• Grand rounds features special film screening
  The MGH Department of Psychiatry, the Stoeckle Center and the Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (EAP) co-hosted a screening of the independent film "Racing Against the Clock" as part of a special grand rounds March 25 in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. The film was shown to a packed audience of physicians, nurses, mental health professionals and the public.

• HIPAA training for electronic information
  In 2002, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was introduced as the first-ever comprehensive federal regulation that gives patients sweeping protections over the privacy of their medical records and information. While the MGH since then has conducted ongoing education about protecting patient privacy, the hospital now must meet additional HIPAA regulations that specifically address electronic information security.

• MGH program receives donation from world-class antique show
  Each year antique admirers travel to Boston to attend one of the premier antique shows in the country — the Ellis Antique Show. As participants appreciated fine American and European furniture, ceramics, paintings and other classic treasures, they also support the Boston Health Care for Homeless Program (BHCHP) at the MGH. This year, the BHCHP at the MGH was the beneficiary of a generous donation of $25,000 from the show.

• Making a difference at the MGH
  During the past five years, MGHers have taken advantage of resources available through the Making a Difference grant. The program sponsored by the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO) offers up to $5,000 in support of employee initiatives to improve the quality of care and service at the hospital for patients, their families and employees. Using creative and compassionate ideas and methods, many individuals and teams of MGHers have seen their ideas put into action through these grants.

• Optical technique could be key to helping cardiac patients
  A catheter-based imaging technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT), partially developed at the MGH, can successfully identify the characteristics of coronary plaques in patients with various cardiac symptoms. "The ability to identify dangerous plaques before they rupture and produce a heart attack or sudden cardiac death will be crucial to innovative preventive therapies,” says Ik-Kyung Jang, MD, PhD, of the MGH Cardiology Division and lead author of the current study, which will appear in the journal Circulation and was released online last week.

• MGH scores well in performance review to prepare for JCAHO survey
  Since the fall, the MGH has begun preparations for the next survey by theJoint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which is expected to take place some time in 2006. The hospitalwide JCAHO operations steering committee recently
  completed a Periodic Performance Review (PPR) and submitted the results to JCAHO.

• Boston Neighborhood Fellows Award recipient
  Described as a “selfless champion” for women living with HIV and AIDS, Sheila Davis, RN, of the Infectious Disease Division, is one of six recipients of the Boston Neighborhood Fellows Award. The award is given in recognition of creative individuals who strive to make a difference in the communities of the Greater Boston Area. Mayor Thomas Menino presented the awards at a ceremony March 8.

• What's Happening

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