February 16, 2001

Many MGHers are on the lookout for creative ways to help improve a patient's experience at the hospital. Whether it is developing a new brochure that explains a patient's illness or simply sending a greeting card after a patient has been discharged, employees often know the added touches that can make a difference to a patient and/or patient's family.

Now those good ideas can be put into action, thanks to support from the "Making a Difference" grant program, which is jointly sponsored by the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO). Named after the "Making a Difference" employee recruitment and retention video (see story below), the grant program offers a one-time payment of $5,000 to support employee initiatives that improve the quality of service provided to patients, families and fellow employees. The grant program may be familiar to some MGH employees, as it is modeled after the MGH Service Grant Program from several years ago, which awarded nearly $200,000 in grant money to MGHers.

"What better way to improve our services for patients and their families than to tap into the talent and creativity of our own employees, who know better than anyone how to take care of patients more efficiently and effectively?" says Mary Cunningham, director of the Service Improvement Program for MGH/MGPO Customer Service and coordinator of the grant program. "The goal of these grants is to provide seed money to help employees implement their ideas into solid programs or projects that can be funded later with other resources."

All MGH employees — including Bulfinch Temps and volunteers — are eligible to apply for the grants with departmental and/or administrative approval. Preference will be given to projects that address service issues from the patient's perspective. Special consideration also will be given to proposals that involve collaborative efforts. The maximum grant award is $5,000; however, if several departments are collaborating on a proposal, a grant of up to $10,000 can be requested.

Employees can request a grant proposal application by calling 726-1816 or by visiting the MGH/MGPO Customer Service Department at Emerson Place 5, Suite 113. Deadline for the first round of awards is April 30. For more information, contact Mary Cunningham at 724-1004 or send e-mail to mccunningham@partners.org. An information display about the grant program will be in the Main Corridor Feb. 20, 11 am to 1 pm.