August 9, 2002

Along with the many patients, family members, visitors and employees who traverse the MGH corridors every day are up to 400 vendors who visit various departments and units. From medical equipment to cleaning supplies salespeople, these vendors represent a myriad of products and services that are necessary to operate an institution the size of the MGH.

According to Ed Raeke, director of MGH Materials Management, a committee was formed last year to develop a policy to help regulate vendors' visitations to the hospital. "This policy was developed to give vendors and departments guidance on appropriate vendor access to the MGH," he says. "With so many vendors on campus, there is the potential for distractions in patient care areas or accidental access to confidential information. While no policy can address all potential situations, this policy gives departments and vendors a framework for managing current and future business relationships."

In the new policy, all vendors are required to wear a company identification badge. If they do not have one, they will be issued a temporary badge by the Materials Management Office.

All vendors are required to have a scheduled appointment with an MGH employee or staff member prior to entering the hospital, and they must adhere to the hospital's patient confidentiality policy.

As for anyone who visits the hospital for reasons other than patient care, vendors cannot park in the MGH garages. This allows parking spaces to be used by patients and families.

The new vendor policy is being mailed to all existing vendors and will be given to future vendors as needed.

The policy also is available on the MGH website at http://healthcare. partners.org/mgh/policies/default.htm Copies can be obtained from the Materials Management Office, Gray Basement Room 010. For more information, call (617) 726-3686.