April 21, 2006

Recognizing excellence:
The Bowditch Prize

The two-member team of Theresa Gallivan, RN, associate chief nurse, and Hasan Bazari, MD, program director for the Department of Medicine Training Program, was named this year's recipient of the annual Nathaniel Bowditch Prize, along with co-winner G. William Dec, MD, chief of Cardiology. The prize, awarded in recognition of the significant contributions they each have made to improve quality of care while reducing costs, was presented last week at a luncheon honoring nominees. They received award certificates, lapel pins and checks for $5,000.

Gallivan and Hasan were recognized for their leadership of the Clinical Process Analysis Project. The goal of the project was to optimize hospital capacity while maintaining or enhancing quality outcomes for patients. As a result, the average length of stay for one unit was 1.2 days lower than during the same time the previous year, which translated into the equivalent of freeing 144 beds for use. Other outcomes included an increase in the percentage of discharge orders written before noon as well as a doubling of pre-noon discharges.

Dec was honored for his efforts in leading the successful development of the Congestive Heart Failure Disease Management Program throughout the Partners system. The implementation of this program has led to a reduction of inpatient admissions at Partners acute care hospitals, an increase in margins and higher quality outcomes.

"The group had a very difficult time selecting a single individual," says Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, surgeon-in-chief, (seen congratulating Bazari at right), who chairs the Bowditch selection committee. "The competition was so tight that we decided to present the award to two of the nominees." Warshaw also thanked the anonymous donor who contributed an additional $5,000, enabling the full amount to be given to both recipients.

Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH; David Torchiana, MD, chair and CEO of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization; and Edward Lawrence, chairman of the MGH Board of Trustees, also spoke at the event.

The Bowditch Prize was established by Charles and Nancy Munger through the Alfred C. Munger Foundation to honor Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838), a pioneer in celestial navigation. Bowditch's two sons were important figures in the history of the MGH. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch served for several years as a trustee, both as a chairman and vice president, and also wrote the first volume of the MGH's history. His brother, Henry, was a house officer at the MGH in 1832 and was a leader in the treatment of diseases of the chest.