• ALS patient explores world through art
  MGH patient Fred Siwak has seen more of the world than most people, and he has an impressive stack of photographs to prove it. His snapshots include world landmarks such as the Taj Mahal in India and the pyramids of Egypt to one of the most remote locations on Earth, the South Pole.

• New Emergency Department Observation Unit increases inpatient capacity
  To mark the opening of the new Emergency Department Observation Unit (EDOU) located on Bigelow 12, a celebratory open house was held July 5. The new 14-bed outpatient facility was established to accommodate Emergency Department (ED) patients who require additional evaluation or treatment, but who are likely to be discharged within 24 hours.

• Brain-computer link allows paralyzed patient to manipulate devices by thought
  A patient with a spinal cord injury was able, by thinking of moving his paralyzed limbs, to produce brain signals that were picked up by a sensor implanted in his brain. These signals were translated into electronic impulses that allowed him to control a computer cursor and manipulate mechanical devices.

• PACT receives Community Benefits Award for Overall Excellence
  The MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center's Police Action Counseling Team (PACT) recently was awarded this year's Community Benefits Award for Overall Excellence at the Attorney General's Best Practices for a Successful Community Benefits Program ceremony.

• Care across the continuum: Multidisciplinary clinic serves ALS patients
  According to national studies, approximately 30,000 Americans are living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and another 5,600 are diagnosed each year. ALS — more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease is a degenerative condition that wreaks havoc on the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy and paralysis.

• In memoriam: Allan Friedlich, MD
  Former MGH cardiologist, Allan Friedlich, MD, died July 7 at the age of 89 after a long illness. A clinical professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), Friedlich was a well-respected cardiologist at the MGH for 54 years, making many contributions to the Cardiology Department.

• MGH recognized for turning guidelines into lifelines
  The MGH was one of 173 hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) program. The goal of the GWTG program is to make sure hospitals keep up with the latest rules, recommendations and scientific advancements in the areas of cardiac and stroke care.

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