January 5, 1999

Recently, several newspaper articles have discussed issues concerning the MUSC Medical Center’s outlook for changes in our organizational governance structure. The KPMG Peat Marwick study (as commissioned by the Performance Audit Committee chaired by Lt. Governor Peeler and the Budget and Control Board) and our updated clinical enterprise strategic plan (as developed with assistance from the Deloitte & Touche consulting firm) both recommend organizational governance structure alternatives for consideration. Highlights from the KPMG study and the updated strategic plan, as approved in principle by our Board of Trustees, were outlined in previous Currents newsletters.

The local newspaper articles have also focused upon the affiliation proposal case which is under consideration by the State Supreme Court. Our board previously determined that an appeal of this case to the Supreme Court was needed to resolve issues of concern to MUSC and the state legislature. The Supreme Court’s decision will provide a road map for strategic decision making and may serve to solidify some of the issues upon which the Circuit Court ruled favorably on behalf of MUSC.

The process for our board to determine the most suitable organizational structure governing model is lengthy. It is our board’s intent to seek local support for the most suitable course of action.

Regardless of the outcome of the organizational governance structure decision making process, our goal is to control costs while providing the highest quality of care and ensuring for the best interest of employees. Based upon our previous experience, the leadership is well attuned to issues of interest to employees and these matters will be fully communicated as the broader decision making process moves forward.

Announcements

• Colleen Corish recently assumed the new position of program manager for Adult Oncology Services, which includes outpatient services at Hollings Cancer Center and 8 West and 10 East inpatient areas.
• Dave Northrup, director, Healthcare Computing Services, announced that Bessie Simmons has been made director of the CCIT Quality Assurance Program. Northrup explained that Simmons will be contacting various areas of the University to conduct an assessment of the CCIT service levels. If you have any comments or questions regarding CCIT quality assurance, you can contact Simmons at 937-4100 ext. 240.
• H. Biemann Othersen, Jr., M.D., medical director for Professional Staff, stated that we continue to experience high patient census levels in the hospital and thanked Bed Management for all their hard work and efforts to keep things moving smoothly.
• Susan Carullo, manager, Employment, Compensation and Employee Relations, clarified the Medical Center policy concerning the payment of non-productive weekend shift differential during times of leave. The term “non-productive” pertains to periods of leave with pay.
• Carullo distributed a handout which states:
• Non-productive weekend shift differential should only be paid to employees with permanent weekend shift assignments. Effective Dec. 20, 1998 (paycheck of Jan. 12, 1999), the payment of non-productive weekend shift differential will only apply to employees with permanent weekend shift assignments. Since there are a limited number of permanent weekend shift assignments, very few employees should be receiving the non-productive weekend differential during times of leave (i.e., annual, sick, administrative or holiday).
• Employees whose work schedules require rotating to weekends on a regular basis do not qualify as having permanent weekend assignments. In addition, employees who have voluntarily elected to work primarily weekend shifts do so at the employee’s choice. This is not considered a guaranteed nor permanent weekend assignment.
• Verification of permanent weekend work assignments should have been documented on the original PEAR form when the employee was hired and on the position description.
• Again, this pertains only to weekend non-productive shift differential. Employees will continue to receive the weekend differential for actual hours worked according to policy.
• If you have any questions concerning this policy, please contact Carullo at 792-1864.
• Effective Jan. 1, all patients, including employees, who have changed insurance plans must present their insurance card at MUSC Outpatient Pharmacies seven days before requesting a refill. Once this information has been updated, we will be able to provide same day service for all subsequent refills. With the number of plans changing, as well as new options for employees, our pharmacies need this time to enter new program changes while continuing to serve your prescription needs.
• Kelly Burkett of HBSI will be at the Communications meeting on Jan. 19, regarding the HBSI reports. (The University Healthsystem Consortium discontinued the MECON benchmarking survey in favor of HBSI.) All directors and managers are encouraged to share their ideas and opinions with Burkett at this meeting. Individual or group meetings can also be scheduled with Burkett by contacting Pamela Marek, decision support analyst, Hospital Fiscal Services, at 792-8793.

Change - For The Better

• Othersen, spoke to the Medical Center management team about ‘change.’ Othersen discussed the bed census situation in the Medical Center. The census has been consistently high, critical at times. Othersen asked for everyone’s cooperation and assistance in processing patient discharges efficiently; to change the way we do things and expedite the discharge process. He urged the continuum of care managers and other patient care givers to communicate with the attending physicians to ensure discharge planning is timely and smooth.
• Othersen recited the following “C” words and explained how he believes they can help in alleviating not just the bed capacity problem, but all problems.

Change: Don’t Be Afraid To Try Another Way

• Commitment: don’t give up so easily on new or different approaches
• Communication: communicate, communicate, communicate - can’t do it enough!
• Competence: we all have the ability to accept change and initiate change
• Constancy: stay steadfast in your willingness to try different things
• Courage: don’t be frightened by change
• Courtesy: show consideration of new ideas, new processes, etc.
• Joanne Conroy, M.D., associate vice president for Medical Affairs and Chair, Anesthesiology, also encouraged everyone’s support and assistance in dealing with the bed crunch and thanked Othersen for his efforts and enthusiasm to enhance and improve the bed situation.