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New academy graduates five MUHA employees  by Cindy Abole Public Relations Five Medical University Hospital Authority employees were honored Nov. 12 at Clemson University’s campus. The group was recognized not only for completing a nine-month educational program aimed at honing management skills but for their potential to improve the delivery of health care in South Carolina. The employees were part of an inaugural class of the South Carolina Hospital Association’s (SCHA) Management Academy. The program was established to refine business techniques and teach clinical practices and operating skills to help improve the clinical mission within their own hospitals and health systems.  Sheldon Weinstein, Casey Liddy, Eric Frisch, Steven Godbold, Bonnie Foulois were among 29 participants to complete the program which met bi-monthly and featured a formal schedule involving guest speakers and discussion. The curriculum introduced a variety of practice skill strategies, opportunities for networking and collaboration. The program is modeled after a larger, national hospital research and progressive management enterprise that serves as an industry resource for their members by providing products, services and analysis of health care. “It has been a phenomenal year and a rewarding experience for me to see how academy participants have grown professionally through this program,” said Lara Hewitt, academy director, SCHA. “Each has shared a renewed confidence, motivation and positiveness in themselves, which has extended to their jobs. They’ve demonstrated that armed with the right knowledge and tools, they can succeed and accomplish any task.” Middle managers from every level of clinical services and health care management within SCHA-member hospitals and health systems were encouraged to apply. Participants represented a wide field of hospital departments including human resources, financial services, radiology and environmental services. Clinical participants ranged from a lab director, allied health nurse to clinical/ancillary care manager from providers such as MUSC, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Palmetto Health, Providence Hospital, Shriners Hospital and McLeod Health.  Hollings Cancer Center’s Casey Liddy has firm ties with MUSC. A business manager in the division of Oncology and Medical Surgical Services, Liddy completed his master's in health administration internship at MUSC's Office of Strategic Planning and continued with an administrative residency in 2002. For this opportunity, he got support from his supervisor, Colleen Corish, R.N., clinical services director.  “Casey has definitely developed and grown over the past year,” Corish said. “I believe some of this growth is related to experience but the SCHA Management Academy also assisted. Casey was hired into his role directly after completing graduate school and I believe the opportunity has been great for him! He shares information and has used some of the information to further investigate issues and ask questions.” Liddy was impressed by the academy’s curriculum and offerings in the areas of budgets, conflict resolutions, net-working, policy making to the impact of information technology and workplace issues. Most importantly, he learned about the challenges of how other groups deliver health care throughout the state. “This was a great opportunity for me to go beyond my element and really look at the big picture perspective of health care,” Liddy said. “The program is built around collaboration—discussing the benefits of other prospectives and sharing their strengths, weaknesses and strategies. What I discovered is that all providers are facing the same problems.  We need to work together to fill in the gaps in the health care system so that we can provide quality medical care to all South Carolinians.” Clinical social worker Weinstein also shares Liddy’s optimism for the program. He was also encouraged by his supervisor to attend the academy. A career social worker who has worked in numerous inpatient hospital settings, Weinstein also recognized the value of learning from different perspectives and sharing ideas. For the program’s final project, participants divided into teams choosing a topic based on workplace challenges and current health care issues. Weinstein and his team selected their topic: customer and patient satisfaction. For the past few months, the group has communicated and coordinated the project’s final details via phone and e-mail prior to their formal presentations.    Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.