February 11, 2000

Family-Centered Care Award
MassGeneral Hospital for Children and the Children and HealthCare Week Committee will sponsor a Family-Centered Care Award. MGHers are encouraged to nominate co-workers who stand out in their care of children and families at the MGH and who reflect the guiding principles of MassGeneral Hospital for Children. To nominate a fellow employee, MGHers should write a short paragraph (five to six sentences) stating why this person deserves recognition. Submit  nominations to Judy Newell, RN, nurse manager Bigelow 10 and chairperson of the interdisciplinary committee to select Family-Centered Care Award recipients. Five awards (as well as recognition to all who are nominated) will be given March 24 at the "Celebrate Us" party, noon to 2 pm, Ellison 18 Day Room. Nominations will be accepted until March 13.

HOPES seminars
The MGH HOPES (Helping Our Patients/Families through Education and Support) Program will present "Feeling Stressed? Some Simple Steps to Relax," facilitated by Evelyn Makin, MSW, of MGH Social Services, Feb. 23, noon to 1 pm. "When the Bathroom Becomes the Most Important Room in the House: Managing Gastrointestinal Side Effects," facilitated by Heather Anderson, RN, and Nikki Gribbin, RN, will be offered Feb. 28, noon to 1 pm. All seminars are held in the Cancer Resource Room located on Cox 1. For more information, call 4-1822.

Home buying information
The Employee Assistance Program will offer a seminar to aid first-time condo and house buyers, Feb. 17, noon to 1 pm, Wellman Conference Room. The seminar will be facilitated by Peter Buchanan, chief lending officer, Harvard University Credit Union. This seminar will provide an overview of the financial aspects of the purchasing process. Pre-registration is recommended. For more information, call 6-6976.

PeopleSoft news
MGHers now will be receiving e-mail confirmation on orders placed through Purchasing. The purchase order (PO) confirmation will include PO number, date when order was placed, chart of account information, the product(s) ordered, quantity ordered, price and delivery information. The e-mail also can be used as a tool to communicate with the buyer associated with the order. When placing orders using the PO requisition form, MGHers should make sure that their e-mail address is on the form. The form eventually will be updated to include this field. For MGHers who use online requisitioning through PeopleSoft, the e-mail address should default automatically. If e-mail confirmation is not received, call Therese Breen at 4-1605. For more information, call Kelly Norris at 4-5957 or send e-mail to knorris@partners.org.

Clinical Research coordinator seminar series
The Clinical Research Program will host the second part of the series on patient recruitment strategies, "Recruitment – 50 Practical Tips That Work," Feb.16, 11:45 am to 1 pm in the Wellman Conference Room. Marsha Tennis, BSN, of MGH Neurology, will discuss tips and techniques that are geared toward the MGH research community and are consistent with the Partners Recruitment Policy. This lecture qualifies for 1.2 CEUs for registered nurses. Lunch will be provided. To register, call 6-1669 by Feb. 14.

Benefits session
MGHers who have questions or unresolved problems with the new Merck-Medco pharmacy benefit or their health care plan can attend one of the benefits sessions that will be held in the Trustees Room, Bulfinch 2, Feb. 11, 3 to 6 pm; Feb. 14, 6:30 to 10 am; and Feb. 15, 2:30 to 5 pm. Representatives from Merck-Medco, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and MGH Human Resources will be there to answer questions. For those who are unable to attend a session, call 6-8133 or visit any local Human Resources Office.