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Currents To MUSC Employees: Franklin Medio, Ph.D., assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME), addressed the management team at the Dec. 12 communications meeting concerning GME initiatives, emphasizing that the GME office expects residents to demonstrate high levels of professional conduct.  I urge you to read Dr. Medio’s comments in the article on this page.  One of the tactical plan goals adopted in 1999 is “medical staff involvement” and this should include residents.  The Medical Center management team and all staff must ensure that we properly orient new residents and keep open lines of communication. We must involve residents, as representatives of our organization, in addressing priorities and solving problems. We should be ever mindful that graduate medical education is a fundamental component of our mission. The GME program and the presence of residents contribute markedly to high quality patient care. As we begin the New Year with the new status of hospital authority, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every member of our MUSC community. In so many ways, all of you have contributed to making real the spirit and substance of our stated mission—to provide excellence in patient care, teaching, and research in an environment that is respectful of others, adaptive to change, and accountable for outcomes. For each aspect of our mission and for every element of the work we do, I recognize the extraordinary accomplishments and caring of individuals that have become the hallmark of this institution. We have completed the first year of this millennium having demonstrated one of our greatest strengths—our adaptability to change. Our transition to a state authority has posed challenges that we have surmounted as an organization and emerged stronger for it. Best wishes to you all in the New Year. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Education focuses on teaching residents professionalism The MUSC Office of Graduate Medical Education has adopted a position of “zero tolerance” for unprofessional conduct from its residents, according to Franklin J. Medio, Ph.D., assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education, who addressed the management team at the Dec. 12 communications meeting. “We have dismissed some residents because of chronic unprofessional behavior, which continued even after repeated feedback and counseling,”  Medio said, emphasizing that it’s only a few who have caused problems. “It’s like continually failing an exam,” he said. “We’re sending the message that we expect all residents to exhibit good professional behavior all the time. All program directors recognize that this is an integral part of becoming a good physician.” Medio urged MUSC employees who observe unprofessional conduct from physician residents to approach them face to face, offer instructive feedback that suggests ways for offending residents to correct their mistakes. If the behavior doesn’t improve, he said, employees should discuss the incident with the chief resident, attending physician and/or residency program director. In an effort to expand the training of residents, the Office of Graduate Medical Education has developed a lecture program that includes instruction on Medicaid and Medicare regulations, end-of-life care, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, quality improvement, risk management, confidentiality, evi-dence-based medicine, medical-legal issues, hospital protocols and professionalism. “Residents are licensed physicians and, as such, you have every right to expect the utmost in professional behavior,” he said. “Residents are not ‘guests’ at MUSC. They are an integral part of the university community.” Changes in Pediatric Sedation Policy In an effort to improve patient care and satisfaction, the Anesthesia Department and Radiology Nursing will manage all pediatric sedation for Radiology, announced Gary Haynes, M.D., director of Resident Education Anesthesiology. The Anesthesia Department will coordinate pediatric sedation, focusing first on MRI and CT scans. Radiology Nursing will support this service in the 3 Eye Radiology Prep and Recovery Area. Non-emergent pediatric scans will be scheduled for one-hour time slots on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 8 a.m. and will be triaged through the MRI supervisor Alden Finlayson and the Anesthesia attending physician covering the service. Scans outside the Tuesday/Thursday schedule will be handled by the fourth floor Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) patients will continue to be sedated and supported by the ICU staff. “What we need from you is your help to make this run more effectively,” Haynes said. Orientation Update The dates and location of the January 2001 new employee orientation schedule have been revised because of the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, according to Janet Browning, manager, Benefits, Records and Training for the Medical Center Office of Human Resources. General orientation will be held  Tuesday, Jan. 16, to accommodate Martin Luther King Jr., holiday, and will be held in the eighth floor auditorium of the Storm Eye Institute. The Medical Center benefit briefing and payroll sign-up will be conducted on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 9 - 1 p.m. in the 2 West Amphitheater. Clinical Services orientation will be held Thursday, Friday and Monday, Jan. 18, 19, and 22. All Clinical Services orientation meetings will be held in the 2 West Amphitheater.