Return to Main Menu

Currents Last June, the governor signed into law the Medical University Authority Act. The authority will enable greater flexibility for the management and operation of the Medical Center. The actual implementation of the authority is planned for July 1. As an authority, the Medical Center will be exempt from certain state regulations related to procurement, capital improvement and personnel. The Medical Center will remain a public entity of the state, and we must be ever mindful of our responsibility to be accountable for public funds and resources.   Recently, our president, Raymond S. Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., held a retreat to review our plan of action for the authority’s implementation. Trigger mechanisms include the passage of a resolution of implementation by the MUSC board of trustees, and adoption of procurement and employee grievance policies. Work is well underway for approval of these policies.   Some of the other key issues that need to be addressed, as discussed at the retreat, include: designation of the authority’s facilities; determination of fixed assets; development of a shared services agreement between the Medical University Hospital Authority and MUSC; and preparation of bylaws, the authority budget and a policy for expenditure of public funds.   At the retreat, we also discussed work underway to seek the general assembly’s approval of technical amendments to the Authority Act. When the act was passed during the final minutes of last year’s legislative session, we were pleased at how well it was received by the general assembly. However, we realized resolution of some legal issues and fine tuning would be needed in the future. The technical amendments needed deal with matters such as the authority’s process for issuing bonds, transfer of debt from MUSC, and clarification of language regarding state match funding for the federal Disproportionate Share for Hospitals program. We do not anticipate problems with justifying the need for the amendments. In any event, the July 1 implementation date will not be affected.   We know from talking with our contacts at other peer institutions that have undergone similar organizational change that questions will continue to be raised about the purpose of the authority.  What does it mean? The intent of the authority is to enable the clinical enterprise to operate on a more level playing field in our demanding health care environment.   It is important to underscore that the authority’s role in fulfilling the MUSC mission will not be compromised. To the extent the authority enables enhancements in the delivery of care, then education and research are impacted positively.   We have gained some insight from the experiences of other institutions that have converted their organizations to authorities. Unlike some others, our authority will remain under the same board of trustees and president. Our unique governance structure will ensure that the goals and initiatives of all MUSC entities will continue to be properly balanced to achieve MUSC’s education, research and patient care mission. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Storm Eye Institute Observation Unit scheduled to open Jan. 31 Laurie Zone-Smith, R.N., MSN, manager of special projects for Clinical Services Administration, said an observation unit will open on the fourth floor of the Storm Eye Institute on Jan. 31, pending DHEC approval on Jan. 20. The 12-bed unit (initially 6 beds) will be open from 11 a.m. on Mondays through noon on Saturdays. The observation unit primarily will serve two patient populations:   q  Patients who have been in the Emergency Department for two hours and need additional observation, with the potential for discharge.  Patients who require short-term treatment and/or diagnostic evaluation that can be completed within 23 hours. Indications for admission to the observation unit and exclusion criteria are based on Medicare payment requirements. Observation status is an insurance designation that allows a patient to occupy an inpatient bed with an outpatient insurance designation for up to 23 hours. Patients will be managed by protocols. If you have questions about the observation unit, please contact Zone-Smith at 792-7769. Announcements New Performance Appraisal (EPMS) Susan Carullo, manager of Employment, Compensation and Employee Relations, said the new performance appraisal (EPMS) forms are ready for use. Business managers have completed training for using the new form. Carullo thanked managers and directors for their input on the form. Budgets John Cooper, director of Finance, said meetings will be scheduled with managers, directors and business managers the last week in January and the first week in February to review budget issues.