Currents Aug. 21
To Medical Center Employees:At the Aug. 21 communications meeting Chris Murray, director of marketing & business development, discussed plans for promoting Ashley River Tower (ART). The dedication event is planned to coincide with the Oct. 12 Board of Trustees meeting. An employee event is scheduled for Nov. 15. All physicians in the state will be invited to a physician event on Dec. 2. We expect to move into the new facility in January 2008. A firm date has not been set, but plans are being made for a community event sometime in January. Additional details are included in this newsletter.
On another matter, Dan Altman, Charleston Memorial Hospital operations manager and ART support services manager, updated the management team on changes to the Medical Center’s Personal Communication Device policy (previously called Radio Frequency Emitting Device Use policy).
The new policy (see Policy A-51, http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/cgi-bin/policy.cgi?manual=admin&sort_order=manual,%20policy_number), which includes use of cell phones and other communication devices, is more practical than the old policy. The revised policy takes into consideration that new technology enables cell phones and other devices to be safely used with certain limitations in patient care areas.
The Personal Communication Device policy also states that we should not use cell phones or similar devices for personal matters while working except for urgent personal needs. This is consistent with our Standards of Behavior and the intent is to ensure an appropriate customer service environment.
On a related matter, the Office of the CIO is currently working with vendors to fund and install an inbuilding antenna system to improve cell phone signals. This will enhance cell phone reception and better meet the needs of clinical professionals and others who use cell phones and other devices for patient care and support.
Thank you very much.
W. Stuart Smith
Vice President for Clinical Operations
and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center
People—fostering employee pride and loyalty
Chris
Murray, director of business
development and marketing services, and Lynne Barber, director of
marketing strategy, gave an overview of the department and direction of
branding efforts that support the New Era of Excellence campaign as it
relates to global branding and the new hospital/Ashley River Tower
(ART) openingDuring the past year a public relations and marketing task force was formed to work closely with Rawle Murdy and Associates (a marketing, advertising and public relations firm) to develop strategies to elevate MUSC's brand and promote excellence in all of MUSC's services.
Barber reviewed the difference between branding and service lines campaigns as it relates to positioning and presence within local, state and national markets. Branding campaigns enhance positioning while service line plans are developed to drive business growth. A wealth of market research was conducted to direct and develop public relations/marketing strategy and creative messaging.
Results from a statewide survey asked respondents to rank their idea of outstanding medical centers.
Participants ranked institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic and Duke Medical Center ahead of MUSC as outstanding centers. Marketing’s goal is to elevate the MUSC brand to a national level.
The branding campaign will focus on a range of MUSC's services from the most unique to the more common and preventive types of services. It will also feature MUSC as world-class institution with a team of experts of the forefront of exceptional patient care, outcomes and cutting-edge research and technology. The branding campaign will launch statewide and beyond at the end of August.
ART schedule of events
- Dedication Event – Oct. 12: speakers include Charles B. Thomas Jr., M.D., MUSC Board of Trustees chairman; Raymond Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC president; Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary
- MUSC Employee event—Nov. 15 (All MUSC employees)
- Physician Event—Dec. 2: 1-4 p.m. (MUSC faculty, and South Carolina physicians)
- Consumer Open House—January 2008, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (general public)
Dan Altman, operations manager for ART Support Services and Charleston Memorial Hospital Administration, reported on updates to Policy A-51, Use of Personal Communications Devices (PCD) in Patient Care Areas. This policy addresses use of all PCD devices, including cell phones, wireless personal digital assistance devices (PDAs), two-way radios (walkie talkies), and mobile radios, etc. A link to this policy can be found in the Policy Toolbox on the MUHA Intranet at http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/policy/Med/A51.pdf.
The updated policy provides guidance for better management of these devices in the proximity of patient care devices. Staff education will be forthcoming and updates will be available through both CATTS training and orientation programs.
The policy provides specific information on acceptable distances when it is necessary to use PCDs within patient care areas. New signage will be posted to assist in communicating proper usage of PCDs and to increase awareness for hospital staff and visitors. Biomedical Engineering and OCIO will collaborate in providing PCD use assessments and will also provide investigative services as it relates to suspected PCD interference with a patient care device.
HR update
Mark Stimpson, benefits manager, gave an update on upcoming MUHA HR events:
- Employee service awards— Thursday, Sept. 27, Basic Science Building
- Retiree luncheon—Friday, Sept. 28, Marriott on Lockwood Blvd.
- Employee Perspectives Survey ends Monday, Aug. 27 (As of Aug. 20, about 43.5 percent hospitalwide staff completed the survey. The goal is 100 percent participation).
- State of South Carolina employee insurance changes made during October’s Open Enrollment period can be found online. More details will be forthcoming
These accounts are an IRS-approved plan designed to help employees save on out-of-pocket medical expenses using pre-tax dollars. According to Stimpson, it is the single most tax-advantaged vehicle offered through employee benefits. Contributions made to it are pre-tax with state, federal and FICA (savings of about a 7.63 percent avoidance of taxes).
The program requires annual re-enrollment during the October Open Enrollment period. Employees must estimate their anticipated expenses for 2008 and register to have that amount deducted from their paycheck throughout the year. Claims are submitted for reimbursement through FBMC, a state-contracted vendor. Eligible expenses included in this program includes but not limited to: dental, vision, medical insurance, prescription co-pays and deductibles, some experimental treatments, etc.
Participants are reminded to be as accurate as possible in estimating their anticipated expenses as the medical spending accounts are designed to be a “use it or lose it” provision.
Another option for participants is registration for an EZ reimburse Mastercard, which avoids the need to pay for up-front expenses. The program is available to employees following 12-months of continuous employment and during the Open Enrollment period.
Quality—Providing quality patient care in a safe environment
Joint Commission updateLois
Kerr, JCAHO manager,
recognized the success of MUSC’s Stroke Team for achieving primary
stroke certification with the Joint Commission on July 20.
Kerr praised the involvement of everyone from the Brain Attack Team
(BAT) Stroke Certification Steering Committee members and area units
for their hard work and cooperation during the July 20 visit.
Currently, the BAT will continue to collect data and report findings to
the Joint Commission. Kerr reminded managers that the MUHA Periodic Performance Review (Access V Survey) for the Joint Commission Steering Committee must be completed by Sept. 15. Results will not be reported. Any standard requiring compliance will require an action plan. Staff will have 45-days to complete and submit the action plan (by Oct. 30). Monitoring of these action plans also will take place to help measure its success.
Medical center’s labs will undergo point-of-care testing/survey in 2008.
Organizational report card
Marilyn Schaffner, Ph.D., R.N., recognized the hospital staff for exceeding the outpatient satisfaction percentile goal and reaching the 71st percentile in patient satisfaction. Schaffner also praised the efforts of staff for their continuing improvements made in the inpatient satisfaction area.
The People pillar’s turnover percentage and employee satisfaction goals continue to stay on target. Quality continues to remain steady. Finance featuring FTE per Adjusted Occupied Bed is currently exceeding the targeted goal while information in the Growth pillar, inpatient admissions and outpatient visits, exceeded the goal. Visit http://mcintranet.musc.edu/muscexcellence/progress.htm.
Announcements
- Michelle Morrison, OCIO, reminded employees to complete the conversion of their MNA to NetID. A NetID is required to access most hospitalwide systems and software applications. OCIO-IS is requiring that all users activate their NetID by Sept. 10. Visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/news/NetID.htm.
- Angel Jones, manager of CMH medical records and admissions, replaces Regina Dell manager of Health Information Services-File Maintenance, who has moved to become manager of Revenue Systems.
- Faye Brownlee, interim director of Hospital Fiscal Services, was permanently named to her position.
- Boyd Wood, director of MUHA Facilities Management/Capitol Improvement, announced the addition of new personnel: Debbie Smith, furnishings coordinator; David Tice, project manager; and Tom Stever, manager of construction and design.
Friday, Aug. 24, 2007
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