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Currents To Medical Center Employees: Recently the Medical Center Security Department, Information Desk, Volunteer ervices and Patient Access Services staff teamed up to improve the “visitor pass” procedures. The changes planned are intended to improve identification of patients’ family members and visitors, ensure a secure environment, improve monitoring of visitation hours, and avoid excessive numbers of visitors in patient rooms or waiting areas.  An ad hoc committee representing areas throughout the Medical Center recommended the visitor pass improvements. The procedural changes are currently being piloted in the Children’s Hospital.  The new visitor pass procedures replace the “visitor pass stickers” we began issuing approximately two years ago. The stickers proved helpful with visitor identification and we believe resulted in reduction of theft. We expect the new procedures will further improve security and should help us provide visitors with necessary information. Under the revised visitor pass procedures, patients’ families will be issued passes upon admission. Non-family member visitors who enter the hospital will be routed to the Children’s Hospital or North Tower Information Desk to pick up visitor passes. During after hours or weekends, visitors will be routed to the North Tower Information or Security Desk. Generally two visitors passes will be issued for each patient room to visitors, except for the ICU waiting area or under extenuating circumstances.  The passes will include written guidelines on the visitation policy and will be coded to identify the day of the week. Upon leaving the hospital visitors will be asked to return the passes to the Information Desk.  We are committed to making sure the new visitor pass procedures work smoothly. Security and Information Desk staff will carefully assess the new procedure during the pilot phase and will make any changes needed to ensure excellent customer service. The new procedure will begin in the main hospital in two weeks. Anyone with questions or suggestions should contact Paul Moss, Medical center security manager, 792-4831 or e-mail Mossp@MUSC.edu. Thank you very much. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Managers updated on ongoing McNair Group sessions Eric Frisch, Employee Relations and Training manager, updated managers on ongoing McNair Group sessions taking place in spring 2003.  Frisch clarified three separate schedules emailed to managers, directors and administrators.  The three scheduled groups consist of the First Impressions sessions for registered nurses, the coordinators (second level managers), and the Leadership development sessions (management level). Other employee classifications and schedules will be announced in the near future.  Any questions concerning these sessions or their content may be directed to Frisch at 792-7908. Announcements Michael Irving, Patient Care Systems manager, demonstrated the revamping of the JCAHO Web site linked to MUSC’s current website. Irving dubbed the JCAHO site a “one-stop shop” for all things JCAHO. For more information visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/JCAHO.  Pam Fogle, Infection Control coordinator, recognized Betty Harley, Infection Control practitioner, with the JCAHO Readiness STAR award for her commitment to the MUSC Smallpox Vaccination Plan during the last several months. Fogle told managers to submit nominations online at the new JCAHO Web site. Bill Spring, Heart and Vascular Center director, introduced Lynn Hostetter as the new heart center administrator on the fifth floor of the Children’s Hospital.