Return to Main Menu

Currents We continue to prepare for the implementation of the Medical University Hospital Authority. The implementation date, subject to an approving resolution by our board of trustees, is expected to be July 1.   The authority will enable increased flexibility for the management and operation of the Medical Center. The Authority Act allows the Medical Center to be exempt from state procurement, capital improvement and personnel regulations, but the act specifies certain requirements for the exemptions.   The authority will be exempt from state personnel regulations, but will adopt a "substantially similar" grievance policy. A new grievance procedure has been developed with the guidance of the Me Issues Committee and is in the final stages of the approval process. Soon we will communicate details about the new policy.     The authority's exemption from the state procurement code hinges on our commitment to adopt a competitive bidding process for construction. Work is underway to formulate a new procurement policy.   Authority funds will remain "public funds." We must adopt a new policy to require a high level of accountability in the expenditure of public funds. The entire management team, all business officers and others involved in expenditure of funds will need to be trained and well versed in the new policy.      As an authority, like other public entities, we will continue to be covered by state ethics and accountability laws. These laws set forth requirements to ensure no conflict of interest in the conduct of business and employment practices. We will need to underscore the ethics laws in our training and communication.     While the authority will offer many advantages, it will carry with it a heightened level of accountability. The General Assembly demonstrated great trust in us when it passed the Authority Act. We will handle our increased flexibility in a responsible fashion.   As we move forward, I will continue to share information about our progress toward the authority implementation.   W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Worker's compensation injury forms requires full completion Mary Allen, R.N., environmental quality control coordinator for Safety, Security and Volunteer Services, Nancy Sifford, with University Risk Management, and Cheryl Brian, R.N., with Occupational Safety, described the results of a performance improvement project that was initiated to address serious data omissions in the reporting of worker's compensation first report of injury forms (ACORD). Managers and directors were taught the correct procedure. As a result, ACORD data completion improved in 19 out of 22 areas. Allen, Sifford and Brian stressed the importance of completing all information requested on these forms. Anyone with questions concerning the ACORD forms should call Sifford at 792-1775. After-Hours Parking Melinda Anderson, director of the Office of Parking Management, announced a new after-hours parking program for employees. The program provides safe, convenient and affordable parking services for employees who work evening, night and weekend shifts on a regular or occasional basis. After-hours parking is available in the MUSC employee parking garage, located at 91 President St. Program hours are Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m., and 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.   All MUSC employees are eligible for the program. Students are considered employees when they park on campus while working. Beginning Feb. 14, employees and students who want to participate in the after-hours parking program must register for the program at the Office of Parking Management, located on the second floor of the employee parking garage at 91 President St. Please bring your MUSC ID and your state vehicle registration certificate. Program participants will receive a hang tag for their vehicles and a parking key card. There is an annual registration fee of $5 and a refundable access card fee of $10. The access card fee will be refunded when a participant leaves the program and returns the key card. The registration fee covers the cost of the hang tag and assists with other operating expenses. Beginning March 13, after-hours program participants must display an after-hours hang tag on their vehicles and use their parking key card. The parking year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Participants will have to register for the program again in September. Participants will receive an automatic renewal reminder.   The employee garage is staffed by a parking attendant 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. A public safety officer is on site during various times throughout the day and night, seven days a week. Other security features include periodic bike and automobile patrols through the garage by public safety officers, a video monitoring system, good lighting, card access to stairwells and elevators, and controlled vehicle and pedestrian pathways during off-hours.   For additional information, please contact the MUSC Office of Parking Management at 792-3665. TEAM MUSC: What's Your Story? Christine Murray, director of Marketing Services, announced the creation of TEAM MUSC for the Cooper River Bridge Run on April 1. Marketing Services is looking for heartwarming stories about employees and patients who plan to run or walk the bridge. Additionally, they want people to run or walk the bridge in honor of patients who are not able to do it themselves. TEAM MUSC stories will be featured in upcoming Cooper River Bridge Run publicity and advertising. Do you have a good story?  Do you know patients who should be a part of Team MUSC? Do you want to run or walk in honor of a patient? Join TEAM MUSC—contact Willette Smith at (smithwi@musc.edu).