• Future of hospital technology the focus of leadership meeting
  When compared to other academic medical centers, the MGH is often seen as a leader in utilizing information systems, particularly in supporting the hospital's commitment to the quality and safety of patient care. While the hospital has made significant progress in Information Systems (IS), much work is planned for the future. Jim Noga, MGH chief information officer, outlined the current IS projects that will have a significant impact on patient care at a hospitalwide leadership meeting Jan. 30 in the O'Keeffe Auditorium.

• Journey of a lifetime for young patient and MGH physician
  Rakan Hassan has experienced more tragedy in his young life than most 12-year-olds. The young boy from Iraq was accidentally shot and seriously wounded last January – an incident that also left him and his six siblings orphaned. Because of inadequate medical care, Rakan had little hope of a full recovery until he was given the opportunity to come to the United States for treatment. In September, he embarked on a valiant journey of hope and opportunity that led him to the MGH, where he has been treated for the last five months.

• MGH cafeterias make a change to lower trans fat content
  Following the latest nutrition trend, concern about the use of trans fats in food products recently has taken center stage. Starting in January, the Food and Drug Administration now requires all food manufacturers to include trans fats on their food labels. Trans fats now are listed under the total fat category along with saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Both trans fats and saturated fats have been shown to increase the low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol levels that increase the risk of heart disease.

• MGH Revere: Learning from Toyota
  Every year, the MGH Revere Internal Medicine practice is challenged by the logistics of its flu-shot clinic. Fitting 500 flu-shot appointments into a packed schedule is not an easy task. This year, staff applied process improvement concepts they learned from automobile manufacturer Toyota to meet that challenge. Companies and organizations around the country have been implementing what have become known as "lean principles," developed by Toyota to streamline production, eliminate waste and continuously improve the production process.

• MGH helps with new Medicare prescription drug plans
  On Jan. 1, Medicare – the federal government's health insurance program – implemented Medicare Part D, a new prescription drug benefit that offers eligible individuals insurance coverage for prescription drugs through a variety of different plans. To help MGH patients navigate the new system and choose the plan best suited for their needs, staff members from MGH Patient Financial Services, Senior HealthWISE, MGH Community Benefits and the Blum Patient and Family Learning Center have joined together to provide patients with a variety of Medicare Part D resources.

• In memoriam: Robin Holloway, BSN
  Robin Holloway, BSN, a longtime employee at the MGH, died Jan. 14 after an extended illness.

• MGH Center for Psychoanalytic Studies celebrates 10th anniversary
  The MGH Center for Psychoanalytic Studies will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a showing and discussion of the movie Princess Marie Feb. 11, from 9 am to 1 pm in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. The free event is sponsored by the MGH Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy and is open to the public.

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