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Currents To MUSC Employees: The State Budget and Control Board recently approved a $31 million line of credit to MUSC Medical Center for FY 2001/2002. This approval process for a line of credit was stipulated in the Hospital Authority legislation enacted last year.  The intent is to give the Medical Center (Hospital Authority) the ability to borrow short-term funds to assist with working capital needs. This enables the Medical Center to operate like other businesses.   At our recent communications meeting we had a follow-up discussion on the Performance Management draft policy as discussed at the May 1 communications meeting.  The primary purpose of the draft policy change was to increase the emphasis on customer services.  Comments were solicited.  The final product, while maintaining the increased emphasis upon customer service, includes other helpful changes as outlined below.   W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and  Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   Finalization of Performance Management Policy Betts Ellis, administrator, Institutional Relations, discussed the changes to the performance management policy and expressed appreciation to everyone for helping to work through the policy revisions.  The final product represents the work of the customer service work group and another committee that previously combined the evaluation document and job description. Also, recommendations from JCAHO consultants, Medical Center employees and the management team led to improvements to the final product. Highlights of the revisions: Age Specific / Compliance Ratings Numeric score and weight eliminated for age specific and compliance Retitled from age specific and compliance “core competencies” to “mandatory competencies” Rate as acceptable or unacceptable (no numeric score or weight) For unacceptable rating, employee placed in work improvement process Other Changes To avoid complicating the revised employee evaluation form with a single core competency for performance improvement, this competency was eliminated and additional performance improvement language was added to the performance characteristics section Language added to reference competency assessment / evaluations for temps, travel, per diem Elimination of “meets by default” language (old state term) for overdue evaluations New language stating evaluations can be done within 45 days of review date (note:  automatic “permanent” status after 12 months for probationary and trial period employees) Language added to explain work improvement process to be used for unacceptable rating Language revised to improve managerial HR competency concerning equal employment opportunity and affirmative action The employee assistance program referenced as a consideration in the work improvement process. Scoring sheet reworked   Ellis explained that a number of concerns had been raised regarding the scoring (and weights) for age specific and compliance competencies.  Some managers felt this was “cut and dried” and they were reluctant to rate other than “below meets” or “meets.”  The recommended solution was to rate these two “mandatory competencies” as acceptable or unacceptable. An unacceptable rating places one in the Work Improvement Process as defined by the policy.  The weight for these competencies was eliminated and reassigned to the tasks section. As in the past, the competencies and performance characteristics are preprinted on the evaluation document for consistency and ease in administration.  Job tasks may be preprinted for selected titles (such as clinical nurses). As discussed during the May 29 communications meeting, in accordance with the customer service committee’s work plan, all staff with evaluation dates falling after Dec. 31, 2001 (except CN, CNC, CNL whose planning stages already include the strengthened  customer service competency) need to have planning stages updated according to the new document. The updated policy is posted in the Medical Center Intranet under Human Resources policies.  The forms have been distributed by email to managers for immediate use.  Anyone needing the new forms should contact Jane Smith (smithjan).