August 27, 1999

Partners in Excellence awards nominations for 1999
Nominations for the Partners in Excellence awards, which recognize individuals and teams for exemplary contributions to Partners, are available through departmental supervisors. Nomination forms are due Sept. 22 and may be submitted through in-house mail to the Partners in Excellence Awards, Partners Employee Programs, Human Resources, 185 Charles River Plaza, or by fax to 4-0931. For more information, call 6-2230. Nomination forms also will be available online beginning Sept. 3 at http://is.partners.org/hr/employee/pep.html.

Manage your weight without dieting
The MGH Nutrition Services is offering "Winning at the Losing Game," a 10-week weight management class. The class will meet Mondays (except holidays) beginning Sept. 27, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The course includes nutrition education by a registered dietitian, an exercise program supervised by a physical therapist and behavioral modification to assist with lifestyle changes. The class is $215 for employees ($225 for non-employees) and is limited to 15 participants. For more information, call 6-2779.

Clinical Research Program
The Clinical Research Program (CRP) is sponsoring a two-hour lecture covering U.S. and foreign clinical practices for investigative sites involved in clinical trials. Judy Scheer, MPH, RN, training coordinator for the CRP, will present the regulations and guidelines that are most pertinent to site participation in human drug studies using a hands-on approach to regulatory materials. This lecture is most appropriate for coordinators and research nurses with greater than six months experience. Class size will be limited to 40 participants, and registration is required by Sept. 8. For further information or registration materials, call Alison Simmons at 4-2900.

MGPO staff meeting
The Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO) quarterly staff meeting will take place Sept. 8., 5 to 6:30 pm in the O’Keeffe Auditorium. There will be a discussion on the state of Partners Community HealthCare, Inc. (PCHI), and speakers from PCHI will include Ellen Zane, president; Lynne Eickolt, vice president of Managed Care and Market Development; Tom Lee, MD, medical director; and Ken Paulus, chief operating officer. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 4-9080.

JCAHO survey of lab areas
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has notified the MGH that two surveyors will inspect all sites involved in clinical testing Sept. 7 to 10. Over the years, what once was a laboratory survey has become an institutional survey for all laboratory and blood transfusion related activities. In addition to the Anatomic and Clinical Pathology laboratories, JCAHO surveyors will examine areas at the MGH health centers in Charlestown, Chelsea and Revere, Boston Evening Medical Center, CNY, as well as sites in the WACC, patient care units, operating rooms and special function laboratories. For more information about this survey, call Domenic Misiano at 6-3858, Leonard Tochka at 6-1462 or MaryAnne Walsh, RN, at 4-8763.

Employee Assistance Program series
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) kicks off its fall/winter Work/Life Seminar series with the lunchtime program "Stress Reduction in the Health Care Environment," Sept. 16, 12 to 1 pm in the Wellman 1 Conference Room. Participants will have the opportunity to develop new insights into their specific stressors and enhance their techniques for coping with stress. For more information, call the EAP at 6-6976.