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Currents To Medical Center Employees: At the May 22 communications meeting Rob Fowler, chief meteorologist for Channel 2, updated the management team on the outlook for the hurricane season. Mr. Fowler explained that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast  released this week predicts 13 to 16 named storms, eight to 10 hurricanes, and four to six major hurricanes. There is a strong likelihood that a major hurricane will hit the east coast.    Mr. Fowler stated that many lessons have been learned from Hurricane Katrina. The most disheartening thing about Katrina was that reliable data and information was on hand and advance warnings were given, but due to a variety of reasons many did not evacuate.     Over the years Mr. Fowler and his Channel 2 associates have provided our Incident Command Team and administrative team members with the most up-to-date weather details as storms have developed. We are most appreciative for this very valuable service he and others at Channel 2 have provided.    Everyone should be familiar with Medical Center Weather Emergency Plan Policy A-64, Staffing During Emergencies and Disasters Policy A-42 and department-based plans. At our next communications meeting, our management team will be updated on our operational procedures and communication methods for hurricane preparation and recovery.   Thank you very much. Sincerely, W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Rapid Access Center, survey discussed William Moran, M.D., and Kim Davis, M.D., gave a brief presentation on the University Internal Medicine’s (UIM) new Rapid Access Center (RAC). Recently the University Diagnostic Center and Adult Primary Care Center have merged. Since then RAC was created to provide same day access service to help meet adult acute care needs for regular UIM patients, MUSC employees, their spouses and adult children.      Located on the renovated eighth floor of Rutledge Tower, RAC provides immediate medical support for employees suffering from illness or experience any variety of symptoms including fever, headache, dizziness, sore throat, urinary tract infection, rash or skin infections, joint pain or pink eye/conjunctivitis, etc. RAC services ensure that a patient/employee will receive same-day services from a faculty member and UIM follow-up to establish ongoing care.   RAC services co-payments are similar to other primary care plans: SHP Savings Plan: 20 percent SHP Standard Plan: $10 MUSC Options: $15 Preferred Blue (UMA): $20 BlueChoice Plan and CIGNA HMO, not covered unless referred by primary care physician   RAC is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and located on the 8th floor, Ashley Avenue side, Rutledge Tower. To schedule an appointment, call 876-0888. Financial Update Hospital Fiscal Services director Ralph Greene reported overall good news from an interim MUHA financial update for the 10 months of fiscal year 2006, ending April 2006. The results of operations for this period are up $3.5 million as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. These interim results indicate a margin of 4.0 percent on target with two months remaining in this current year.   Greene reminded everyone that historically the last two months show an increase in expenditures. He also reminded attendees of the goal of a minimum 5 percent margin in the years ahead, as called for in the feasibility study for Phase I of the replacement hospital.   Greene ended by asking the cooperation of all departments to be prompt in submitting all fiscal year 2006 invoices and/or receivers to Accounts Payable promptly after the June 30 year end. Wellness Survey Results/Health First Employee Wellness program coordinator Annie Lovering shared results from the 2005 Employee Wellness Survey. Lovering recognized design contest winners Erica Hood, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, and John Wilson, Engineering and Facilities, for their entry, Health First. It’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of the MUSC community.   More than 3,283 participants, 22 percent male and 78 percent female, responded to the survey. Survey results revealed that 55 percent of employee-respondents were overweight or obese. About 35 percent had been told to loose weight by their physicians, and half of these employees also described themselves as “couch potatoes.” Sixty percent reported exercising sometimes or not at all.   It was reported that of the employees who described themselves as overweight were: 6 times more likely to develop diabetes 4.5 times more likely to develop high blood pressure almost 3 times more likely to develop high cholesterol 5.6 times more likely to report fair to poor general health   Employees also indicated that they consumed only 2.2 vegetable servings or less in their daily diets. Lovering reported that people in this category had a 25 percent increased risk of developing high cholesterol, plus a 44 percent increased risk of reporting fair to poor general health.   According to an article from the American Journal of Health Promotion, obesity accounts for 5 percent of medical costs paid by U.S. companies. The average annual medical cost for adults with normal weight (BMI of 19 to 24) is $2,225. The average medical cost for obese adults (BMI of 40 or more) is $3,750, a difference of more than $1,500 per individual, annually.   The survey also reported that 16 percent, 1,500 employee-respondents, are smokers. Lovering reported that everyday/sometimes smoking provides a 59 percent increased risk for an individual to report fair to poor general health. Finally, results revealed that only 20 percent of respondents do not have a designated primary care provider.   Diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol are all lifestyle-related health conditions according to Ann Kulz, M.D., a nationally-known wellness expert. Less than 25 percent of Americans engage in the amount of physical activity necessary for chronic disease prevention. Today’s culture, in general, has become so sedentary that the average American family cumulatively views eight hours of TV-a-day, according to Lovering.   Based on these results, the MUSC  Health First program will focus on four goals for 2006-07: Increased physical activity; Promote that employees eat at least five servings of colorful vegetable servings daily (including fruit); Stop smoking; and Help employees establish a primary care provider. Announcements Nick Whichard, Cardiology Information Services, announced that the next Quick Base update meeting focusing on processes and Q/A will take place from 2 to 3 p.m., June 6 (for users only), immediately following the communications meeting 2W Amphitheater. For information, call Whichard at 792-8931. Facilities administrator Dennis Fraizer announced the return of Marisa Mcentire to MUSC. Mcentire, who is a graduate of Auburn University, will work in facilities management. Lisa Montgomery, vice president for Finance and Administration, introduced Steve Hargett who is Medical Center’s new controller. Hargett has extensive experience in health care finance field prior to joining MUSC. Patient Access and Health Information Services director Sue Pletcher welcomed Nancy Hendry as manager of Bed Management-Admit/Transfer Center. Hendry who replaced Maureen McDaniel who retired March 31, comes to MUSC with previous experience at Trident Hospital and other hospitals in Virginia. Volunteer Services coordinator Katy Kuder wanted to publicly thank managers for recognizing and celebrating volunteers working within departments during National Volunteer Week, April 23-29.    There will be no communications meeting May 30.     Friday, May 26, 2006 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publication at 849-1778, ext. 201.