June 4, 1999

Patcom system to be updated
Patient Access Services (Admitting and Outpatient Services) Information Systems, Health Information Management and Patient Accounts have been working together to replace the current patient admitting, coding and billing system — Patcom — with a new year 2000 (Y2K) compliant version. The conversion will take place from Friday evening June 11 to Sunday morning June 13. During this time, the system will be unavailable to the many employees who use it throughout the hospital — including those on patient care units and those in Dietetics, the Pharmacy, Communications and Case Management. Patient lists accessed through PCIS also will not be available to physicians.

Although the more than 1,700 Patcom users will notice only minimal functional changes once the conversion is complete, the new Y2K version, PatcomPlus, will provide faster processing time and delivery for the hundreds of operational and management reports produced each day.

Patcom Working Group representatives already have contacted the systems' primary user groups to provide updated information about the new login process and other functional changes. Those using Patcom who have not been contacted, may e-mail Gerald Van Nostrand of Information Systems at gvannostrand@partners.org or call Judy Kirim of Patient Access Services at 4-5837 or page her at 35498.

Bake sale
MGHers can pick up some goodies at a bake sale benefiting patients of MGH Pediatric Hematology/Oncology June 8, beginning at 9:30 am, outside the MGH General Store. The departments of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Vascular Surgery are sponsoring the event. For information, call 4-3315.

Brain aneurysm awareness
A brain aneurysm awareness program sponsored by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation will be held June 10, 6 to 9 pm, under the Bulfinch Tent. Christopher Ogilvy, MD, director of Cerebrovascular Surgery at the MGH, will present a discussion entitled "Unruptured Aneurysms: Pending Disaster or Stable Condition?" Charles Austin, WBZ-TV news reporter, will give a presentation about the patient's perspective. Registration is required. To sign up, call 723-3870.

Teaching children values
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the MGH Children's Center will present the last of a lunchtime series about parenting. The next seminar "Teaching Children Tolerance and Respect" will be held June 10, at noon, in the Lawrence Martin Conference Room, CNY Building 149. The presentation will include a discussion for parents about how to teach children the values they need to cope in a fast-paced, complex world. For more information, call the EAP at 6-6976.

Angel Fund run and walk
The Angel Fund, which supports Lou Gehrig's disease research at the MGH, will sponsor the Jimmy Kennedy Memorial Run for ALS, June 12, starting at 10 am, at the Quincy Veteran's Stadium. In addition to this 5-mile run, a 2.5-mile fitness walk will begin at 9:30 am. Jimmy Kennedy was an athlete, coach, scholar and teacher who died of ALS at age 31, seven years after his father died of the same disease. For information, call (781) 383-6008.

Cancer patient support
The MGH Cancer Center Patient and Family Support Program will offer the following programs for patients, families and staff next week in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1: "Managing Lymphadema (Arm and Leg Swelling) Through Exercise," June 9, noon to 1 pm, and "Preventing Cancer Through Diet. What are the Current Recommendations?" June 10, 1 to 2 pm. All seminars are free, and no registration is required. For information, call 4-1822.