Return to Main Menu

Currents To Medical Center Employees: As previously communicated in this newsletter, progress is being made toward enhancing the Medical Center’s employee training program. The training initiatives include a quarterly “hands-on” (in-house) policies and procedures orientation for new managers; leadership development, targeted specialty staff training, and new hire “exceptional service” (customer service) training to be provided by a training consulting firm; and interactive web-based training to conveniently address “annual mandatory training reviews.”   The first “hands-on” policies and procedures training program was recently rolled out. Participants gave good feedback for fine-tuning this training as we move forward. The policies and procedures training has been well received.   Recently the management team devoted one-half day to hearing about the leadership development, specialty staff and new hire “exceptional service” training that will take place throughout the upcoming fiscal year.  A local firm, The McNair Group, was selected through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to lead this training. The training will be customized to address our specific needs with training sessions offered at various times for scheduling convenience. The training should be fun, not “torturous.” During June, the consulting firm will assess Medical Center information and data to customize the training and programs that will kick off later in the summer.   Finally, the RFP process for selection of a Web-based interactive training system continues on track.  It is anticipated that the selection will be made this summer and implementation will begin by fall.  We will need to conduct training sessions on how to use the system, and a number of coordinators will be designated to maintain the system and extract reports.   Clearly these initiatives will significantly improve our overall training program, and should affect all Medical Center employees in some fashion.    Thank you very much.   W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   YES campaign participation encouraged The Yearly Employee Support (YES) Campaign is in full swing, and campaign organizers encourage employees to help make a difference by contributing to the fund. The campaign goal is $210,000.   YES organizers Jenny Clifton and Becky Dornisch appealed to the management team at the May 21 communications meeting to make a tax-deductible contribution. Dornisch explained that one of the reasons employee contributions are important beyond their immediate financial impact is the standing it gives MUSC in the eyes of foundations that are specifically interested in giving to organizations that exhibit strong employee support.  Clifton said individuals could make contributions to any one of 350 funds, including any MUSC center, college, department, or the university, hospital or research/education fund.  “We want to stress broad-based participation,” Dornisch said. “It’s very important.”   Lynne Nemeth, director, Outcomes Management, Research and Development, and YES committee member presented a challenge to Medical Center managers to promote contributions within individual departments. Departments with the highest percentage of donors will be rewarded with a pizza party on the date of their choice. All departments with 100 percent participation will receive a pizza party, and the department with the most significant increase in donor participation will be rewarded and recognized.    Hospital contributions can be directed to support clinical psychiatry, medical equipment, Palmetto Pavilion, and staff development and training.   In addition to the many designated funds, the YES Campaign also offers an undesignated fund that allows the university to respond to new needs as they emerge. Now three years old, this fund has enabled MUSC to provide equipment for the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners Team, purchase burn compression garments for adult burn victims, among other efforts.  Participation in the YES Campaign provides support to the following areas and many others: scholarships, medical research programs, satellite clinics, hospital support, community health programs, memorial funds, building renovations, equipment/facility upgrades, patient education programs, mobile clinics, professorships/lectureships, and endowed chairs. A number of incentives are offered to those who make contributions including a weekend getaway. Deadline to register for the trip is May 31.   YES representatives are available to give presentations about the fund to your department. A fund list can be obtained, along with more details, by contacting Clifton in the YES Campaign Office at 792-1973. Pledge forms are available electronically at the Catalyst Web site. Sail to Safety June 5 The fourth annual safety fair, featuring safety exhibits, food, fun and prizes, will be held June 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the portico at the MUSC Administration building.   “This safety fair will be bigger and better than ever,” said Mary Allen, coordinator for Environment of Care, Safety, Security and Volunteer Services.  “Sail to the Safety Fair” is the theme this year, which Allen describes as a great way to make safety issues fun as well as informative. Beach music will help set the stage for the many safety booths that will include information on fire and life safety, bloodborne pathogen prevention, hazardous waste and materials, indoor air quality, fitness testing, infection control, safety and security, public safety, risk management, patient safety, physical therapy and ergonomics and Employee Health Services, among others.   For more information about the safety fair, contact Allen at 792-5176. Joint Commission readiness timeline on target  The activities timeline set forth to maintain continuous readiness for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is on target, according to consultants who helped set it up.   Lois Kerr, from Wilson Cunningham Kerr Associates, presented an information game to the management team to test basic knowledge in each of the surveyed by JCAHO, including Pain Management, Patient Safety, Medical Equipment Management, Emergency Preparedness, Utility System Management, Sedation and Anesthesia Care, and Utilities Maintenance, Staffing Effectiveness for Ambulatory Care, Resident Supervision, Environment of Care Design, Staffing Effectiveness and Peer Review.   Promising to contribute $100 to the YES campaign if all the questions posed during the game were answered correctly, Kerr asked 14 questions and received 14 correct responses. “I’m delighted to write out that check,” she said at the end of the presentation.    The activities timeline for the remainder of the years is as follows:   June 2002 will focus on human resources variance reports, human resources staffing indictors and vendor com-petency   July—Initial assessment of the documentation system; screening process August—Patient care processes; medications   September—Patient care processes; interdisciplinary assessments and care plann-ing   October—Patient care processes; restraints November—Environment of care; infection control  December—Patient rights The timeline for the year 2003 has been developed up to May 2003. January 2003—Sentinel Events - best practices  February—Performance improvement March—Leadership; medical staff   April—Information management   May—Patient safety The timeline could change depending on identified needs and priorities, according to Kerr.