Madelyn Pearson

Dear Colleagues,

October is National Physical Therapy Month, an opportunity to celebrate our dedicated physical therapists at the Brigham. We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of therapists who provide inpatient and outpatient care and work in partnership with members of the multidisciplinary care team.

In this issue of Heart & Science, you’ll learn about the vital role one of our physical therapists played in founding the Multidisciplinary Sports Clinic at 850 Boylston St. Alex Neal, PT, DPT, came to the Brigham from a private practice because he wanted to work in close collaboration with physician colleagues who were referring patients to him. He sought to increase communication with physicians about the plan of care to benefit patients. The innovative clinic that he and Rebecca Breslow, MD, established together is an inspiring example of what is possible when we collaborate across disciplines.

Another way we are enhancing collaboration and communication is through our new committee structure, which formally kicked off in September. With committees representing every practice area and division, we are better able to standardize care, improve quality, focus on education and optimize the practice environment. Staff have a powerful voice in the decisions we are making about these areas, and there has been great enthusiasm for the more inclusive committee structure.

Staff wellness continues to be a priority for me, and I am impressed with work that staff in some units have already done in this area. Shapiro 8 nurses recently hosted a wellness fair for their colleagues, recognizing how important it is for staff to take time for self-care so they are better prepared to deliver the best care to their patients. There will be more to come about staff wellness as the nursing leadership team thinks through how best to support these important efforts and care for our caregivers.

With warm regards,

Madelyn Pearson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services