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MUSC Excellence at the Medical Center

Patient satisfaction, DAISY awards presented

Service: Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence

Patient satisfaction awards for fourth quarter presented
The quarterly patient satisfaction award winners were recently presented with their banners by members of hospital administration and the Reward and Recognition Team. Please join in congratulating the hard work and dedication these areas have given to improving their scores.

Adult Hospital—10E, 75th percentile
Children’s Hospital—7A, 87th percentile

Outpatient Adult Clinic on Campus
Thoracic Surgery—HCC 2, 95th percentile
Maxillofacial—RT 10, 99th percentile

Outpatient Pediatric Clinic on Campus
Peds Pulmonary—76th percentile

Outpatient Clinic off Campus
East Cooper—Medicine, 89th percentile
Specialty Care North—Derm, 96th percentile

Institute of Psychiatry
Inpatient—4 North CDAP, 81st percentile
Outpatient—Adult Residents, 99th  percentile

AIDET lessons learned from Children's Hospital
In the most recent town hall meetings, John Sanders, Children’s Hospital administrator, spoke about the experience with rolling out AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation and Thank You).
 
In October 2006, all the inpatient clinical staff of the Children’s Hospital went through AIDET training and the positive results were immediate. Children’s Hospital patient satisfaction improved dramatically as patient’s families talked about being better informed and understanding who was providing their care. Staff commented on the positiveness of being “managed up” when a patient was transferred from one area to another. Better communication led to better outcomes.
 
At the beginning of the year, the hospital exper-ienced a big jump in census, and the Children’s Emer-gency Department was busy. A few inpatient units had some staff vacancies, which caused the stress level to increase. Sanders explained that, as this happened, he did not feel comfortable bringing up AIDET in meetings or while performing rounding. In retrospect, he explains that is exactly when he should have been “beating the AIDET drum.”
 
AIDET improves not only good communication with the patient, but also between caregivers. AIDET is a framework that has to be used all of the time. If this technique is used consistently, the MUSC workplace will be enhanced and better care will be provided for the patients.

People: Fostering employee pride and loyalty

Medical Center Employee of the Year recognition
On Aug. 22, the Employee of the Year will be announced in the lobby of the Education Center/Library Building. Employees are welcome to join members of the Reward and Recognition Team at 2 p.m. for this announcement.

Next round of Employee Perspectives Survey —reminder
MUSC Excellence is a journey in making the medical center a great place for patient care, a great place to work and a great place for physicians to practice medicine and to teach.
 
One of the goals is to improve employee satisfaction. In order to gauge  progress in meeting this goal, employee feedback is needed.
 
During Aug. 13 - 27, a follow-up Employee Perspectives Survey will be conducted. Every medical center employee will have an opportunity to voice his or her opinion. All surveys will be completed online and should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. Managers will provide employees with the information to take the survey. For more information or difficulty with the survey, contact Jane Scutt at 792-1839.

New employee reception
The Aug. 8 reception gave MUSC staff an opportunity to meet new employees.

The second annual New Employee Reception was held Aug. 8 in the Storm Eye Atrium to welcome all new employees who had completed their first 90 days of employment. IPod Shuffles were awarded to four new employees in attendance. The next New Employee receptions are scheduled for Oct. 3 and Dec. 12.

Night shift ice cream social a big hit
The Reward and Recognition Team and Employer of Choice Team, along with hospital administrators, gathered for an ice cream social from 10 p.m. to midnight July 25.
 
Registered nurse Leann Jenkins, 5W Antepartum, balances the radio she won in one hand and her ice cream sundae in the other. Jenkins was one of 85 employees that “Got Caught” by the medical center's MUSC Excellence Reward and Recognition Team during the Night Shift Ice Cream Social July 25. Presenting her with the prize is Dr. Marilyn Schaffner, administrator for clinical services.

The ice cream social was geared toward Employee Appreciation for the night shift workers in the main hospital, Children’s Hospital, Charleston Memorial Hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry. The event was filled with ice cream, lots of toppings to create  ice cream sundaes, and prizes.
 
Employees were able to relax and socialize with each other and hospital leaders, while enjoying the festivities. The excitement of the staff will ensure that events continue to be hosted by MUSC Service Excellence teams. 

Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY) Award
Mary McLendon, R.N., Hollings Cancer Center, was awarded the DAISY Award based on the following nomination.
 
Hollings Cancer Center's Mary McLendon, R.N., right, accepts the African Shona Tribe sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch,” from Kris Douglas, R.N. McLendon received the DAISY Award.

“Mary McLendon goes out of her way daily to help my patients. She follows up on lab and imaging results, helping ensure that nothing is missed by the health care team. She is extremely organized and diligent. Today a patient showed up without an appointment. Instead of telling this person to come back when scheduled, Mary noticed the last chart notes and remembered that the patient was seen by another physician on the multidisciplinary team last week regarding her blood pressure. She checked the patient’s blood pressure and noticed it was above 190 systolic. Because of this, the patient was seen and treated. Mary also directed the patient to the location for her imaging study scheduled for today. This is just one small example of an opportunity Mary took, going out of her way to help provide excellent care to our patients. Mary is an exceptional nurse and should be recognized for her outstanding work ethic, skill and desire to help others.”
   

Friday, Aug. 17, 2007
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 Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.