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Currents To Medical Center Employees: At a recent management communications meeting Bruce Quinlan, chief executive officer, University Medical Associates (UMA), gave an overview of UMA’s outreach services including services provided by UMA’s subsidiary, Carolina Family Care (CFC). His comments are highlighted below.  We asked Mr. Quinlan to speak at our communications meeting because it’s important that Medical Center employees have an understanding of the value that outreach services adds to the clinical enterprise and to the fulfillment of our mission. Outreach sites and programs enable the public to have convenient access to MUSC’s services closer to their homes and work sites. The concerned physicians serve as a vital gateway to our hospital services and specialists.  The UMA and College of Medicine have significantly enhanced local specialty services  as well as other statewide outreach initiatives as outlined below. Also, CFC through its 24 physicians offers internal medicine and pediatric clinics in the Charleston area. Thank you very much. Sincerely,  W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   Update on University Medical Associates Outreach Services Bruce Quinlan, UMA CEO, spoke to managers about current and future UMA Outreach Services. Originally presented during the August Board of Trustees meeting, Quinlan outlined key components to the UMA outreach system. The UMA Outreach Advisory Committee, chaired by Paul Lambert, M.D., has three main functions that pertain to outreach activity including to review business plans of proposed activity, to confirm logistical checklists, and to monitor activity. Concerning business plans, the committee looks at demographic and market value data, operational budgets and revenue projections, the impact on MUSC, and the impact on the community. The committee must also pay close attention to logistical concerns, which include staffing, billing and collections, compliance, and hardware and communication links. Last, the committee must periodically examine business plan goals and act as a vehicle to prevent  problems and to provide advice or assistance. The UMA offers incentives, like lowered “taxes” from 17 to 12 percent, to offer outreach services, but waives incentives if inpatient procedures are not referred to the Medical Center. Some of the statewide initiatives related to outreach services include a five-year agreement in Hilton Head for Cardiology services, Radiation Oncology at Georgetown Hospital, and an agreement with Lowcountry Medical Group in Beaufort. Statewide outreach encourages more of the state population to access MUSC physicians and services and helps MUSC clinicians to develop relationships with other clinicians throughout the state. Primary outreach services in the Charleston area include the East Cooper Medical Arts building and the Bone and Joint Center in West Ashley. Quinlan also gave an update on Carolina Family Care including the reduction in M.D.s from 33 to 24, a referral rate of 78 percent, and a decrease in operational losses for the last fiscal year, with the trend expected to continue into the next fiscal year.  Announcements Rosemary Ellis, Quality director, announced that staff handbooks have been distributed to all Medical Center areas. Concerning policy updates, Ellis announced that MUSC policies concerning specimen collection and requisition and point of care testing were revised to reflect current practices and JCAHO policy. For more information, contact Ellis at ellisro@musc.edu. Helena Bastian, Medical Center Human Resources director, asked managers to remind staff members to visit one of nine informational sessions before the October “Open House” for employee benefits. Several changes concerning premiums and benefits are expected. For more information, contact Bastian at bastianh@musc.edu.  Managers present at the Sept. 23 communications meeting welcomed Amanda Lemasters, 8W unit educator.     Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.