2016
Grab-a-Lab
a. Molly Higgins, RN, wanted to decrease cross contamination of lab specimens and reduce hospital acquired infections. Her proposed solution, Grab-a-lab, is a piece of proprietary medical equipment that dispenses clear, plastic bags in real time to allow healthcare providers to securely obtain and transport lab specimens while avoiding cross contamination of viruses and bacteria.
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2016
Pressure Injury Prevention
Dr. Virginia Capasso and Michael Tady wanted to prevent hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI). The majority of avoidable HAPI are medical device related injuries and usual anatomical locations include naso-gastric tubes, oral endotracheal tubes, fetal incontinence device, urinary catheter and flange on a tracheostomy tubes. Dr Virginia Capasso and Michael Tady set out to invent a device for the prevention of these problems.
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2017
JRAD
Jared Jordan, RN wanted to solve the problem of unnecessary patient falls while delivering quality, compassionate care. His proposed solution, JRAD, is a bathroom safety harness that will keep patients safe while maintaining their dignity and privacy while toileting.
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2017
Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Flip Chart
Lillian Ananian, RN, Jeanette Livelo, RN, Paul Currier, MD, and Dominic Breuer wanted to reduce the number of central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in the MICU. They worked with Northeastern University’s School of Engineering to expand existing CLABSI reduction strategies by posting a CLABSI flip chart with a visual display of the number of weeks since the last central-line infection. Anecdotal findings suggest that the chart has had a positive impact on staff engagement.
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2018
PEG Pal
Occupational therapists, Helena Diodati, OTR/L, and Sara Basiliere, OTR/L wanted to address the pain point of upper extremity weakness for those patients who suffer from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its effects on Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube Management. Their proposed solution, Peg pal, is an adaptive kit comprised of custom design tools that will allow patients to grasp the tubing and syringe so they can independently initiate and terminate feedings.
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2018
Medication Step Saver
Informatics project manager, Shelley Stuler, RN, and staff nurse, Bernadette Quigley, RN wanted to streamline the medication-administration process. ICU nurses have to deal with numerous medication pumps in patients’ rooms, which are inconveniently located away from computers. Their proposed solution, the Medication Step Saver, is a device that sits on the infusion pump to allow nurses to administer medications more efficiently.
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2019
Blood Transfer Shield
Kimberly Whalen, RN, and Ryan Carroll, MD of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) wanted to address the high-risk transfer of blood from a syringe to a small test tube, called a ‘microtainer’, which are often used in pediatric patients, as well as adults. Their proposed solution, the blood transfer shield, is a closed system device to transfer blood into pediatric microtainer tubes. Blood transfer shield prevents anxiety of accidental exposure to blood for MGH staff while reducing needle and splash injuries.
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2019
BeHear
Speech-language pathologist, Lara Hirner, SLP wanted to improve medical stability, language outcomes and parent-infant bonding among neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The ICU sound environment is a stark auditory contrast to the comforting sounds an infant is exposed to in the womb, and can have negative effects on infant brain development, including language delays. Her solution, BeHear (Healing Early Audio Recorder), records parents’ and family members’ voices so the recordings can be played for infants in the NICU when family
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