Boston "Champion in Health Care" in MITSS Midst

Congratulations to Deb Washington, MITSS’ Community Outreach Committee Co-Chair, for being named a Champion in Health Care by Boston Business Journal this month. Deb is the Director of Diversity in Patient Care Services at Massachusetts General Hospital and a founding member of the MITSS Community Outreach Committee. Her voice contributes depth and dimension to the committee and always addresses the needs of the underserved.

In March, Deb was also honored as the inaugural recipient of the Arnold Z. Rosoff Agent of Change Award by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Ad Club of Boston. MITSS full heartedly agrees with the Boston Business Journal, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Ad Club of Boston that Deb is an asset to the Boston community.

Congratulations Deb!

Click here for a link to the Boston Business Journal article:
www.boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/08/10/focus9.html

Click here to see a clip of Deb talking on the new relationship of patient and healthcare providers on InsiderMedicine:
www.insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Knew_Then_-_Deborah_Washington_RN_MSN_Massachusetts_General_Hospital_on_Nursing_and_Patient_Care_2932.aspx

Click here to see a clip of Deb discussing diversity in healthcare on InsiderMedicine:
www.insidermedicine.com/archives/In_the_Spotlight_-_Deborah_Washington_RN_MSN_2180.aspx

Erin O'Donnell
Support Team Member

MITSS HOPE AWARD

MITSS is still taking nominations for the HOPE Award. For more information about how to nominate someone or yourself, please click here . Please take a few seconds and view a short video clip of Dr. Susan Abookire, one of the team members from Mount Auburn Hospital, who won last year's HOPE Award.

The Justin Micalizzi Memorial IHI Scholarship for 2009

Our friend and colleague, Dale Micalizzi, would like for us to pass on the following message about a wonderful opportunity:

Justin’s Hope Project & IHI are pleased to announce the Justin Micalizzi Memorial IHI Scholarship for health caregivers who are committed to serving vulnerable, underprivileged and underserved pediatric populations. The Scholarship covers the cost of Forum General Conference fees and includes a stipend for travel, lodging, or other conference costs. Please apply or pass on. I love to read the essays!

See Dale Ann Micalizzi on Facebook or visit http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/ConferencesAndSeminars/21stAnnualNationalForumonQualityImprovementinHealthCare.htm?TabId=10 for more information.

Patient Safety Day -- July 25th

Our friend, John McCormack, passed this along...

PATIENT SAFETY DAY
National, World, Global Patient Safety Day
JULY 25th - CANDLELIGHT MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HOPE

Remembering patients and families who have lost their life (or quality of life) due to medical errors -
and in tribute to those who work to improve the safety and quality of healthcare for future patients."Together, lighting the path to safe healthcare - today and everyday:
safe, high quality healthcare is neither accidental nor static."

Time: Moment of Silence at Noon and 6 p.m. your timezone

There will be a meeting in Boston in front of the statehouse this Saturday, July 25th, at 11 am for a moment of silence remembering those who have been harmed by medical error.

rL Solutions to Sponsor 2nd Annual MITSS HOPE Award

MITSS is proud to announce that rL Solutions will sponsor its Second Annual HOPE Award. The HOPE Award was established in 2008 to recognize people -- patients, families, healthcare providers, hospitals (or teams or departments therein), academic institutions, community health centers, grass roots organizations, EAP programs, etc. -- who exemplify the mission of MITSS: Supporting Healing and Restoring Hope to patients, families, and clinicians impacted by adverse medical events. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize to continue their work.

Nominations are due by September 14, 2009, and the award will be presented at the MITSS 8th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on Thursday, November 12th, 2009.

For more information about the award, or to nominate someone, visit us at http://www.mitss.org/; call Winnie Tobin at (617) 232-0090 or e-mail wtobin@mitss.org; or, mail us at MITSS, 830 Boylston Street, Suite 206, Boston, MA, 02467.

About rL Solutions:

rL Solutions provides proven risk management, patient feedback, claims and infection control software to help healthcare organizations improve patient safety and healthcare quality. rL Solutions brings together innovative technologies, stellar client service, and a broad ecosystem of partners to give its 500 clients a complete safety and quality solution. With products that are easy to use and easy to implement, rL Solutions is a world leader in the healthcare market. For more information, visit http://www.rl-solutions.com/.

Progress Slow in Stopping Hospital Harm

MITSS Executive Director, Linda Kenney, is featured on a Channel 5 (WCVB Boston) news story on hospital errors. Included is the compelling story of a nurse harmed at the hospital where she works.

Check out the video at -- http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/19984320/index.html

Tune In to Rhode Island Public Radio

Rhode Island Public Radio's Megan Hall produced a wonderful piece on the emotional impact of adverse events. It highlights the work that MITSS is doing with patients and families. It also discusses plans to bring clinician support to Rhode Island hospitals. Tune-in to the link below!

http://www.wrni.org/content/first-do-no-harm-part-3