Members of Mass General's Buildings and Grounds are some of the Blood Donor Center’s most regular donors, giving both whole blood and platelets nearly every time they are eligible. This week, National Healthcare Facilities/Maintenance/Engineering Week, we thank all member of Buildings and Grounds, who not only provide critical life-saving donations, but who provide critical maintenance services to Mass General's main campus and satellite locations around the clock.
The need for blood at Massachusetts General Hospital locations continues to be urgent.
“Both MGH Danvers and Assembly Row have been very supportive and have run drives with us since April,” says Kim Cronin, manager of Mass General's Blood Donor Services. “They were the first two sites to offer locations and support of the bloodmobile. They have each run blood drives every month since then and have committed to continue doing so through spring.”
These locations offer community members an easy option to do so.
“The Danvers community and staff of the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care have been happy to serve as consistent blood donors to help our patients,” says Elena Sierra, executive director of MGH Danvers, who credits much of their drives’ success to the hard work and dedication of her executive assistant, Kelly Morley. “Kelly is a big reason why our drives have been so successful. She spends a lot of time reaching out to staff and to the community to fill all the blood donation appointments.”
Appointment Information
To schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets, visit massgeneral.org/blood-donor and click “Find a Blood Drive” to view all mobile drive dates and locations, or click on the “Schedule an appointment” button for available appointments at the hospital’s Blood Donor Center. Due to the ongoing need for physical distancing, appointments are required at all blood drives and in the Donor Center.
Upcoming mobile drives at MGH Danvers and Assembly Row are scheduled for:
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10 am to 3:30 pm at MGH Danvers, 102 Endicott Street
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 9:30 am to 3 pm at Mass General Brigham Assembly Row
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 10 am to 3:30 pm at MGH Danvers, 102 Endicott Street
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 9:30 am to 3 pm at Mass General Brigham Assembly Row
“‘In times of distress, every man becomes our neighbor,’” says Cronin, citing the well-known Mass General motto. “These locations and the staff who work there truly reached out and made it possible for more people to step up and help ensure an adequate blood supply is available."
This week, the Mass General Acute Psychiatry Service opened a newly renovated and expanded unit for both pediatric and adult patients experiencing psychiatric, neuropsychiatric and substance-use emergencies.
Ever wonder what happens to food remnants once a dining tray is placed on the conveyor belt and disappears into the kitchen at MGH’s Eat Street Café? Those leftovers become fertilizer, electricity and heat thanks to a partnership with Agri-Cycle Energy.
“This week was a momentous week because a year ago today we received word we’d have to be moving offices in order to make room,” says Karen Carlson, MD, founder and physician of MGH Women’s Health Associates, which this month is recognizing its 35th anniversary.
Each fall, the Mass General/MGPO Flu Committee hosts a walk-in clinic for patients and staff to receive their seasonal influenza vaccine, part of a broader hospital mission to support the health of the community. This year was different, however.