This spring, my 4-year-old golden retriever Sandy adopted a small flock of very needy turkey chicks. All spring and summer, as the turkeys followed her around the yard, Sandy protected the chicks from the foxes and coyotes that frequent our … Continue reading →

This time of year, we’re watching our mailboxes for packages and promotions of the “hottest” holiday gifts. So, keep your eye out for a letter from me about how to order a “warm” gift for the winter season: a fleece … Continue reading →

Last month our system celebrated Clinton Hospital’s 125th birthday at a special event, joining members of the hospital’s community who are incredibly grateful for this local treasure. While the services, technology and faces have changed through the years, Clinton Hospital’s compassion … Continue reading →

This week at our senior leadership meeting, we wished our administrative fellow Vikram Kambampati, MD, Major, U.S. Army Reserve, safe travels as he begins his four-month deployment to Kuwait. Vikram is one of many UMass Memorial caregivers who have answered … Continue reading →

The Medical Center’s tri-annual Joint Commission Survey concluded last Friday with an exit briefing, where I had the opportunity to stand with President Patrick Muldoon before managers and physician leaders to thank them for an amazing five days. I share … Continue reading →

This week, I was honored to stand with Governor Deval Patrick and Congressman Jim McGovern to offer support of Question 4 on November’s ballot which would ensure access to earned sick time for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts families. “Almost … Continue reading →

The news from Dallas that a second health care worker has contracted Ebola after having cared for Thomas Eric Duncan, the Ebola victim who died on October 8, has appropriately shaken the health care community.  When firefighters, military personnel and … Continue reading →

To truly realize innovation, you need both creativity (idea generation) and action (follow through) and that is what our idea systems are all about — generating and implementing great ideas from everyone who wants to help us become the best place … Continue reading →

I recently came across this “Advice from a Patient” printed in the 2014 annual report of the Patient and Family Centered Care Innovation Center and wanted to share it with all of you. This may be a normal day at … Continue reading →

This week our interim CIO Phil Kahn and his team went live with the new HIT blog. The purpose of the blog is to keep you updated on the progress of our key IT initiatives, including the new patient portal, … Continue reading →

Five years ago on my living room floor, my daughter Carly and her friend Michelle, both competitive swimmers, had a push up contest. I had offered the 10-year-old girls $1 per perfect push up, trying to get them to do … Continue reading →

As co-chair of this year’s United Way Campaign, I recently had the privilege of visiting three programs in Central Massachusetts that benefit from the generosity of UMass Memorial Health Care employees. During the 2013 campaign, our Worcester-based caregivers donated almost … Continue reading →

Like most health care organizations, we borrow money from time to time to build new buildings or purchase expensive equipment needed to take care of our patients by selling bonds to investors and promising to pay the money back with … Continue reading →

Over the past year, more than 400 employee idea boards have gone up across the health system. The boards have brought to life thousands of ideas aimed at improving the UMass Memorial experience for our patients and caregivers, and they are … Continue reading →

In a recent Fortune Magazine article, the author posed the questions, “What if doctors used powerful mobile applications to remotely track compliance of their patients’ treatment plans and progress?” “What if they could provide patients with remote access to their … Continue reading →

I’ve heard great things about our satellite endoscopy suite at 21 Eastern Ave. so on Tuesday I decided to visit and see the suite for myself. I was impressed with the facility; it offers easy access for patients right off … Continue reading →

I’d like to take a moment to wish all of you and your families a safe and happy Independence Day; especially to those of you who are working today to keep our patients well-cared for. Thanks for everything you do … Continue reading →

When HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scores for the inpatient unit on the University Campus fourth floor were presented last fall to Timothy Emhoff, MD, Chief of Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, they were not good. But … Continue reading →

Over the past week, you may have seen articles about our current financial performance (Note: subscription may be required for some of this content: Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Boston Business Journal ). As the articles suggest, the patient (us) has been … Continue reading →

Many years ago I was participating in a Kaizen (Japanese for “good change”) event and a laboratory technician asked if the nurses in the ER could stop putting the red STAT stickers on the lab tubes as they would sometimes … Continue reading →