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Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Kronos timekeeping Rumor: Hi! I've heard the rumor that “KRONOS” timekeeping (swipe time cards) were going to eventually make their way to the Basic Sciences. Is this true? If so, when will it be implemented?” Truth: The Payroll Department will begin contacting individual departments in December 2001 to address and resolve any issues/concerns with the implementation of KRONOS within their area. At this time, no department within the Basic Science Building has contacted the Payroll Office or the Department of Human Resources Management requesting a KRONOS clock for their employees. However, it is possible that a department is planning to make such a request. Departments can request, at any time, to have a KRONOS clock installed or made available to their staff. Staff in the Basic Science Building may have noticed that there is a KRONOS clock in the Building. This clock is used by employees whose departments are in other buildings, but their work site is the Basic Science Building (i.e., Physical Plant and Lab Animal Medicine). At present, the goal of the university is to have all bi-weekly employees using the KRONOS system by the beginning of the new fiscal year (July 1, 2002). The Payroll Department will provide on-going communication with the departments regarding this process.  23 Hour Observation Unit Rumor: Is it true that the 23 Hour Observation Unit located in the Storm Eye Institute (4th floor) will begin operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week sometime next year? Truth: At this time, there are no plans to change the current hours of operation of the unit; however we do plan to open all 12 beds in the unit by the first of the year.  Outpatient documentation Rumor: I've heard that we can no longer customize outpatient physician documentation forms to meet departmental (and compliance) guidelines. I've heard that  the reason is for ease of scanning into Omnivision. Is this true? If it is, who can be contacted to have forms approved? Truth: It has been a requirement for some time that forms which are used on the patient's medical record be reviewed by the Forms Committee. Auditing of compliance with this policy has been limited to those records which fall under the jurisdiction of the Health Information Services (Medical Record) Department. Several of the established guidelines are specific to the needs of omnivision (document imaging, but in no way override requirements for billing/compliance documentation. The forms approval process is available through the MUSC Medical Center policy manual or via the following Web site: <http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/committees/forms/main.html>. You may also contact the Forms Committee via e-mail or through its co-chairs, Michael Irving or Brenda Bailey. On call pay increase Rumor: Employee on call pay will be increased almost $1 a hour next  year. Truth: Employee on call pay has been under discussion and an evaluation is under way. We expect a final decision to be made early in the new year, and the decision will be announced shortly thereafter. House moving Rumor: I heard a rumor that the William Alston house (the dilapidated house behind the pink house) is going to be taken down, board by board, moved to Cainhoy, and paid for by a private party. I've also heard that the space where the house will have been will be used for a new wing to the Children's Hospital. Is this true? If so, who will be located in the new wing? Truth: The Alston House is being removed from university property. The university was fortunate in reaching agreement with a private party who is having the house removed to be rebuilt in the Mount Pleasant area. This move and restoration has the approvals of the Board of Architectural Review, the Charleston Preservation Society and the Historic Charleston Foundation. At present there are no approved plans for construction on the corner of Ashley Avenue and Sabin Street in the vicinity of the Alston House's current location. Gil's Grill Rumor: We have heard that there will be no restaurant to replace Gil's Grill in the Harper Student Center. Is there any truth to this rumor? Truth: We are currently drafting a request for proposals for contacts for operating a restaurant in that space. Therefore, the plans are to have a food service in the space if a contract is received and accepted that does not require any subsidization of operating costs by the university. Pay Increase for MUHA Rumor: I have not heard any more information from the Authority Human Resources about the yearly rollout of pay increases associated with evaluations (EPMS) done in the Year 2001. When does this take affect? Truth: The Authority's performance pay plan will be effective the pay periods beginning Dec. 30 (hourly/biweekly) and Jan. 1 (salaried/monthly). Eligible employees will receive performance increases of 2.5 percent, 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent based upon the most recent evaluations. The performance pay plan was communicated through Currents including a reminder most recently in the Nov. 6 Currents. Details of the FY 01/02 Performance Pay Plan can be located on the Medical Center Intranet under the Medical  Center's Human Resources Compensation Policy #15, Section II. E. CMH ED Rumor: CMH staff are concerned with the rumor that the emergency department (ED) will close soon. They feel as soon as the ED at MUSC is completed the ED at CMH will close. Truth: As noted in an earlier Rumor Mill response, MUSC has retained a leading national company to help advise the university on the development of a future hospital. This clinical master facilities planning process, expected to last approximately one year, will evaluate the entire clinical enterprise including CMH. There are no major changes expected in facilities or organizational structure of the MUSC Medical Center or CMH prior to completion of this planning process. Department of Defense Funds for Hollings Cancer Center Rumor: I have heard that, due to the war effort, the Department of Defense funds that had been appropriated for the Hollings Cancer Center have been impounded. Is this true? Truth: The Rumor Mill has carefully checked and can determine no basis whatsoever for this rumor. However, if anyone has specific facts to the contrary, please let us know and we will post them. Thank you. New Hospital Rumor: I have heard that MUSC is planning on building a 700 bed hospital either in Mount Pleasant or the West Ashley Area. Is this true? Truth: We have retained a leading national company to help advise the university on the development of a future hospital, including issues such as location. This process should take about a year to complete. In the final analysis, the planners will have to weigh advantages of remaining on the peninsula (e.g., not having to duplicate any infrastructure, proximity to educational and research facilities) against advantages of relocating elsewhere (e.g., convenience to patients, parking, less building code restrictions, less vulnerability during a hurricane). There are arguments both ways and much more evaluation is required.