CurrentsTo Medical Center Employees:During the recent Board of Trustees meeting our board chair, Dr. CharlieThomas, outlined priorities for the next two years. These priorities include dedicating the new hospital at the October 2007 board meeting; maintaining a successful financial performance to survive and thrive; and addressing health care manpower issues in the state, particularly areas needing more physicians. We reported on our fiscal year patient activity to date compared to last fiscal year. Our volume was reported as follows: admissions up 5 percent; outpatient visits up 4.4 percent; ED visits up 2.6 percent; OR cases up 1.9 percent; MRIs up 8.5 percent; and CTs up 16.7 percent. Also our operating margin through August 2006 was 7.5 percent, compared to a 4.2 percent margin for the same period last year. This 7.5 percent margin can be attributed in part to an increase in our disproportionate share funding. This patient activity represents the dedicated work of physicians and staff throughout the Medical Center. Thank you for providing excellent and compassionate care and service. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Angel tree, APOC projects outlinedChris Murray, Business Development and Marketing Services director, recognized the MUSC Referral Call Center’s 14-member staff for being awarded with the 2006 McKesson “ICare” Shared Principles Award. Each year, the McKesson Corp., the nation’s oldest and largest health care services company, honors a hospital organization for sharing their basic values, ethics and standards of integrity, customer-first type attitude, accountability, respect and excellence.MUSC was among 300 McKesson call center clients and one of eight that was nationally recognized as a recipient for this year’s award. Murray presented the award to Hope Colyer, Call Center manager, and call center staff. Harvesting wins Dennis Frazier, administrator for facilities and capital improvements, spoke about the value of sharing positive experiences in the workplace. Frazier emphasized the importance of building a positive work environment by recognizing the good work or “wins” performed by others. Frazier reminded managers that within a hospital environment, this can be accomplished during rounding, and discussions with staff and internal customers. Equally important is the ability to vocalize and share a positive experience. Doing so provides a connection and purpose. Finally, he praised the value of sharing a win with others to reinforce and teach. Angel tree Liz Nista and Marian Taylor, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, related plans for the third annual MUSC Angel Tree program, Nov. 6 to Dec. 15. Partnered with the Salvation Army, the program distributed more than 3,500 angels tags since 2004. It’s result provided thousands of holiday gifts for needy Lowcountry families. On Nov. 6, they will begin delivering angel tags to participating departments, offices and clinics around MUSC and off-site locations. Nista reminded managers that any employee or Lowcountry resident who seek seasonal assistance during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays must register with The Salvation Army office, 2135 Ashley River Rd., between Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. Applicants will be screened and general information recorded in the program’s holiday data base. Nista introduced Salvation Army Capt. Christopher Thornhill, the Tri-county commanding officer, who reminded participants that once a person adopts an angel, they also adopt a local child from the area. For information on the Salvation Army/MUSC Angel Tree program, call Nista, 792-8382 or Salvation Army, 747-5271. NRC award Lynne Barber, Business Development and Marketing Services manager, provided details on data related to MUSC Medical Center being named the National Research Corporation’s (NRC) 2006-07 Consumer Choice Award. This was the ninth consecutive year that MUSC has received this award. Each year, NRC identifies hospitals that health care consumers chose as facilities that possess the highest quality and image within 180 markets around the United States. The annual survey is focused on the Tri-county area and was submitted to consumers via the Internet in April. The survey evaluated several categories. MUSC led the market in: best overall; best overall quality; best image and reputation; most preferred for all health needs; best doctors; best community health programs; latest health technology and equipment; widest range of health services; and other topics. In clinical service lines, MUSC also scored well in cancer treatment; heart care; maternity/OB; pediatrics; hospital emergency room; outpatient testing and X-rays; and other services. Pagers on silent campaign Janet Byrne, MICU nurse manager, and Jason Roberson, College of Nursing, and both of the MUSC Excellence Adult Inpatient Satisfaction Team reviewed the group’s first project, the Pagers and Phones on Silent or Chirp campaign. The project is part of a hospitalwide goal to improve the Medical Center’s environment by supporting a patient-friendly setting that is conducive to rest and recuperation. The team distributed flyers to post in adult and pediatric care areas to help promote staff education and raise awareness. All hospital physicians, faculty, staff and students are asked to reset their phones and pagers to silent or chirp mode. Call 792-4362. APOC update Mark Daniels, Advanced Point of Care (APOC) program manager, gave an update on current APOC clinical systems projects and blueprint time line. Clinical Documentation’s Bonnie Foulois, 8 East nurse manager, updated managers about progress with the Horizon Clinical Documentation project slated to begin this spring. More workshops for Med Surg Nurses are scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25. The Order Entry/CPOE project is being led by Pat Cawley, M.D., medical director. A readiness assessment was conducted and the governing structure is being finalized. Development of the Peri-operative Systems are continuing and scheduled to roll out in February and March. Paul Bush, director of Pharmacy Services, reviewed details of the Horizon Meds Manager project which will go live Oct. 22. The system essentially assists pharmacists in managing pharmacy operations and medication safety programs including clinical intervention and incident reports. Bush assured managers that the transition will be transparent to customers and users (staff and patients). Service recovery training Carol Younker, Medical Center Risk management, reported that the final Service Recovery Training session will be completed Oct. 20. The names of attendees are still being entered via CATTS. Tool kit distribution will occur in early November. Younker reminded managers that 95 to 98 percent of service recovery efforts should occur using key words at key times and that the tool kit is only a supplement. HR update Helena Bastian, Human Resources director, reminded managers to complete the Employee Perspective Survey, which ends Oct. 27. Bastian alerted mangers of the Medical Center’s overall 80 percent participation goal. Employees can access the survey online on the Medical Center intranet or via Press Ganey’s Web site, https://survey.pressganey.com/preview.html. Bastian also reminded managers that tuition reimbursement payments for 2006 are due by Dec. 12. Requisition forms can be sent to Patti Burn, payroll coordinator. Also, PTO cash in/conversion pay out is Dec. 12. Forms should be submitted to payroll by Nov. 22. Call 792-7544. Finally, for the Jan. 6 pay period, all Supplemental Medical Leave (SML)-eligible employees must have at least six hours of ESL transfer in their SML bank. The leave request form is available online in the MUHA HR Web site. A reception honoring Susan Carullo, manager of Employee, Compensation and Employee Relations, is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m., 10th floor game room, Oct. 24. Carullo has accepted the position of director of University Human Resources Management. Announcements
Friday, Oct. 20, 2006 |
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