January 21, 2005

Making a difference at the MGH

Every year MGHers who are interested in making improvements at the hospital apply for the Making a Difference grant in hopes of making a positive impact on patients, their families and employees at the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO). This year, 37 individuals and groups submitted proposal ideas requesting more than $150,000 to put these ideas into action. The review board — comprised of MGH and MGPO employees — had the difficult task of allocating the $75,000 budgeted for the program. Twenty-one of the projects received funding to bring their ideas to life.

The fifth annual Making a Difference poster display and reception will be held in June to honor these employees and their dedication to improving service at the MGH.



Recipients of the Making a Difference grant

This year's recipients are:

Project title:                                                           Led by:

When domestic violence comes to work                   Donna Kausek
Humor cart                                                              Stacey Paiva
Improving communication in the busy                        James McCarthy
   emergency environment
Assessment of behavioral cognitive                           Elyse Park
treatment for medical patients
Patient feedback to pediatric residents                      John Patrick Co
Multilingual greeting buttons                                     Carly-Jean Fancois
Osteoporosis guidelines                                           Marie Demay
Support group for siblings                                        Elyse Levin-Russman
MGH Chelsea employee recognition program          Ann Marie Lahaie
Elder care resource pamphlet for patients,                Tom Finn
   families and providers
Improving delirium care                                           Scott Dickinson
Music as a therapeutic intervention                          Ally Runyan
   with neuroscience patients                                       
Improving education of patients, families and staff    Jennifer Mello
   regarding the traumatic brain injury population
Empathy belly                                                         Lori Pugsley
Resource guide for women                                      Mary Ellen Heike
Preserving the healed wound                                   Virginia Capasso
Youth zone arts incentive                                         Bill DeMars
Child passenger safety project                                 Liz Tsardounis
Maximizing parents' time at the bedside                    Julie Piotrowski
Child friendly induction room                                   Sandra Dodge
Promoting relaxation for patients of the                    Molly Dorfman
   Pappas Center for Neuro-oncology