Coming Together to Drive Systemwide Change: Celebrating our West Health Champions
Over two days in June, the West Health Champions retreat brought together clinicians, educators, and leaders of the West Health Accelerator at Mass General Brigham to celebrate the graduation of the inaugural cohort of 62 West Health Champions and welcome a second, larger group of 78 participants. The retreat marked the first time that the two cohorts of Champions had the opportunity to meet in person to share ideas and exchange experiences.
Educational Sessions Spark Lively Conversations
Throughout the two days, facilitators from across Mass General Brigham provided interactive educational sessions on topics such as delirium, mobility, medication safety, pain management, and what matters most to older adults. Rather than focusing solely on clinical knowledge, the sessions encouraged Champions to think critically about how interdisciplinary teams can work together to improve the hospital experience for older patients and their families.
These educational sessions sparked lively conversations around how to implement best practices in caring for older adults. Champions from different clinical backgrounds and hospitals shared their own experiences and challenges, with discussions continuing between sessions, over meals, and during the networking reception.
QI Presentations Mark a Year of Progress
On day one of the retreat, the first wave of Champions presented the findings of their year-long quality improvement (QI) projects to the incoming cohort of Champions and Accelerator leadership from West Health Institute and Mass General Brigham. The eight QI projects represented work across five Mass General Brigham hospitals. Each project was centered around one of the 4Ms of geriatric care—mobility, medications, mentation, and what matters—and aligned with the goals of the West Health Accelerator at Mass General Brigham. The presentations demonstrated how frontline teams can translate education into meaningful changes in practice, and sparked thoughtful discussion among all attendees. These conversations reinforced the Accelerator’s focus on delivering care that is both evidence-based and deeply person-centered, and allowed the incoming Champions to begin developing relationships to support their own QI work.
The Importance of Listening
One of the most memorable moments of the retreat came during a conversation with a 92-year-old patient, who shared his firsthand experience receiving inpatient care at Mass General Brigham. His perspective served as a reminder that while protocols and clinical expertise are essential, listening to patients remains at the heart of exceptional care.
The retreat concluded with continued training for the incoming cohort of Champions, who will carry the program forward across four additional Mass General Brigham hospitals: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and Mass General Hospital. The combined retreat allowed each group of Champions to form new connections across hospitals and disciplines, strengthening a growing community of clinicians who are passionate about advancing inpatient care for older adults throughout Mass General Brigham.