feel night shifts. Working both, she sees the and each other, that keeps the hospital comes from a deep respect and friend- pros and cons of each. During the day, running over night. ship among co-workers. “A lot of them the hospital is teeming with doctors and

BWFH HONORED FOR COMMITMENT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In 2011, Partners HealthCare was the first healthcare system to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NSTAR. Over the last three years, Partners HealthCare and NSTAR have worked together to increase energy efficiency and savings at all six Partners Health- Care hospitals within the NSTAR service territory, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. The result has been a cumulative energy savings of 25 percent over the three-year period.

At a recent reception at the Top of the Hub, attended by BWFH’s Vice President of Finance and Real Estate Vincent McDermott and Assistant Director of Facilities Services Tom Wigmore, NSTAR thanked Partners HealthCare for its participation, leadership and commitment to energy efficiency. “While the cost savings associ- BWFH Assistant Director of Facilities Services Tom Wigmore (left) ated with becoming more energy efficient is important to us, the and Vice President of Finance and Real Estate Vincent McDermott biggest reason we partner with NSTAR is because it’s the right (third from right) join other representatives from Partners Health- thing to do for the environment,” says McDermott. Care at the Top of the Hub

BWFH Pulse 9 Gregory Endoscopy Centre adds Department of Radiology offers lung endoscopic ultrasound to its advanced cancer screening using low-dose CT endoscopy services

At the Gregory Endoscopy Centre at Brigham and Women’s According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the Faulkner Hospital, in addition to standard upper endoscopies, leading cause of cancer death among both men and women.* physicians perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan- In fact, more people die of lung cancer each year than of colon, creatograms (ERCP) to treat biliary and pancreatic diseases breast and prostate cancers combined. As with most cancers, and now endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS) to obtain images and early detection significantly improves survival rates. information about the digestive tract. “When it comes to lung cancer, the “With ERCP and EUS, I can get a much earlier the detection, the better the better look at the digestive tract. prognosis,” says Dr. Francine Jacob- These technologies are especially son, from Brigham and Women’s helpful in diagnosing biliary and pan- Faulkner Hospital’s Radiology De- creatic diseases,” says Dr. Marvin Ryou partment. “Studies have shown that of the Gregory Endoscopy Centre. patients at increased risk who were screened with Computed Tomogra- An ERCP is a procedure that combines phy (CT) rather than a chest x-ray, had the use of a flexible, lighted scope 20 percent fewer deaths from lung (endoscope) with x-ray pictures to Dr. Francine Jacobson cancer.” As a result of those findings, Dr. Marvin Ryou examine the tubes that drain the liver, a task force formed by the American gallbladder and pancreas. An ERCP Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) announced recom- is used for gallstones that are trapped in the main bile duct, mendations that former smokers between the ages of 55 and blockages of the bile duct, jaundice, cancer of the bile ducts or 79 should get an annual low-dose CT scan to screen for lung pancreas, pancreatitis and various other pancreato-hepatobili- cancer. “We screen patients between the ages of 55 and 80 ary conditions. who have at least a 30 pack year history of smoking, and who have not been ex-smokers for greater than 15 years.” says Dr. Brand new to the Gregory Endoscopy Centre is the EUS or Jacobson. If the patient does not meet these risk criteria, they echo-endoscopy. EUS is a medical procedure to examine the may still be eligible for a scan under a self-pay option. walls of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract as well as adjacent organs and lymph nodes. The upper tract includes Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital offers lung cancer the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The lower tract screening using low-dose CT to individuals who meet these includes the colon and rectum. EUS can be used to evaluate high-risk criteria. The screening CT scan is a very quick and an abnormality, such as a growth, that was detected during painless procedure. It usually takes 15 minutes or less to com- a prior endoscopy, colonoscopy or x-ray. “The EUS gives me plete and requires no needle stick or special preparation. a detailed picture of the growth so I can better determine its nature and decide upon the best treatment,” says Dr. Ryou. If you are a current or former long-term smoker over the age of And, when other tests are inconclusive, EUS can be used to 50, speak to your primary care physician or healthcare provider diagnose diseases of the pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder. to determine if lung cancer screening using CT may be right for you. Whether you suffer from a disorder of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon or biliary/pancreatic system, the *Source: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/ Gregory Endoscopy Centre at BWFH has the advanced endos- non-small-cell-lung-cancer-key-statistics copy services necessary to pinpoint the problem and suggest a proper course of treatment.

To request an appointment or more information about advanced endoscopy services, call the Gregory Endoscopy Centre at 617-983-7120.

10 BWFH Pulse Pharmacy Department works together to provide safe and effective medications to BWFH patients

Led by the Director of Pharmacy Services In addition to medi- Joseph O’Day, Assistant Director Brian cations in pill form, Zikaras and Clinical Pharmacy Practice the pharmacists mix Manager Alana Gruszecki, the Pharmacy IV medications and Department at Brigham and Women’s infusion drugs. The Faulkner Hospital is made up of phar- designated IV Clean- macists, pharmacy technicians, a buyer room is specially and pharmacy informatics specialists. constructed for this Each month, the team works together to purpose. “It’s a very dispense approximately 88,000 doses of busy area because medication while ensuring the highest the Outpatient level of patient safety. Infusion Clinic is so busy,” says O’Day. According to Zikaras, the process all To ensure the high- begins when a physician puts in a medica- est level of patient Alana Gruszecki, Joseph O’Day and Brian Zikaras tion order. “The doctor enters the order. safety, these medica- Our job is to make sure there are no drug tions are administered via smart pumps. about solving problems and we’re always interactions, allergies or any other prob- “The smart pump is an IV pump that working to make the computer systems lems and to make sure the dose and dose contains a detailed library of the intrave- function safely and efficiently,” she says. schedule are correct and that everything nous medications–the concentrations, the is accurate based on the patient’s weight, rates, etc.–and the parameters/limits of In addition to coordinating the delivery of age, kidney function and such. Then we’re how fast an infusion can go,” O’Day says. medications to patients, the pharmacy is responsible for ensuring the medication also involved in determining the types of is either in stock in our Omnicell Dispens- Central to the work of the pharmacists is medications that will be stocked. “We’re ing cabinet (from which nurses dispense the work of the pharmacy technicians and responsible for making sure our medica- medications) or somehow gets to the pharmacy buyer. The technicians keep tions are safe and effective but also cost- floor. The pharmacists work together with the Omnicell machines stocked as well as effective,” says Zikaras. If a doctor wishes the pharmacy technicians to get this done deliver medications to the floors and keep to prescribe a new drug, the pharmacy on a daily basis,” he says. track of inventory. The buyer is charged team reviews it and decides whether or with ensuring the pharmacy is stocked not to stock it. When a new drug is ap- Much of the responsibility for patient with the necessary medications and sup- proved, the pharmacy puts together a safety falls on the staff pharmacists. “I plies. drug administration guideline (DAG) and verify the orders from the physicians and publishes it online for reference. make sure the dose is correct, that the Another key role is that of pharmacy patient doesn’t have any drug allergies informatics specialists. At BWFH, these With experts reviewing all new drug and that it’s the right medication,” says specialists deal with the technical is- requests, ensuring appropriate stocking pharmacist Katrina Starodymova. “Some- sues related to the pharmacy. Their work of the pharmacy and creating guidelines times we work on the nursing unit floors, involves the Meditech, Omnicell and for safe medication administration, the which helps with communication because MedHost computer systems. “We handle pharmacy ensures that patients at BWFH we can talk to the nurses and the doctors all of the computer-related set up issues,” have the medications they need and that and attend patient rounds,” she says. says Sandi Rosenfeld. “We’re out and those medications will help them in their quest toward good health.

BWFH Pulse 11 Connecting with patients, staff and community through social media

In the past, print media like newspapers and magazines were chime in and get involved,” says Slowe. On Twitter, employ- common in most homes. Listening to the radio on the way to ees are encouraged to join in hospital-wide conversations. On work gave us that need-to-know news to start our days. Watching BWFH’s newly launched Instagram account, employees will see the nightly news on TV was part of our daily routine. These days, photos from around the hospital and can even share their own most of us get our news from non-traditional outlets like Internet with the hospital community. “Instagram is a less formal, fun way news sites and social media. Whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, In- to get to know your co-workers and share a glimpse into your stagram or YouTube, social media is increasingly the go-to source own BWFH experience with them,” Slowe says. for all that’s news worthy. BWFH even has a YouTube channel where you can watch videos At Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, social media is highlighting the newest services available at the hospital and the becoming more and more important for reaching patients, staff good works of our dedicated staff. “YouTube makes it easy to and the community. “At BWFH, in addition to the BWFH Pulse, share video content with patients, staff and the community,” says the Scanner and email messaging, we use social media to help Slowe. spread the word about things happening within the hospital and in the greater community,” says Caitlyn Slowe, Web and Multime- Social media has the power to reach an audience near and far. dia Specialist. On Facebook and Twitter you might find profiles of At BWFH, social media informs our patients about our hospital, new employees, reminders about upcoming events and more. keeps our staff up to date on the latest news and engages our community in our activities. To keep up with BWFH on social “Social media is also a great way to connect and share with media, check us out on the platforms below. friends and colleagues, so we really encourage BWFH staff to

Follow BWFH on Twitter to engage in Like BWFH on Facebook for the latest hospital-wide conversation and keep news from around the hospital. abreast of the latest news (including weekly cafeteria specials). www.facebook.com/faulknerhospital twitter.com/FaulknerHosp

Follow BWFH on Instagram to see Visit the BWFH YouTube channel to and share photos of life in the hospital. watch promotional videos, lectures, If you have a photo you want to share, email it talks and more. to Caitlyn Slowe at [email protected]. www.youtube.com/user/faulknerhospital instagram.com/bwfaulknerhospital