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Currents At the recent Board of Trustees meeting, Lisa Montgomery, administrator of Finance and Support Services, reported that the Medical Center’s unaudited Fiscal Year 2001-2002 income statement reflects a $12.2 million net income. This represents a significant turnaround from the $18 million deficit two years ago and $9 million favorable bottom line last year.  We are encouraged by this preliminary report and we are hopeful that our new auditor’s (KPMG) findings support our preliminary figures. While our income statements have shown improvement, we must continue to improve our bottom line and focus upon building a cash reserve.  Our Board of Trustees will consider clinical facilities planning options at the Oct. 11 meeting. At that time, we expect that a decision will be reached on the location of a new hospital facility. The actual construction, which is forecast to begin in several years, will hinge upon the Medical Center’s financial performance. Bond rating companies, including Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s, will need to see a sustained improvement in our income (“profit”) and in our cash reserves in order to give us the strong bond ratings that will put us in a favorable position to fund a new hospital facility.  Excellence in clinical care and successful financial performance are not mutually exclusive. To fulfill our mission and to continue to provide the highest quality of care, we clearly need to plan for a new facility. Through everyone’s continued efforts we will be successful. Thanks to everyone for a job well done. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   Medication use standards are changing At the Aug. 20 communications meeting, Maureen Sheakley, coordinator of Medication Safety for Pharmacy Services, presented new standards regarding handling of medications, along with the process for continuous quality improvement. “What we’re here to do and what the standards are here to do is to protect the patient,” Sheakley said. Sheakley explained that JCAHO set a defined direction for medication use with an increased emphasis on medication safety, performance improvement and medication error reduction techniques, along with organization-wide approaches for safe medication use. “We have to think of the process as a continuum,” she said. “It’s also interdisciplinary.”  Sheakley detailed nine new standards regarding selection, procurement, storage, preparation and dispensing. The nine new standards are: The organization constantly evaluates and improves its processes for medication use. The organization ensures that medications are stored under proper conditions of sanitation, temperature, light, moisture, ventilation, segregation, safety and security. Pharmaceutical issues are considered in evaluating, selecting and using the appropriate method for administering the medications. Medications are prepared safely and under proper conditions. All medications are appropriately labeled. The organization responds appropriately to adverse drug events. The organization uses a process for the storage, control, dispensing and disposal of sample medications. The organization has a process for the control, dispensing, administration, disposal and reconciliation of controlled substances. Sheakley emphasized the need for everyone to see medication use as an interdisciplinary process. “It’s everybody’s job, everybody’s responsibility.” Rosemary Ellis, director of Quality, presented examples of how standardizing care processes can help avoid medication errors reaching the patient. Those individuals administering medications to patients who take the time to review the medication and the indication for use with the patient (when able) reduces the risk of giving the wrong medication to a patient. The essential element of this practice is listening to the patient, Ellis said. For example, when a patient says, “I’ve never taken that medication before” or “the doctor didn’t say I had high blood pressure”-always stop and recheck the order. Ellis also detailed two new Medical Center policies: C-70 - Nurse Call System and Contingency Plan, and A-75 - Use of Template Stickers in Medical Records. Parking registration, renewal time Cindy Garmon, manager from the office of Parking Management, announced that parking decals can be renewed now through Sept. 30. Online registration for student decals can be accomplished by logging on to http://www.musc.edu/parking. The parking lots with expiring decals/hang tags are A, C, D, F, H, N, R, S, V, X, Y, 30 Bee Street, 59 Bee Street, 25 Courtney, Anderson Property, H lot and the Hagood Commuter lot. If you park in one of these locations, you must renew your decal. If you wish to cancel your parking, you will need to do that in person. You may update your information and renew your assignment on the Parking Management web site. Any information that is displayed in a box may be changed and will be updated immediately in our database. Once the parking update is submitted, a new decal will be sent in return campus mail. Please be sure to include your campus address and post office box number. The online renewal option for “after hour” decals is not currently available. Renewal of after-hour hang tags will be offered by mail. Renewals may also be done at the Office of Parking Management. Regular business hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Early office hours will be available Sept. 16 through Sept. 30 from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, call 792-3665. Medical Center continues infection control improvement efforts The Medical Center continues to develop and implement efforts designed to decrease the transmission of antibiotic organisms within the hospital as part of the first year of the Antibiotic Resistant Organisms Quality Improvement Project. Since implementing infection control surveillance cultures to identify patients with antibiotic resistant organisms, “we’ve had no patient refuse to be cultured,” said Jodell Johnson, infection control coordinator. Surveillance began Aug. 20, 2001. Staff is now doing VRE and MRSA surveillance on all admissions to 4STN, 4MSI, 6W, 6E, 7W, 8E, 8W, 8MIC, 9CCU, 10E and 10W. In addition, over-the-door isolation supply caddies are in place along with new simplified contact precaution signs. Other infection control efforts include the installation of hand antiseptic throughout the adult and children’s hospitals. Installation is complete in all areas including Charleston Memorial Hospital, Rutledge Tower, McClennan Banks, Hollings Cancer Center and 30 Bee Street. The hand washing campaign included educational presentations, signs placed in all patient rooms and some ambulatory settings. Other on-going efforts include: Identification labels on patient records Education of all staff through resident orientation, staff meetings, e-mails and phone calls Network with local infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists in order to work toward a community approach Prohibition of artificial fingernails for personnel involved with patient care Acquisition of capability to perform Pulse Field Gell Electrophoresis (PFGE) (all positive specimens are being sent to DHEC for PFGE) Sodexho commemorates 20 years of partnership with MUSC A team of representatives from Sodexho presented a crystal vase to commemorate 20 years in business with MUSC. Sodexho, a leading food and facilities management services company and member of Sodexho Alliance, offers a full range of outsourcing solutions to health care environments. Brad Masteller, MUSC manager of Dietetic Services, introduced several members from the team, including Ed West, regional vice president, and Tom Malench, district manager. The team presented the vase along with a check for $2,000 to Children’s Hospital. Lisa Montgomery, administrator of Finance and Support Services, and Carol Dobos, director for Children’s Hospital, accepted the gifts on behalf of the Medical Center.