• An evening of compassion
  Once again, the importance of compassionate care was underscored as more than 1,400 supporters and friends of the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center gathered Oct. 23 to attend the eighth annual dinner celebrating the center's ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between patients and caregivers.

• Study finds way to dramatically increase hematopoietic stem cells
  Researchers from the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine and Techology (CRMT) and the Endocrine Unit have found a way to significantly increase production of hematopoietic stem cells in a mouse model. Expanding numbers of these cells, which can develop into any kind of blood cell, could greatly increase how many patients could receive stem cell transplants for certain cancers.

• MGH patient confidentiality campaign focuses on employee privacy
  Since the creation of the Hippocratic oath, protecting the privacy of patients has been an important part of the physician's code of conduct. These days, health information may be available to organizations and individuals who are not subject to medical ethics codes, but may work with health information as part of their job responsibilities. As uses of health information have multiplied, so have regulatory protections. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule provided the first federal protection for health information.

• MGH raises awareness about domestic violence
  The hospital's Domestic Violence Working Group recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October with a four-part speaker series. The series began with "Stalking in the Workplace" Oct. 9 in the Walcott Conference Rooms.

• Strategic Planning Spotlight: Clinical Innovation Task Force
  Since the MGH embarked on an intensive strategic planning effort to determine the future direction of its clinical programs, members of seven task forces have been meeting, planning and preparing to make recommendations to the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Hotline is highlighting the work of some of these task forces. This week's spotlight is on the Clinical Innovation Task Force.

• Ramadan: Celebrating and educating
  The Patient Care Services Diversity Steering Committee organized an information table in the Main Corridor Oct. 23 to help educate the MGH community about the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

• What's Happening

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