Return to Main Menu

Currents To Medical Center Employees: Solucient, a leading source of health care business intelligence, recently  named the MUSC Medical Center a top 100 cardiovascular hospital. It is MUSC’s second consecutive year of being the only hospital in the state to achieve this distinction.  Based upon publicly available data, hospitals were scored upon their performance on seven clinical practices and efficiency of operations including: complications; cost; length of stay; percentage of patients in which the internal mammary artery was used; risk-adjusted medical mortality; surgical mortality; and volume. According to an Oct. 27 Modern Healthcare article, research over the past two decades has shown the use of internal mammary arteries to be superior to leg veins.  Additional information about the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals can be found at http://www.100tophospitals.com or http://www.solucient.com.  The JCAHO survey scheduled for Nov. 17 - 21 is upon us. The survey schedule can be found on the Medical Center Intranet.  I appreciate the good work that has been done to ensure that we are prepared to demonstrate how we fulfill the standards.  Thank you very much. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   Construction, installation, repair, maintenance in MUSC Medical Center Al Nesmith, Safety, Security, and Volunteer Services director, and Pam Fogle, Infection Control, addressed managers concerning the construction, renovation, installation, repair, and maintenance policy for the medical center. Nesmith and Fogle both emphasized that while the policy is not new, it carries an enhanced focus on identifying projects, educating staff/contractors, monitoring projects, and patient and employee safety. Also, they encouraged managers and directors to allow for early notification when establishing new projects so that appropriate coordination and planning and issue resolution wouldn’t adversely affect patient safety, environment of care, or costs. The hospital must use established design criteria for any design and construction work. For example, a proactive risk assessment to identify potential hazards to patient care caused by demolition, construction, renovation, installation, repair, and maintenance activities. Managers must address the impact on quality requirements, infection control, utility requirements, noise, vibration, and emergency procedures within a particular area. MUSC has addressed issues relating to hospital improvement projects in the following ways:  Formation of Environment of Care (EOC) Construction Subcommittee two years ago Infection Control Policy #22 (Construction) revised and moved to Medical Center Manual New policy title—Construction, Renovation, Installation, Repair, and Maintenance Policy revision to address factors other than IC concerns Requires early notification of EOC Construction Committee Some of the EOC concerns related to new projects include utility requirements, emergency procedures, unobstructed egress, covering of smoke detectors, disabling of fire suppression system, interim life safety, noise, vibration, and fumes. Fogle spoke about some of the major infection control concerns to consider with new projects including location of construction (type of patient care given in area), dust control to prevent spread of molds to patients, necessity of intact barriers, whether or not negative air handling machines are needed, how debris is handled, and how the cleanliness of the area is maintained. The management team is responsible for notification of EOC Construction Subcommittee as soon as a project has been approved, completion of pre-assessment form (who, where, when, what, etc), and completion of IC Risk Assessment for type III or IV projects. EOC Construction Subcommittee responsibilities include assistance with form completion, issuing construction permits, education of contractor/staff, monitoring of compliance, and interrupting projects that do not comply with requirements. Policy Update Rosemary Ellis, Quality director, told managers that the revised Medical Center policies concerning water temperature, hostages, bomb threats, infant abduction, and medication dispensing are available online. She reminded managers to clear out unnecessary manuals from units. Clinical Services policies are currently being integrated into the main Medical Center Policy Manual and the Infection Control Manual.