UMass Memorial Health has expanded its AI-powered clinical decision tool, KATE, to emergency departments across its system to aid nurses in early sepsis detection and patient triage, following a successful 2023 pilot at its UMass Memorial Medical Center University and Memorial campuses. Learn more now in this all-new article in The Worcester Guardian: (fb)

Meet Matt Pfleger, Manager of Learning & Development at UMass Memorial Health. "Like a lot of non-clinical caregivers, [a career in health care] happened by accident at first, but it's 'ruined' me in the best way possible and now you're all stuck with me. At the end of my first week here, I told my family it felt like I'd been asleep my whole prior career. Everything each of us does has tremendous meaning, and I was lit up by that. It's so easy to see the connection between our work and the organization's mission and the end result of patients having a great experience or not. The stakes are high. That's incredibly inspiring and makes it easy to come to work and give it everything you have. I was hired as a recruiter. I later became a manager. I found how investing in my own learning and development positively impacted my performance and my team, and I was so taken by that process that I transferred to Organization & People Development. Partway through that journey, I left the organization, but I came right back - there's something special about this place and this collection of people. It's not the same anywhere else. I have the best job in the whole system, and I'll playfully argue that all day with anyone who'd like to challenge me on it. Not only is my title Manager of Learning & Development, which I think is the coolest role possible, but I have the best team in the system. And it's literally our job to help other people become the best version of themselves and feel like they have the best team. Getting to support caregivers and entire teams while they reach their performance goals, feel connected to each other and the organization, and have meaningful learning experiences is amazing. To do that with Alexis Jadrich, Brandy Mitchell, Clédia Caberlon, Colin McCarthy, Emily Armond, Lacey Daniel, Paige Meltzer, and Sally Pennell is literally a dream come true. It's the most talented, passionate, intelligent, interesting, and kind group of people I've ever been around. We're all so lucky to have them here doing the work they do." When asked about his most memorable moment at UMass Memorial, Matt replied, "The next one." "My team is doing great work every day, and I'm really trying to soak that in and enjoy it. I've personally had so many wonderful opportunities here it's hard to pick just one - I was the recruiter for 400 caregivers, I led a redesign of our previous hiring system, I've welcomed hundreds more caregivers at New Caregiver Welcome over the years, Alexis Jadrich and I have taught almost 200 caregivers Crucial Conversations, I've been promoted three times, I've assembled an incredible team and I met most of my friends through working here. It's been a rich career and I'm excited for every caregiver to experience what Learning & Development has in store for the future. I'm really proud of this place. Everyone, Everyday. Everyone is a Caregiver. Standards of Respect. We really mean this stuff. The people here work really hard to make it a reality. We're not perfect, but we're trying, and it's the trying that matters. We have the best intention and purpose. I just love the people that work here and how we show up for our patients and each other." When he's not working, Matt says he can be found holding one, if not both, of his kids, reading a book, or finding a silly work meme to send to to his team. Thank you, Matt, for everything you do. Your passion, personality and excitement are an inspiration to both new and existing UMass Memorial Health caregivers. #MyUMassMemorialMark (fb)