Caring Headlines - Let's talk safety "A look at the ... - Mghpcs.org

CaringHeadlinesApril 1, 2010Let’s talk safety“A look at the evolution of safety at MGH”Presenters (l-r): Karen Miguel, RN; Carol Camooso Markus, RN;Jeff Cooper; Ellen Kinnealey, RN: and Gregg Meyer, MD, at recent PatientSafety Awareness Week forum in O’Keeffe Auditorium.The newsletter for Patient Care ServicesMassachusetts General Hospital

Jeanette Ives EricksonLicensure, credentialing,and certificationWhat do they mean, and why arethey important?Licensure,credentialing, andcertifi cation — allhave to do withletting patients andthe public knowthat clinicians arequalifi ed to practicein a particularfi eld or discipline,but there aresubtle differencesbetween thethree.Even among some healthcare professionals,the distinction between licensure,credentialing, and certification isnot easily understood. All have to dowith letting patients and the publicknow that clinicians are qualified topractice in a particular field or discipline,but there are subtle differencesbetween the three. Licensure in a particular discipline,such as nursing or social work, signifies that aclinician possesses entry-level knowledge in that discipline— it is the minimum requirement necessary topractice in a health profession, and it in no way indicateswhether a clinician has knowledge or expertisebeyond that minimum. In most states, including Massachusetts,continuing education is required for licenserenewal.Certification is a voluntary process. It signifies thata clinician has acquired knowledge, training, and experienceover and above what is minimally required in acertain specialty within his or her discipline. Becomingcertified involves successfully completing a writtenexam and demonstrating competency in certain preestablishedstandards. Each certifying body or agencysets the standards for certification within its own specialty.In nursing, for example, some of the many certificationsavailable include:• neuroscience nursing• medical nursing• cardiovascular nursingJeanette Ives Erickson, RN, senior vice presidentfor Patient Care and chief nurse• oncology nursing• critical care nursingPhysical Therapy offers certification in:• geriatrics• pediatrics• women’s health• neurology• orthopedicsOccupational Therapy offers certification in• gerontology• hand and upper extremity rehabilitation• mental health• pediatrics• physical rehabilitationMany disciplines offer specialty certification. Studiesshow that certification increases job satisfaction, contributesto a sense of personal empowerment, and givespatients a heightened sense of confidence in their caregivers.Public awareness about certification is growing— more and more patients are requesting clinicianswith specialized knowledge about their disease or progcontinuedon next pagePage 2 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010

Jeanette Ives Erickson (continued)The body ofknowledge atthe core ofall healthcareprofessionsis constantlychanging andexpanding.Specialtycertifi cation isone way toensure that ourpractice keepspace with thenosis. Institutions that employ a large number of certifiedstaff are highly sought after in a competitive marketplace.At MGH, a growing number of clinicians are becomingcertified every year. The Knight NursingCenter for Clinical & Professional Development offerspreparation courses in some specialty areas, and financialsupport for certification and re-certification isavailable to nurses through the Demetri Souretis Fund.In addition to formal classes offered by the KnightCenter, several unit-based certification programs havebeen initiated by staff in the Post Anesthesia CareUnit, the Endo scopy Unit, medical and oncologyunits, and elsewhere. Our 65Plus program has developeda robust gerontology certification program to increasethe number of nurses hospital-wide who arespecially trained to care for our growing population ofolder adult patients.The body of knowledge at the core of all healthcareprofessions is constantly changing and expanding.Specialty certifi cation is one way to ensure thatour practice keeps pace with the complex demands ofpatient care in a fast-paced teaching hospital likeMGH.Unlike certifi cation, which is voluntary, credentialingis required by law and regulatory agencies toensure that healthcare professionals are qualified toperform within the scope of practice of their givenprofession or discipline. Credentialing is an administrativeprocess by which a practitioner’s education,certifi cation, training, experience, and record withthe Board of Registration are examined as evidencethat he or she is qualified to practice in aspecific role.At MGH, we’re implementing some changes inthe credentialing process for nurses in the expandedrole (nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurseanesthetists, and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist)and physician assistants. Currently, credentialingapplicants go through an approval process thatinvolves the supervising physician, the chief of service,the credentialing coordinator, and the HealthProfes sions Staff Committee, with final approvalby the Nursing Executive Committee and me inmy role as senior vice president for Patient Careand chief nurse.Effective May 24, 2010, the final stages of theapproval process will change: the Patient CareServices Executive Committee (not the Nurs ingExecutive Committee) and I will review applications.If approved, they’ll be sent to the Board ofTrustees for final approval. (Some conditions applyfor candidates requesting fi rst assist and access tooperating rooms.) If/when final approval is granted,candidates will receive a letter delineatingtheir type of appointment and specific clinicalprivileges.I hope this helps clarify some of the questionsaround licensure, credentialing, and certification.For more information, consult your nursing directoror supervisor, or call Julie Goldman, RN,profession al development manager, at 4-2295.complex demandsof patient carein a fast-pacedteaching hospitallike MGH.In this IssuePatient Safety Awareness Week ................................1 Fielding the Issues ..............................................................8• Key WordsJeanette Ives Erickson ......................................................2• On Licensure, Credentialing, and Certifi cation Key Word ‘Wordle”.....................................................9New Graduate in Critical Care NursingAnnouncements .............................................................14Program .............................................................................4Best PracticesPatient Safety Awareness Week ................................5 • Preventing UTIs .........................................................15Clinical Narrative ...............................................................6 Be Fit Lunchtime Sessions.........................................16• Darren LeBlanc, RNApril 1, 2010 — Caring Headlines — Page 3

Education/SupportNew Graduate in Critical CareNursing Program— by Gail Alexander, RN, professional development specialistStanding (l-r): Fred Tarazi,RN; Darren LeBlanc, RN;Jennifer Roy, RN; Jenny Rusin,RN; Rebekah Bitar, RN;Christie McKee, RN; andHannah Owens-Pike, RN.Seated: Christine Dunlap,RN; Jill Pallotta, RN; KatlynBreton, RN; Jeff Silvia, RN;and program coordinator,Gail Alexander, RN.On March 4, 2010, the 16thclass of the New Graduate inCritical Care Nursing Programwas recognized for successfullycompleting the six-monthprogram, bringing the totalnumber of graduates to 146.Executive director of theInstitute for Patient Care, Gaurdia Banister, RN, comparedparticipants to Olympic athletes. “Olympians exudea professionalism that reflects pride in what theydo. Nothing requires more professionalism than caringfor critically ill patients and their families. Olympiansare committed; they’re highly motivated; they believein themselves; and they work as a team.”(Photo provided by staff)New graduate, Katlyn Breton, RN, and her preceptor,Kate Roche, RN, read narratives recounting thecare they provided transitioning a patient from aggressivetreatment to comfort care. Said Breton, “The patient’sdaughter turned to me with tears in her eyes andsaid, ‘Can you close the curtain. I want to listen to mydad’s favorite song with him.’ As I closed the shade,she put one headphone in her father’s ear and one inher own. I realized then the unique nature of my profession.I was witnessing the purest form of love betweena child and her father. No words could describehow I felt at that moment.”Roche recognized in Breton the qualities of an exemplarynurse: someone who is, “willing to embracenot only the complex and challenging clinical tasks,but the personal, human connections that make dayslike this at once heart-breaking and awe-inspiring.”Under Roche’s tutelage, Breton is developing her professionalidentity as a nurse.Certificates of completion were given to:• Rebekah Bitar, RN, Cardiac ICU• Jenny Rusin, RN, Cardiac ICU• Christie McKee, RN, Cardiac Surgical ICU• Jeff Silvia, RN, Cardiac Surgical ICU• Christine Dunlap, RN, Knight Center for InterventionalCardiovascular Therapy• Fred Tarazi, RN, Medical ICU• Jill Pallotta, RN, Medical ICU• Katlyn Breton, RN, Medical ICU• Jennifer Roy, RN, Neuroscience ICU• Hannah Owens-Pike, RN, Neuroscience ICU• Darren LeBlanc, RN, Post Anesthesia Care UnitFor more information about the New Graduate inCritical Care Nursing Program, visit: www.mghnursing.org, or call Gail Alexander, RN, at 6-0359.Page 4 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010

SafetyPatient Safety Awareness Weeka lot has happened since ether— by Lela Holden, patient safety offi cerPresenters at theNational Patient SafetyAwareness Week forum(l-r): Ellen Kinnealey, RN:Carol Camooso Markus,RN; Karen Miguel, RN;and Jeff Cooper,On Thursday, March 11, 2010,a distinguished group of MGHclinicians came together inO’Keeffe Auditorium to sharetheir recollections of advancesin patient safety over the pastfour decades. Presenters,Nathaniel Sims, MD; EllenKinnealey, RN: Karen Miguel, RN; Carol CamoosoMarkus, RN; and Jeff Cooper, shared stories of theirpersonal involvement with various safety improvementsand innovations over the years.Sims, who presented via pre-recorded video, recountedthe advances in medications for cardiac-surgerypatients that came in the early 1980s, but pumpsat that time were ‘heavy and dumb.’ Sims helped designsmaller pumps that came with calculators to helpdetermine safe drug doses. Kinnealey, a nurse inBiomedical Engineering, was a key player in the developmentof the first clinician-based drug library thatcontained high and low limits for high-risk medications.She worked closely with staff of the SurgicalIntensive Care Unit to trial these ‘smart’ pumps.Miguel, patient safety officer in the Imaging Department,noted that progress is made by ‘ordinary’people doing extraordinary things. She recalled staffbeing concerned about needle sticks in the early 90s.Miguel co-chaired the Products Review Subcommitteeas they helped design and test a new protected needle.MGH was the first hospital to use the Sims PortextNeedle Pro, now standard-issue across the country.Markus, staff specialist in the Office of Quality &Safety, described the development of the professionalpractice model that produced collaborative governancein 2003 and the champion model that was so successfullyemployed in securing Magnet designation, handhygienecompliance, and most recently, ExcellenceEvery Day Joint Commission preparedness.Cooper, executive director of the Center for MedicalSimulation, talked about errors in operating roomsin the early 70s. He and colleagues wrote one of thefirst papers on the topic in 1978. Cooper was part ofthe team that brought major safety improvements toequipment used by anesthesiologists. He encouragedclinicians to speak up when that ‘inner voice’ tells yousomething’s wrong. Errors happen when people don’tbring those concerns forward.Individual presentations were followed by a paneldiscussion, led by Gregg Meyer, MD, senior vice presidentfor The Center of Quality & Safety. Panelistsagreed that safety challenges continue, but MGH has ahistory of listening when clinicians speak to advocatefor safe patient care.For more information about safety initiatives atMGH, call the PCS Office of Quality & Safety at3-0140.April 1, 2010 — Caring Headlines — Page 5

Clinical NarrativeNew nurse learnsthat every day in the PACUis an opportunity to learnI’d heard storiesof patients wakingup in a violentstate, but I hadnever experiencedit fi rst hand... Iquickly realizedthat given his levelof agitation, it wasprobably best toleave him alone forthe moment.My name is Darren LeBlanc,and I am a recent graduateof the New Graduate inCritical Care NursingProgram. I’ve worked inthe new Post-AnesthesiaCare Unit (PACU) for thepast four months. Oneday recently, when my preceptor was out sick, I was assignedto work with another experienced nurse, Diane.Diane told me that our first patient was a 45-year-old,Italian man named, ‘Marco,’ who was a husband andfather of three. Marco was scheduled to arrive in thePACU following surgery for rectal adenocarcinomaand a liver biopsy to determine if his cancer hadspread.Marco arrived on the unit in the early afternoon,accompanied by members of the surgical and anesthesiateams. Like most post-operative patients, he wasasleep. The anesthesia resident gave Diane and mesome background about Marco and asked if either of usspoke French or Italian because Marco spoke boththose languages; she didn’t know if he spoke English. Ido speak a little French. The resident explained thatMarco had never had surgery before and had been veryanxious in the weeks leading up to the operation.Though his surgery had been uneventful, it became apparentas we attached him to the monitors that hispost-operative course might not be so smooth.Darren LeBlanc, RN, Cullen PostAnesthesia Care UnitMarco was on his side in a semi-fetal position, hisoxygen mask was down around his chin, and he was lyingon his IV line. Attaching his heart-monitor leadswhile he was in this position was a challenge. He beganto moan. I tried to replace his oxygen mask, butMarco became agitated and pushed my hand away. Itried again, but he became more agitated and aggressivelywaved his arms while shouting in an Italian accent,“Leave me alone! Let me sleep!” The team caringfor Marco understood that this situation could turnvolatile; we needed to tread lightly and not exacerbatethe situation. I’d heard stories of patients waking up ina violent state, but I had never experienced it firsthand. I wanted to get his oxygen mask back on, butquickly realized that given his level of agitation andthe fact that his oxygen saturation was stable at 99-100%, it was probably best to leave him alone for themoment.continued on next pagePage 6 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010

Clinical Narrative (continued)When it wastime for Marcoto be transferredto his room onEllison 7, he askedif I was coming tothe unit with him.When I told him Ihad to stay in thePACU, he seemeddisappointed...He thanked merepeatedly, and itfelt good.After getting report from the anesthesia resident, Ijoined the other nurses who were discussing how bestto handle Marco’s behavior. Trying to interject somehumor into the situation, I told them not to worry; Iwas the ‘patient whisperer.’ I went back to Marco’sroom hoping I could calm him down. Marco wasmoaning. I went to the head of the stretcher and askedif he was in pain. He was. I asked him to open his eyesand look at me. When I got his attention, I asked himto rate his pain on a scale of 0-10. He said it was 10and told me to leave him alone. I asked Diane to getsome dilaudid from the Omnicell so I could try to managehis pain. I took another set of vital signs whileDiane was gone.When she returned, I tried to access Marco’s IVline, but he was lying on it so I couldn’t reach the port.I tried to gently move his arm as I explained what I wasdoing, but he yelled, “No! Leave me alone!” Not knowingwhat Marco was capable of, I was concerned that ifI continued to prod him, he might become even moreagitated. I needed him to understand that I was tryingto help control his pain, so I carefully continued my efforts.I told him in a soothing voice that I could onlyhelp if he worked with me. I told him I had medicationthat would help his pain but I needed to move his armto get to the IV. Still moaning, he rolled over, and Iwas able to give him his first dose of dilaudid. Finally, Ifelt as if I’d gotten through to him.Despite the dilaudid, Marco still reported pain. Iput my hand on his shoulder and told him it wouldtake a little while for the medication to work. I stayedclose by and continued to check his stoma and abdominaldressings, and monitor his vital signs and respiratoryrate. When I checked the orders again, I saw thatthe doctor had ordered 15mg of Toradol. I wasn’t sureif it was safe to give Toradol with dilaudid, so I checkedwith Diane, and she assured me it was safe. One thing Irealize as a new nurse is that you don’t know what youdon’t know, so if I’m not sure about something, I alwaysask.For the rest of his stay in the PACU, I cared forMarco, continued to monitor his pain, gave him moistswabs to moisten his mouth, and re-positioned himwhen he slid down on the stretcher. Marco alternatedbetween sleeping and waking with some periods ofsleep apnea. He still reported some pain, but I explainedthat the medication was slowing down hisbreathing so I had to be careful not to give him toomuch. He understood. I used other interventions tohelp manage his pain, such as changing his blankets,and re-positioning him. I was happy that despite hiscontinued pain, he was clearly much more comfortablethan when he first arrived. I was also happy thatI had gained his trust and made him realize that mygoal was to make him comfortable and keep him safe.As soon as I explained that I wanted to help him, hehad become more cooperative. He began to apologizefor ‘bothering’ me when he asked for assistance withre-positioning or for a mouth swab. I assured him Iwas happy to help.When it was time for Marco to be transferred tohis room on Ellison 7, he asked if I was coming to theunit with him. When I told him I had to stay in thePACU, he seemed disappointed. I told him it hadbeen nice meeting him and taking care of him. I toldhim to take care of himself and I hoped he had acomfortable night. He thanked me repeatedly, and itfelt good.Experiences like this are why I love nursing, andthey happen every day in the PACU. I find it so rewardingto meet patients who are frightened, worried,or in pain, and spend a little time with them, letthem know I genuinely care, and see their conditionschange before my eyes. It makes a big difference tome, but what’s more rewarding, is that it makes a bigdifference to them.Although I am relatively inexperienced in providingnursing care and administering medications, Ifeel my greatest strength lies in my genuine desire togive the best possible care and comfort to patients— a desire I believe is quickly communicatedin my actions and manner. I look forward to gainingmore experience in the technical aspects of nursing— experience that when combined with my desireto heal and comfort, will lead to a successfulnursing career.Comments by Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN,senior vice president for Patient Care and chief nursePerhaps the wisest thing Darren said in this narrativewas that as a new nurse, you don’t know what youdon’t know. Always seek the expertise of a more experiencedclinician. Which is exactly what Darrendid as he cared for Marco in what could have been avolatile situation. With his compassion, honesty,steadfast vigilance, and personal ease, Darren earnedMarco’s trust. Who knows — with his persistent yetgentle bedside manner, maybe Darren really is the‘patient whisper er.’Thank-you, Darren.April 1, 2010 — Caring Headlines — Page 7

Fielding the IssuesThe healing powerof wordsQuestion: I’ve heard people talk about ‘key words’ and ‘scripting.’What does that mean?Jeanette: As clinicians, the words we use can have a profound affecton patients and families. In stressful times, using the right wordscan mean the difference between a positive or negative experience.In the complex setting of patient care, sometimes a few kind wordscan go a long way toward helping and healing.Scripting is when you’re given a written text with the exactwords to say in a particular situation. Scripting leaves nothing to theimagination, doesn’t allow for natural conversation, and can comeacross as forced or insincere.Key words, on the other hand, are reminders of the topics youwant to discuss, but in your own words, at the appropriate time, andin the appropriate way. Using key words allows you to show empathyand respect while at the same time ensuring you remember thekey topics you want to cover.Key words also help make our concern for the patient’s comfortand safety more visible.Question: Can you give me an example of key words?Jeanette: If you’re rounding, and you enter a patient’s room,some key words might be: privacy, safety, hand hygiene, or comfort.With those key words in mind, you might say something like, “I’mclosing your curtain in case you’d like some privacy.”“I’m just going to double-check your wrist-band. We take safetyvery seriously.”“It’s important that caregivers disinfect their hands before cominginto contact with you or the things in your room. This helpsprevent the spread of infection.”“Are you comfortable? Can I help re-position you while I’mhere?”“Is there anything else I can help you with?”Question: Why are key words important?Jeanette: In addition to reminding you of thetasks you want to perform, key words reinforce inthe patient’s mind our commitment to safety and apositive patient experience. Eye contact, a smile, ora gentle touch can make a big difference for a patientwho’s scared, uncertain, or lonely.Question: Should we use key words every timewe enter a patient’s room?Jeanette: As I mentioned, you never want yourinteractions with patients to sound rehearsed or insincere.As you start to use key words, they’ll becomea natural part of your conversations. It neverhurts to remind patients of the truly remarkablecare we deliver every day. We’re proud of the carewe provide; we want our interactions with patientsto reflect that.Question: Is there a list of key words we shouldbe using?Jeanette: Certainly the 7-Ps are a good place tostart (Person, Plan, Priorities, Personal hygiene,Pain-management, Position, and Pre sence). Butyou should feel free to come up with your own listof key words that would be helpful to you on yourunit, in your specialty, with your patients. See the‘Wordle’ on the opposite page for ideas, or call theOffice of Service Improvement at 4-2838.Page 8 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010

A WordleA Wordle is avisual representationof frequently-usedwords and phrasesthat allows the viewerto appreciate therelationship betweenwords and the unity ofthoughts and ideas.A Wordle is at oncean artistic renderingand a reminder ofthe power of words.The Wordle atright is a collection ofwords staff might fi nduseful as they provideexcellent careevery day.April 1, 2010 — Caring Headlines — Page 9

AnnouncementsBe FitLunchtime SeminarsJoin advanced personal trainer,Mike Bento of The Clubs atCharles River Park, for a one-hour,lunchtime Be Fit seminar.Topics varyNext session:April 15, 201012:00–1:00pmBigelow 4 AmphitheaterFor more information,call 6-2900.MGH College FairEmployees are invited to the2010 MGH College FairApril 28, 201012:00pm – 3:00pmunder the Bulfi nch TentExplore careers in health care,healthcare administration,healthcare policy, and businessmanagement. The fair is anopportunity to compareundergraduate, graduate, andcertifi cate programs.Some of the colleges anduniversities scheduled to attendinclude:Boston UniversityBunker Hill Community CollegeCambridge CollegeCurry CollegeHarvard Extension SchoolMass Bay Community CollegeMassasoit CommunityMass College of PharmacyMGH Institute of HealthProfessionsNortheastern UniversityNorth Shore Community CollegeRegis CollegeRoxbury Community CollegeSuffolk UniversityUMass, LowellUniversity of PhoenixNo registration required.Sponsored by Training andWorkforce Development.For more information,call John Coco at 4-3368.Holy Week 2010and Passover 5770Roman Catholic, Ecumenical, andPassover services will be offeredthroughout the week.All services will be held in theMGH Chapel on Ellison 1All are welcomeFor a complete listing of timesand services, call the MGHChaplaincy at 6-2220.Make yourpractice visible: submita clinical narrativeCaring Headlines is alwaysinterested in receiving clinicalnarratives that highlight theexceptional care provided byclinicians throughoutPatient Care Services.Make your practice visible.Submit your narrative forpublication in Caring Headlines.All submissions should be sent viae-mail to: ssabia@partners.org.For more information,call 4-1746.Eldercaremonthly discussion groupJoin facilitators, Janet T. Loughlin,LICSW, Partners EAP, and BarbaraMoscowitz, LICSW, geriatric socialworker for the Eldercare monthlydiscussion group, sponsored bythe Employee Assistance Program.Come and discuss subjectsrelevant to eldercare.Next session:April 6, 201012:00–1:00pmDoerr Conference RoomYawkey 10-650Old friends and new membersare welcomeFeel free to bring your lunchFor more information, call 6-6976or visit www.eap.partners.org.Ethics Forum:a discussion series for theMGH communityFriday, April 9, 201012:00–1:00pmSweet Conference RoomGray-Bigelow 432Brown Bag Lunch“Improving the Quality of Care atthe End of Life: the Case for VideoDecision Aids”keynote speaker:Angelo Volandes, MDmoderator: Dr. Alex Cist,Optimal Care CommitteeSponsored by the MGH EthicsTaskforce. For more informatione-mail Jennifer HoodThe MGH BloodDonor CenterThe MGH Blood DonorCenter is located in the lobbyof the Gray-Jackson Building.The center is open for wholeblooddonations:Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,7:30am – 5:30pmFriday, 8:30am – 4:30pm(closed Monday)Platelet donations:Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday,7:30am – 5:00pmFriday, 8:30am – 3:00pmAppointments are availableCall the MGH Blood DonorCenter at 6-8177 to schedulean appointment.Published byCaring Headlines is published twiceeach month by the departmentof Patient Care Services atMassachusettsGeneral HospitalPublisherJeanette Ives Erickson, RNsenior vice presidentfor Patient CareManaging EditorSusan SabiaEditorial Advisory BoardChaplaincyMichael McElhinny, MDivEditorial SupportMarianne Ditomassi, RNMary Ellin Smith, RNMaterials ManagementEdward RaekeNutrition & Food ServicesBridget Lynch, RDSusan Doyle, RDOffice of Patient AdvocacySally Millar, RNOffice of Quality & SafetyKeith Perleberg, RNOrthotics & ProstheticsMark TlumackiPCS DiversityDeborah Washington, RNPhysical TherapyOccupational TherapyMichael Sullivan, PTPolice, Security & Outside ServicesJoe CrowleyPublic AffairsSuzanne KimRespiratory CareEd Burns, RRTSocial ServicesEllen Forman, LICSWSpeech, Language & SwallowingDisorders and Reading DisabilitiesCarmen Vega-Barachowitz, SLPTraining and Support StaffStephanie CooperTom DrakeThe Institute for Patient CareGaurdia Banister, RNVolunteer Services, MedicalInterpreters, Ambassadors,and LVC Retail ServicesPaul BartushDistributionUrsula Hoehl, 617-726-9057SubmissionsAll stories should be submittedto: ssabia@partners.orgFor more information, call:617-724-1746Next PublicationApril 15, 2010Page 10 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010

Best Practice“We pity the Foley”Sharing best practices to improve patient care(L-r): Warren Sandberg,MD, anesthesiologist; BritNicholson, MD, senior vicepresident for Medicine;Dawn Tenney, RN, associatechief nurse; and staff nurses,Michele Allen, RN; andStacy Strezsak, RN.Urinary tract infections are oneof the most common hospitalacquiredinfections, accountingfor approximately 40% ofhealth-care-related infectionsnationwide. Of those, 80% areattributable to in-dwellingurethral Foley catheters.In December, a clinical challenge was issued to finda way to reduce the number of urinary tract infectionsrelated to Foley catheter use. As part of the SandboxInnovation Challenge, 12 teams comprised of nurses,physicians, and others, brainstormed ways to safely reducethe use of in-dwelling Foleys as a means to preventurinary tract infections. On March 11, 2010, inthe East Garden Dining Room, teams presented theirproposed solutions along with an explanation of howtheir solutions could be implemented successfullythroughout the hospital.With their winning solution, affectionately called,“We Pity the Foley,” White 11 nurses,Susan Wood, RN; Michele Allen, RN;Stacy Strezsak, RN; and SusanMorash, RN, reported a 49% reductionin Foley usage on their unit.Said Christiana Iyasere, MD, associatedirector of the InnovationSupport Center. “By celebrating andacknowledging every proposed solution,the hospital community gained abetter understanding of Foley utilizationand ways to prevent urinary tractinfections.”Congratulations to the team onWhite 11 and to all the Sandboxteams who shared their thoughts andideas to improve patient care.For more information about theSandbox UTI Challenge, go to http://hub.partners.org/sandbox, or contactChristiana Iyasere at ciyasere@partners.org.(Photo provided by staff)Educational offerings can now be found on theKnight Nursing Center for Clincial & Professional Development websitehttp://www2.massgeneral.org/PCS/ccpd/cpd_sum.aspFor more information, call 6-3111.April 1, 2010 — Caring Headlines — Page 11

Be FitLunchtime seminars offerhealth and fitness tipsBentoendorsesan alternativemethod forimproving healthand fi tness calledhigh-intensityintervaltraining.On Tuesday, March 23,2010, as part of theMGH Be Fit program,advanced personaltrainer, Mike Bento ofThe Clubs at CharlesRiver Park, presented aone-hour, lunchtimeseminar entitled, “High-intensity exercise forhealth and body-fat reduction.” The session, held inYawkey 10-650, provided an overview of a trainingregimen for runners that focuses on brief, high-intensitysprinting punctuated by intervals of rest and recovery.Varying the length and duration of the sprintand recovery periods can have a noticeable impact onyour fitness level and ability to reduce body fat.Bento endorses this alternative method, which hecalls high-intensity interval training. According toBento, some relatively minor changes in your workoutcan lead to speedier progress and less time at the gym.The seminar was part of a new series sponsored bythe Clubs at Charles River Park designed to help educateemployees about health and fitness. Due to populardemand, the first session, “Are you getting themost out of your workouts?” will be repeated April15th in the Bigelow 4 Amphitheater at noon.For more information about monthly, lunchtimeBe Fit sessions, e-mail Mike Bento at mbento@partners.org.At left, advanced personal trainer, Mike Bentoof The Clubs at Charles River Park, presentslunchtime Be Fit seminar.C aringHeadlinesApril 1, 2010Returns only to:Bigelow 10 Nursing Offi ce,MGH, 55 Fruit StreetBoston, MA 02114-2696First ClassUS Postage PaidPermit #57416Boston, MAPage 12 — Caring Headlines — April 1, 2010