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Currents At our Sept. 28 communications meeting, Diane Schultz, a “loaned executive” representing the Trident United Way (TUW), encouraged employees to donate—or to increase their donations—to the TUW. Last year, the TUW helped 167,000 people in the Tri-county area. MUSC is the largest employer in the Charleston area, and we need to demonstrate our good citizenship through supporting the TUW. This year, MUSC’s goal is $235,000. Your support of TUW will be greatly appreciated. I am pleased to report that we are beginning to see some results from the hiring moratorium.  Unfortunately, the additional payroll costs resulting from Hurricane Floyd diminished some of our savings. In any event, we will continue to carefully curtail the hiring process while ensuring we meet mission-critical staffing needs.  We hope to get our tactical planning process on track and involve work teams in formulating specific objectives to carry out our two-year tactical plan (performance improvement) priorities. The tactical plan supports the broader, five-year clinical enterprise strategic plan. As previously communicated, the tactical plan priorities include the following: reducing cost of care, customer service, medical staff involvement, information-based decision-making, and management effectiveness. Also, we have designated the implementation of the MUSC Hospital Authority as a major goal. Our board of trustees is scheduled to meet on Oct. 7 and 8. An update will be given on the board’s actions following its meeting. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Chair, 1999 Trident United Way Campaign   Open enrollment forums held to inform employees Discount Policy Changes Lisa Montgomery, administrator for Financial Services, reviewed discount policy changes effective Jan. 1, 2000, that are necessary to comply with state and federal regulations. She emphasized that these changes are not a result of the MUSC Hospital Authority legislation or budget constraints.  Due to state legislation and legal findings, employees who participate in the standard or economy health plans, as administered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will continue to receive the hospital (but not physician services) discount. Also, employees enrolled in the MUSC Options plan will not be affected.  Beginning Jan. 1, 2000, Carolina Family Care and University Medical Associates no longer will be able to offer discounts for their services. Montgomery encourages MUSC employees to attend one of the following open enrollment forums to learn more about health plan and discount policy changes, and how to lower out-of-pocket costs:  Oct. 5,  Basic Science Building, room 302, from 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m.  Oct. 7,  Basic Science Building, room 302, from 3-5 p.m.   Oct. 14, Basic Science Building, room 100, from 1-3 p.m.   Oct. 19, Basic Science Building, room 302, from 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. ClinLAN95 Update David Northrup, director of CCIT Healthcare Computing Services, and Bill Rust, manager of Healthcare Network Services, apologized for the frustration and inconvenience caused by the recent problems with ClinLAN95 login and printing. System stability and reliability are CCIT’s top priorities. Rust reviewed a day-by-day summary of problems, causes and actions taken to correct the problems during the week of Sept. 20. Rust said CCIT will continue to closely monitor login servers and will roll out an alternative printing solution as soon as possible.  Additionally, CCIT is developing “downtime icons,” which will allow ClinLAN95 users to access essential patient care applications and GroupWise during system downtime. For more information, please visit the ClinLAN web site <http://clinlan.musc.edu> or contact Northrup at 792-6675 or Rust at 792-3403. Announcements Flu Vaccine Jodell Johnson, R.N., coordinator of Infection Control, said the flu vaccine will not be available until after Oct. 15. She will distribute updated information about where and when employees will be able to get the vaccine. Bloodborne Pathogen Packets If managers or directors need packets of information about bloodborne pathogen procedures for employees who are more than two hours away from the MUSC campus, please call 792-3604. Free Concert The Charleston Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert in the horseshoe on Oct. 6 during the lunch hour. Local restaurants will be on hand to sell various types of lunch items.