August 20, 1999

Nearly every MGHer likely has been asked at some point: "Excuse me, do you work here?" To help patients and visitors identify employees, MGHers should wear their ID badges at all times.

In fact, hospital policy requires that all MGH staff, employees, students and volunteers wear a hospital identification badge while on duty. The badge is meant to ensure patients, visitors and other hospital staff of the identity and department of the person wearing the badge.

"Wearing ID badges isn’t just a random policy instituted by the hospital," says Maryanne Spicer, director of Corporate Compliance. "Our patients have a right to know the names of their caregivers and the departments where they work. Visitors like to know who employees are so they can ask questions. And lastly, our Police and Security Department needs to be able to identify employees for safety reasons."

Bonnie Michelman, director of MGH Police and Security, strongly agrees with that last point. "With so many people passing through these halls every day, having employees wearing ID badges really is the only way to know if people are where they should be," she says. "Whether it is in an administrative area, patient unit or restricted access location, it is important for all employees to wear their badges. In the past, badge compliance has helped our department identify incidents or potential safety issues before they happened."

Spicer also emphasizes that patients particularly need the help of badges to identify employees. "With so many staff and employees dressed exactly alike in scrubs or lab coats, it can be difficult for patients to differentiate between a doctor, nurse, technician, dietician or support service employee," she says. "Simply wearing your ID badge can make it easier for patients to know who is caring for them."

Identification badges can be obtained through the Police and Security Department. For more information, call 4-3916