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Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction

Parking
Rumor: Why is parking in the County Garage so expensive? I hope you realize that private parking costs less now! Why are we charging employees so much for parking? Can this be taken out of my check pre tax?
Truth: In response to the first part of the question—I hope you realize that private parking costs less now. (1) Parking at county garage for MUSC employees is currently $45 a month. This is the same amount that MUSC charges for all on-campus MUSC reserved parking locations. (2) It is also $28 less than what MUSC has to pay the county for each parking space leased by MUSC in their garage. The county's rate to us is $73 a month. (3) Parking rates offered by private renters in the MUSC area range from $45 for more-distant parking locations to more than $100 a month for those locations which are most conveniently located. No roof covered parking is offered at any price. (Monthly contract parking in the county garage is not available to individuals. It is available only through entities such as MUSC which hold contracts with the county.) Second part—(1) The MUSC parking operation receives no state-appropriated monies and therefore must depend on fees charged to the users of the parking system to operate, maintain, repair, and expand the system. MUSC tries to keep its parking rates as low as possible and still meet these requirements. We are not aware of any comparable services offered at lower prices than ours. (2) Some institutions, such as Roper Hospital, are able to provide parking at no cost to their employees. This is not to say that they do not have parking-related expenses. They do. But, unlike MUSC, they have and are able to use other sources of revenue to meet the costs of operating, maintaining, and expanding their parking systems. Third part—Absolutely. When you sign up for parking at the MUSC parking office you are offered the pre-tax option. If you have already signed up but don't believe you have exercised the pre-tax option, contact the Office of Parking Management at 792-3665 for assistance. 

Resident Parking
Rumor: Why do residents pay so much for parking? I read the earlier rumor that stated that many departments pay for parking. You should be aware that some do not cover this expense. The OB/GYN Department does not cover any parking for residents. What are the rates going to be for the county garage? (I didn't see this listed on the FY'03 review) I wish we could be a little kinder to the residents who work long hours in pursuit of excellent patient care and patient satisfaction!
Truth: Residents parking fees are the same as all other faculty and staff including nurses, hospital staff, etc. Currently this is $20/month at Harborview and $45/month everywhere else including the county garage. These will increase July 1 to $25 and $50. As noted before in the Rumor Mill, some Departments are able to cover this for residents and others are not. This is a decision made by the individual departments based on the resources they have available. 

Daycare
Rumor: Any updates on the plans for daycare on campus?
Truth: The Office of the Provost informs that a Request for Proposals has been prepared in draft form and will be finalized in a few days. We will then be in a position to solicit proposals from potential outside sources.

President Greenberg
Rumor: Rumors are flying that President Greenberg is leaving. Is there any truth to that?
Truth: President Greenberg's response: There is absolutely no truth to this rumor. I feel honored and privileged to serve the Medical University and will continue to do so to the best of my ability. I have not entertained offers from any other institutions and hope to remain at the Medical University for many years to come. 

Tramell-Crowe
Rumor: I understand that the firm of Trammell-Crowe is going to take over and manage maintenance and engineering sections of the Medical Center and the university. I also understand that there will be a reduction in force for those employees who work in these departments when they take over. 
Truth: Trammell Crow was originally asked by University administration to evaluate the feasibility of a sale and leaseback of several properties on campus. The purpose was to explore generating cash while not harming the university's long-term financial position. Trammel Crow also offered to develop and present a proposal for a number of facilities management services for the university and Medical Center Authority. If and/or when they present such a proposal, and if the proposal seems potentially feasible and sufficiently cost effective to merit further consideration of outsourcing, then Trammel Crow and any other company that could provide such services would be given the opportunity to compete.

Emergency Anthrax Showers
Rumor: After watching something being installed on the ground level of parking garage 1 for a long period, I finally asked the physical plant person what it was. He said it was Emergency Anthrax Showers. I thought he was joking but he assured me he was not. These, so called showers, are on the ground level of the garage in the area cars must use to exit the parking garage. When I asked the physical plant person where might the privacy be, he responded that two curtains would be placed around the showers separating the men‘s from the women‘s shower. First, if this is truly what this is for, I can not help but question the judgment of the engineer or whomever decided to place such a facility in the parking garage. Second, I don't think I would be alone is saying there is no way I would disrobe to shower in an open parking garage (with or without so called curtains). If there was a real need for such a facility, should it not have been installed in a more practical location? Can you shed any light on this?
Truth: These are the showers to be used in the event of a mass casualty event. They were installed at direction of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals which after 9-11 required Hospitals to embellish their disaster plans to include mass casualty decontamination areas. Choice of location in this particular area was based on extensive consultation with members of the MUHA Disaster Preparedness Committee, University Risk Manager and the University OSHA Director. As compared to other mass casualty decontamination areas for major health care facilities throughout the US, this MUSC/ MUHA mass casualty decontamination area provides both privacy and gender  separation. For further information please contact Al Nesmith, director of Safety, Security, and Volunteer Services of MUHA. He can be reached at 792-6902. 

Drug Screen
Rumor: We wanted to know what happens when you refuse a drug screen. Can you still work at the hospital? Where does the hospital stand on this? I heard that MUSC can not make you take a drug screen, even through there is evidence that drugs are being  used on the job.
Truth: If an employee appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he/she may be asked to submit to a drug test. If the employee refuses and a reasonable suspicion exists that the employee is impaired, then the employee may be relieved from duty and an investigation will be conducted. The outcome of the investigation will determine any appropriate disciplinary measures or other circumstances that need to be addressed. Please refer to the Medical Center (MUHA) Drug-Free Workplace policy #47 in the Human Resource policy manual for details. Also, refer to the Disciplinary Action policy #45 for guidelines for disciplinary measures and policy #44 for the Grievance Procedure for the appeal (review) of certain disciplinary measures. The Human Resources office of MUHA (Eric Frisch) is available to provide assistance with any specific issues that may arise. 

Subway in HOT
Rumor: Is it true that Subway is not coming to Harborview Office Towers because MUSC will not support it? 
Truth: The establishment of Subway at Harborview Tower is fully supported by the university. Opening has been delayed because the room does not meet required state codes for a restaurant in the areas of air handling, power requirements and Fire Safety. Upgrading the space to meet these requirements is cost prohibitive. Therefore, MUSC is pursuing with the Regulatory Authorities requests for variances from code in order to operate a food service facility which will be considered something less than a full service restaurant yet meet environmental standards. We are cautiously optimistic that the needed variances will be granted. 

Tardiness
Rumor: We want to know what disciplinary action MUSC takes for an employee in an supervisory position who is habitually tardy.
Truth: Human Resources Policy No. 45, Disciplinary Action, recommends progressive disciplinary action, beginning with an oral reprimand, for chronic tardiness and attendance problems. However, the university leaves the implementation of disciplinary actions to the discretion of managers. The policy also states, that “Employees in supervisory positions should set an example by their own conduct, attitude and work habits.“ It is believed that leading by one's example is a powerful management tool. 

Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.