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Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Budget Outlook for FY Rumor: The present budget for the university side is in fair shape due to the 5 percent hold back that was implemented and good management. But, come July 1 the fiscal new year rumor has it will get tighter due to less funding. What is to be expected and how can employees help? Truth: Recently  the House Ways and Means Committee recommended a 9.88 percent reduction for higher education next fiscal year. The proposed reduction is in addition to the midyear cuts already received this fiscal year. Although this is not good news, the legislative budget process is in the early stages. Still to come is the Senate recommendation, as well as the final recommendation from the Joint Conference Committee and approval by the governor. The university's central administration will look at the required reductions in a careful and deliberate manner. In the meantime, faculty and staff can help by offering suggestions and containing costs to the extent possible.  First Floor Harborview Timeclock Rumor: Since the timeclock was installed in the lobby of the Harborview Office Tower, we have observed on a regular basis employees who do not work on the first floor swipe at this timeclock. Everyday these employees enter the lobby from the parking garage and swipe in while the rest of us have to wait to clock in when we arrive on our designated floor. Instead of a privileged few, why can't all HOT employees be allowed to use this time clock so we can save a few minutes? Truth: Thank you for bringing your concern to our attention. Harborview Office Towers currently has 4 timeclock locations—1st floor, 5th floor, 7th floor, and 10th floor. Placing timeclocks on all 10 floors is cost prohibitive; therefore, employees may utilize a timeclock in a different location if one is not available on their floor. In accordance with Human Resources Policy #29, employees should swipe in/out only on the timeclock designated by their department. Employees should also clock in within seven and one-half minutes of their scheduled start time, or out within seven and one-half minutes after the scheduled departure time unless overtime has been approved by their manager or designee. Failure to comply with these policies could result in disciplinary action (reference Human Resources Policy #45). Supervisors are able to run Punch Origin and Punch Detail reports to identify employees misusing the time and attendance system. MUSC Accounting Systems Rumor: I heard that the university is going to use UMS as the central accounting system and get rid of SmartStream. But I also hear that administration is going to spend alot of money to add some new functions to SmartStream. What's the story ? It seems wasteful to spend money on a system that is going to be discontinued. Truth: MUSC engaged consultants from Bearing Point to look into business systems and processes, including UMS and SmartStream. Their report concluded that UMS is a very good departmental management program, but that it could not take the place of SmartStream as the official financial system of the university. They recommended that Finance and Administration begin working to enhance both systems in the short run, and subsequently begin research toward implementing an enterprisewide system (ERP) for the long run. A relatively small amount of funds is being spent on short-term enhancements to SmartStream that will provide for accounts receivable and billing modules. Additionally, a project is almost complete which will interface purchasing information from UMS into SmartStream. Finally, research is now ongoing toward implementation of a universitywide budgeting system, which would be  compatible with a new ERP system. Late Night Food Rumor: Why doesn't MUSC have a late night grill open for those who work nights? Subway closes at 1 a.m. on weekdays. (it gets very old after a while) it wouldn't cost much to pay someone minimum wage to run a grill until the cafe opens (eggs, bacon, sandwiches, short order food)—perhaps along the same line of what Roper hospital has. There is a large number of MUSC staff who walk to Roper and buy food.  Truth: The MUSC Medical Center's Retail Program subsidizes the Patient  Services side of the Dietary Department. Any expansion of retail service hours would increase departmental costs, in turn, reducing the amount of subsidy available. Late night or early morning food service would not produce enough revenue to cover the expenses incurred. Most hospitals, including Roper, have reduced or eliminated their late night/early morning offerings for this reason. Fire Alarm Rumor: The fact that the fire alarm system goes off 10 times a day in the Children's Hospital means that it is an unsafe building. It is very likely that one day the whole building will burn down. If it was safe, it would not have so many fires. Truth: The administration of the Medical Center always appreciates the input of occupants of all university and Medical Center buildings. In this case there is a misperception as to the facts of the matter, particularly related to the fire alarms. We are grateful for the opportunity to get the facts before all students, staff and faculty. First there have been only three actual fires which have occurred in the Children’s Hospital in recent memory. All three were related to overheating in microwave ovens generating smoke  and, in one case, a fire. There were no injuries and the alarm system did exactly what it was supposed to do. The hospital is required by DHEC and JCAHO to check every alarm system and perform fire drill in the Medical Center on a quarterly basis. Whenever renovation and alterations occur, which is a pretty common experience in a 15 year old hospital, alarms which have been altered in any way must be retested by DHEC. Among other things alarm stations are randomly tested to be sure that all components of the system perform properly. As a result, on inspection day there may be multiple tests of the alarm system. This event is probably what generated this comment to the rumor mill. In addition to our routine quarterly tests of fire alarm systems, the entire Medical Center undergoes an exhaustive yearly inspection by the Office of the State Fire Marshall thus providing a cross check against the routine tests and DHEC inspections. We apologize if test alarms are annoying to building occupants but we support fully doing whatever is necessary to provide alarm systems to make the university and the Medical Center as safe as humanly possible. This writer has been at MUSC for 35 years and to my knowledge there has never been a death or injury resulting from a fire in any of our  buildings. We are proud of this record and would like for it to continue for at least another 35 years. A Matter of Patriotism Rumor: There was a time when the South Carolina State flag flew proudly alongside the American flag in front of the Harborview Office Tower. Unfortunately, the state flag has not flown in front of this state governmental building for over a year. I am curious as to what plans Public Safety has for this empty flagpole since they no longer choose to raise the flag.  Truth: There was a time when the South Carolina State flag flew proudly alongside the American Flag in front of the Harborview Office Tower. The year was 1995. The decision was made at that time by a prior administration that flags would be flown only on the Horseshoe. Shortly after 9/11 the Department of Public Safety, which has many veterans as well as many other employees dedicated to Public Service, refitted the hardware on one flag pole at Harborview and purchased the American Flag that proudly flies today. Patriotism is alive and well at Public Safety.  Gifts Rumor: I heard in the elevator that a MUSC clinical staff member was given tickets to a major athletic event that were paid for by a vendor who does business with the university. Is this true? What are the rules for MUSC staff with respect to accepting gifts?  Truth: This story is a rumor and untrue. The State Ethics Law applies to all employees at MUSC, regardless of their position. This law specifies the employee must disclose the receipt of anything of value worth $25 or more in a day or $200 in the  aggregate in a calendar year if the gift is from a person who is giving the thing of value because of the {state employee's} position, someone who is a potential contractor or someone whose activities are regulated by the {state employee}. Clinical Faculty have been educated regarding the State Ethics Law as a part of Mandatory Code of Conduct Training for the last 3 years. Information regarding receipt of honorariums and gifts from outside industry can be found on the UMA Compliance Web site at: http://www.musc.edu/uma/compliance/tips/tip0300.html. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.      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.