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Currents To Medical Center employees: At the recent Board of Trustees meeting, major purchases were approved for radiology equipment. Considering the rapid advances in technology and our heavy patient care demands, this new equipment is much needed. The new equipment will include a Philips MRI and four nuclear medicine gamma cameras. The MRI will improve scan quality, reduce scan time and, with its advanced cardiac package, will complement the MUSC Heart and Vascular Center. The nuclear gamma cameras will replace the aging existing cameras and will enable cutting edge technology for Nuclear Medicine. Our board, among other things, also gave approval to proceed with a plan to enable the refinancing of our debt. Considering the favorable interest rates, we can potentially achieve a substantial savings with the restructuring of our debt. This is particularly important as we look into options for construction of new hospital facilities in the future. We have had a challenging year and we have made a lot of progress on the financial front, while continuing to provide high quality care and services. Thanks to everyone for a job well done. Have a happy holiday season. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   Authority ends first year $9M in black Completing its first year as a hospital authority, the MUSC Medical Center and Charleston Memorial Hospital showed a $9 million bottom line following its annual external audit. “We are significantly better off now than we were this time a year ago,” said Lisa Montgomery, Medical Center chief financial officer, referring to the $18 million deficit the hospitals realized last year. In June, hospital officials projected a $6 million bottom line. “The fact we ended the year even better is fantastic,” she said, addressing the management team at the Dec. 18 communications meeting. Montgomery said the authority needs to continue to build up its cash reserves and lessen its dependence on lines of credit.  Montgomery also said that departments should be prepared for departmental inventories of fixed assets in the near future. Stuart Smith followed up Montgomery’s comments regarding the authority’s financial picture. “It’s really an incredible turnaround,” he said. “We’re headed in the right direction.”  Two major construction projects completed, updates given Of the nine active Medical Center construction projects valued at more than $1 million, two recently have been completed. The phase I renovations to the Clinical Sciences Building (CSB) and the Children’s Hospital heating, ventilation and air conditioning project were completed in November. The phase I CSB project was completed on time, but, due to contractor delays, the Children’s Hospital project experienced a two-month delay, according to Hal Currey, administrator for capital projects. The phase I and II CSB building renovations include areas for bronchoscopy, dialysis, electronic medical records training, digestive disease office space, general clinical research center, common space and infrastructure. Phase I construction is complete, with phase II expected to begin in January 2002 and in the dialysis area in early February. Total project cost for both phases is nearly $9.4 million. The renovation of 3,045-square-foot space in CSB to accommodate the 3 Tesla MRI equipment is expected to begin in January. Currey said the authority received 12 bids for this $760,000 project and all came in under the projected cost. The Children’s Hospital HVAC project included a new mechanical penthouse, new 1,250-ton chiller, refurbished air handler and other work to improve air conditioning there. The Children’s Hospital exterior waterproofing will include replacement of through wall flashing, reinstallation of brickwork and caulking to eliminate water infiltration. Work began in December and will be phased in the following order: north side, east side, south side, then west side. The 6,855-square-foot Emergency Department expansion and renovation involves interior remodeling to the existing emergency space allowing for additional exam rooms and areas that separate adult and pediatric patients. The project also includes construction of a new ambulance entrance, drop-off area and canopy. The ambulance entrance work is two-thirds done, according to Currey. Projected completion date of May could slip to mid-June. The Medical Center flooring project is progressing well. The carpet tiles were installed on 7 East with very little disruption, according to Currey. “The new flooring has had an amazing effect on the unit,” he said. “It looks like a new place.” Flooring is completed on 5 East, 5 Southwest, 5 West and 7 East. Carpet tiles are currently being installed at 7 West. Total project cost is $2.7 million. The Medical Center fourth-floor operating rooms (OR) are about 90 percent complete, Currey said. The 35,000-square-foot project includes renovation of surgery and the intensive care waiting area, PACU, renovation of five existing ORs, creation of six new ORs and replacement flooring in the public corridors for the entire fourth floor. Total projected cost is $11 million. Construction of the new ORs is under way, with completion projected by March. Currey said the delays in the flooring project have had a serious impact on this project. The Heart and Vascular Center construction, which began in May, is expected to be completed in about a year. The $9.6 million project includes the renovation of the fifth floor of Children’s Hospital to create a consolidated center for cath labs and interventional radiology, containing 11 procedure rooms, holding and recovery bays, waiting area and appropriate support space. The contractor is working well with medical and nursing staff to minimize shutdowns. “The recent success of construction in the Medical Center is real tribute to the patience and forbearance of our faculty and staff,” Currey said, adding, “Our contractors and facilities staff are grateful for this help.” New door-hung caddies will keep supplies out of hallways In order to comply with fire codes, the Medical Center has devised a method to remove isolation carts from the hallways. Jodell Johnson, infection control coordinator, presented an example of the new isolation supply caddies that are designed to hang on the back of doors. The caddies have pockets for gloves, gowns and masks. They can be obtained by contacting the Equipment Distribution Center at 792-3986. Award Received  The Medical Center received an award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), according to Paul Bush, director of Pharmacy Services, who made the announcement to the management team. The Medical Center was named as a runner-up. New Manager Hired for Health Information Security Program Sue Pletcher, director of the Patient Access and Health Information Services, introduced Sharon Knowles as the new Information Security Officer and manager of the Health Information Security Program. Knowles will be responsible for implementing policies and procedures to make sure the Medical Center is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).