Pulse Employee Newsletter - September 8, 2020

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Free English Classes for Employees Beginning September 14

Brigham Health's Workforce Development presents free English classes for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Classes will he held:

• Beginners: Mondays/Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 5:30 pm
• Intermediate: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:30 pm
• Advanced: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10:30 am and Mondays/Wednesdays at 5:30 pm

Classes begin the week of September 14. If you're interested, please contact Shazia Bhura at 857-307-3744 or sbhura@partners.org.

Free U.S. Citizenship Classes for Employees Beginning September 24

Mass General Brigham’s Human Resources, in partnership with Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), is offering a free, 4-week program to assist employees and their families or friends to attain U.S. citizenship. The classes, facilitated by JVS staff, are once per week, and will be held virtually via Zoom. All class materials will be posted to Google Classroom, so participants can access the materials outside of the class. The next start dates are September 24 and October 26. Click here to learn more.

Connect with Other Families Using MGB Community Connects

Are you looking for a nanny share or families in your neighborhood to form “education pods” or share tutors? 

Please use MGB Community Connects to post your requests and look for other families in your neighborhood. This site is only available to MGB employees and can help you find other families to take advantage of MGB childcare and tutoring services.

Please sign up - this only works if we have a "critical mass" of employees using the site.

Update Your Information in PeopleSoft By October 1

Are your mailing and email addresses up-to-date in PeopleSoft? Open Enrollment for your 2021 employee benefits will take place October 26 to November 13. We want to ensure that you receive the information you need to make the right decisions for you and your family. Please make any needed updates in PeopleSoft by October 1. To check your information:

1. Access PeopleSoft at: https://ibridge.partners.org
2. Log on using your Partners network ID and password. If you are logging in from offsite, you will be asked to enter a code sent to your mobile phone via text.
3. Click the myDetails
4. To update your home and mailing addresses:
   Click Addresses, then click on each address to update as needed.
5. To update your email address:
   Click Contact Details, then click Email Address to update as needed.

If you make any changes, make sure to click Save in the upper right-hand corner.

While You Are There, Choose to Go Paperless!

Did you know you can opt out of receiving printed materials during fall benefits Open Enrollment? To sign up for “electronic only” 2021 Open Enrollment materials via PeopleSoft Employee Self Service, log on to PeopleSoft and click MyBenefits, then Paperless HR. Those who opt out will receive electronic copies of Open Enrollment materials delivered to their preferred email address listed in PeopleSoft. Materials also will be available on Ask myHR. Questions? Please submit a request or call the HR Support Center at 1-833-Ask-MyHR (1-833-275-6947) for assistance.

For Clinicians: Attend the Quality & Safety Virtual Symposium on September 16

The Mass General Brigham Quality and Patient Experience department invites you to attend the 5^th Annual Quality & Safety Symposium “Improving Quality & Safety During COVID-19” on September 16, from 8 am – 2 pm. Learn more and get details to register in advance. Continuing Professional Development credits will be available.

Media Highlights

Food insecurity surges with unemployment in Massachusetts
Boston Herald

Gynesonics announces Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital becomes the first in Massachusetts to offer innovative new procedure to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids

COVID-19 Updates

Reminder: Massachusetts Travel Order Remains in Effect

The Massachusetts Travel Order affects members of our workforce who travel to a state other than Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Delaware, Pennsylvania or West Virginia. Despite an exemption for certain essential workers, the order states that “workers who travel to or from Massachusetts for personal or leisure reasons cannot rely on this exemption.” While travel outside of this region is strongly discouraged, all employees must consider the following guidelines:

Prior to travel (except for the states listed above)

Employees must attest to their travel in advance in this Travel Attestation.

Upon return from travel and before being able to return to work

Employees will need to do the following:

• Complete the required Massachusetts Travel Form.
• Demonstrate proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. Testing can be obtained up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Massachusetts or upon return, although the employee must maintain quarantine until a negative COVID-19 result is produced.
• If testing is not obtained, quarantine for 14 days.
• If requesting testing at a Mass General Brigham test location, please call Occupational Health Central Services at 617-724-8100 to order and schedule testing. Testing can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance of your return.  
• To submit a test result obtained elsewhere, email phsohscovid19@partners.org with “Travel Follow-up” in the subject line of the email. Of note, the call center can only accept test results with identifiers such as first and last name and date of birth. You do not have to submit test results if you tested at a Mass General Brigham test location.
• Employees who test negative after travel may immediately return to work.
• Employees who test positive, must stay home from work and follow the return to work protocol in our current Return to Work Criteria. Employees who have approved remote work arrangements may work remotely during the quarantine period.

We continue to strongly urge all employees not to travel to areas outside of those areas listed above and to comply with all aspects of the order. As a health care organization, we all share the same belief that protecting our patients and one another by avoiding trips to potential hotspots is the top priority. Thank you for maintaining our safe care commitment to patients, visitors and staff.

For Clinicians: COVID-19 Test Scheduling Redesign

As of September 2, 2020, providers no longer have to specify the patient’s preferred location for testing. 

• The Location question will ask, “Sending to MGB Testing Site” versus “Performing COVID Swab Now in Clinic.”  
• If “Sending to MGB Testing Site” is selected, scheduling staff will call your patient and arrange testing.
• In addition, a new travel indication (“Travel Screen for Visitor or Returning Resident entering MA”) is available for use. You can find additional information on the eCare training materials site.

Save the Date

Thriving in a Busy World
Tuesday, September 8
12 noon to 1 pm
EAP Webinar

Active Shooter Preparedness Training
Thursday, September 10
7:30 to 8 am
Huvos Auditorium

De-Escalation Training (AVADE, Trauma Informed Care, CO, Restraint/Seclusion, Care of the Suicidal Patient)
Friday, September 11
8 am to 4 pm
Huvos Auditorium

De-Escalation Training (AVADE, Trauma Informed Care, CO, Restraint/Seclusion, Care of the Suicidal Patient)
Friday, September 18
8 am to 4 pm
Huvos Auditorium

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