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To Medical Center Employees:

At the Dec. 4 communications meeting Eric Rouvalis, manager, Physical Therapy and Ann Benton, manager, Occupational Therapy, gave an interesting presentation on the myriad of services provided by the Physical and Occupational Therapy departments. All employees in these departments are to be commended for their innovative and high quality of care. Highlights of their presentation are outlined below.

As we enter into the holiday season and approach the end of a successful calendar year, I would like to extend my deep appreciation to all members of the MUSC community for your dedicated service.  Happy holiday season and thanks to all for a job well done.

Thank you very much.

W. Stuart Smith
Vice President for Clinical Operations and
Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center
 

PT/OT provides  teaching, training, patient care

The Occupational and Physical Therapy departments support the MUSC mission through its commitment to excellence in patient care, outcome driven treatment programs, teaching, student training and by responding in a timely manner to the ever changing health care environment, according to Erica Rouvalis, manager of Physical Therapy, and Ann Benton, manager of Occupational Therapy.

The MUSC Occupational and Physical Therapy Departments have 85 full-time employees providing inpatient and outpatient services seven days a week, everyday of the year. For the year 2000-01, these departments managed 62,571 patient visits, of which 58 percent were inpatient, with total patient charges of $5.5 million. 

Treatment locations are at the MUSC Medical Center, Rutledge Tower, Charleston Memorial Hospital/SC Specialty Hospital, MUSC Medical Plaza West Ashley, SI Lab, Christian Family Y, Outpatient Specialty Clinics and Operating Rooms.

The therapists are divided into specialty teams to meet the varied needs of the patient population including:  Pediatric Team; Neurology/Neurosurgery Team; Acute Orthopedic Team; Medical/Surgical Burn Team; Outpatient Team; and Lift Team. Other PT/OT organizational units include: Charleston Memorial Hospital, Enterstomal Therapy (ET) Nurses; Administrative Staff; and Student Programs.

Marketing Communications receives top awards
Marketing Services recently received top awards for two television productions and its consumer newsletter, all of which spotlight health care services available at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Awarded by Carolina Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society and the Carolina Society for Healthcare Planning and Marketing, Marketing Services received gold medals for MUSC’s TV Health Connection and for a half-hour MUSC Children’s Health television special that aired on Channel 5 and a silver award for Checkup, MUSC’s consumer newsletter. The awards were announced by Chris Murray, director of Business Development and Marketing Services.

Marketing Services also received a gold Silver Tusk award based on quality, cost effectiveness and return on investment for the Cooper River Bridge Run, a community relations program.

In addition, in 2001 the Healthcare Marketing Report recognized publication of MUSC’s Progress Notes, the Storm Eye Institute signature brochure and the clinical enterprise’s internet site, MUSCHealth.com.

“These awards could not have been possible without the support of many people in this room,” Murray said, indicating the management team. “Each of you plays a role. We’re only as good as all the efforts combined,” she said. “So, today we would like to share this recognition with you.”

On-call rate of pay increased
Effective Jan. 13, 2002, the on-call rate of pay will increase from $1.61  to $2 per hour, according to Susan Carullo, manager of Employment, Compensation and Employee Relations.

This increase is designed to keep the Medical Center competitive with other academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast, reflecting a rate above the local market. Carullo said the on-call rate was identified as an issue in a Clinical Services survey to employees.

The increase is approved for biweekly (hourly) paid employees approved for on-call pay throughout the Medical Center.

Nominations sought for diversity award
Nominations for the Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award are being accepted until Jan. 4, announced Betts Ellis, administrator, Institutional Relations.

Official nomination forms for the award are available through the Office of Diversity at 5 Doughty Street, Charleston or online at <http://www.musc.edu/diversity/higform.html>. 

Please submit completed forms to Stella Onggako, Office of Diversity, no later than noon on Jan. 4, 2002. 

Forms may be faxed to Onggako at 792-0314.