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Currents To Medical Center Employees: We were recently informed by JCAHO that our survey will be conducted the week of Nov. 17 - 21. We were pleased to get a firm date for the survey prior to the Thanksgiving holiday period. At the recommendation of our JCAHO Steering Committee, I began issuing a weekly, electronic JCAHO educational packet to all directors in July. This weekly information includes a message of the week (questions and answers), a summary of the most recent JCAHO presentation given at the managers' communication meeting, and recently reviewed or revised Medical Center policies. Directors are asked to conveniently share this information with all staff. Anyone who has questions about the educational packets should contact their director, manager or Terri Ellis, coordinator, Accreditation Programs (792-5106 or e-mail: ellist@musc.edu).  At the recent communications meeting Hal Currey, administrator, Facilities and Capital Projects, gave an update on the Phase I replacement hospital progress. His comments are highlighted below. It is our intent to routinely share progress reports.  Finally, several months ago CCIT implemented a new online directory. Departmental super users were appointed to update the directory information by adding, deleting and editing information online. To determine your departmental super user, go the MUSC home Web site (http://www.musc.edu), click on Directory and then click on Directory Updates. To date, much of the necessary information for the directory is missing, and I am asking that all Medical Center super users make progress with updating their respective departmental information.  Thank you very much. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center   STAR Productions presents ‘Who Wants to Be a JCAHO Millionaire’  Lois Kerr, JCAHO consultant, and Marilyn Schaffner, Clinical Services administrator, led contestants Nancy Davidson, nurse manager, and June Stovall, nurse manager, through the monthly JCAHO quiz session in “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” format. Questions came from presentations on JCAHO standards given during August’s communications meetings. Hospital Replacement Project Update Hal Currey, Facilities and Capital Improvements administrator, gave managers an update on the Phase I facility progress that will become a regular staple during communications meetings in the future. He described the duties and responsibilities of three teams that are working together to create the replacement hospital, namely the owner team, the design team and the construction management team. He also provided progress updates on the following: The City of Charleston has approved necessary ordinances for the new hospital and a memo of understanding concerning traffic and drainage issues. The next step entails execution of the memo of understanding by the city. The VA has agreed to a 75-year lease on Doughty Street. Representatives attended a required public hearing conducted by the VA and the MUSC Board of Trustees approved the agreement. Next on the agenda is to develop a formal lease document, and after congressional approval, receive a receipt of the executed lease by Oct. 15. All of the single line drawings of the new hospital have been completed, and the board has authorized the architects to proceed with design development drawings. Preliminary cost estimates have been received from the construction manager and BAR approval was received for the height, scale, and mass of the new hospital facility. Next steps involve complete design development, secure a GMP (gross maximum price) and begin site work. A financial feasibility study was completed and approved by Ernst and Young. At the next board meeting, the trustees will be asked to accept the study and the study must then be submitted to HUD. The Certificate of Need (CON) application was completed and submitted. Approval is expected from DHEC by Oct. 15. The HUD 242 application is almost complete and awaits board authorization. A preliminary HUD commitment is expected by Dec. 1, with a secured commitment by March 2004. Property acquisition for the new hospital continues to move forward. A federal transportation bill is in the works for $63 million to improve highways and traffic issues in the vicinity of the new hospital. The southern portion of the Wellness Center is set for demolition beginning in April 2004. All offices, etc. will be relocated out of these wings no later than March 1, 2004, and space has already been identified for impacted programs. No other portion of the Wellness Center (i.e. gym, tracks, and fitness rooms) will be demolished. The Phase I facility will include: 156 beds for cardiovascular and digestive disease services, a chest pain center, supporting operating rooms, catheterization labs and diagnostic services, and associated outpatient clinics and faculty offices. New Blood Borne Pathogen Procedure Due to the discontinuation of the packet used for Stat-HIV blood tests upon employee exposure to a patient’s blood, the Medical Center had to adopt a new packet as of Aug. 15. Any employee or student exposed to a patient’s blood must then draw that patient's blood by a finger-stick sample only, as per the new test packet. No other method of obtaining a specimen will work for this type of test because of the type of packet. At press time, this is the only FDA-approved method. The time of collection is also extremely important, as any specimen sitting longer than one hour can not be used by the new test kit. For more information, contact Cheryl Brian, Occupational Safety and Health, at 792-1378 or brianche@musc.edu. Policy Update Rosemary Ellis, quality director, presented managers with the most recent policy updates. They are as follows: A-27, Patient Use of Kitchen. Revised to provide current procedures. Contact: Libby Minton, Clinical Services Administration, at 792-7545. A-43 Emergency Disruption of Utility Services. Revised to reflect current detailed response to disruption of utility, water, telephones, vacuum, medical air, and medical gasses. Contact: Al Nesmith, Safety, Security and Volunteer Services, at 792-3135. C-46 Exclusion from Patient Care. Revised to delineate current practice/procedures. Minton, 792-7545. C-47 Identification of Allergies. Revised to delineate current practices/procedures. Minton, 792-7545. C-58 Patient Identification. Revised to detail current methods to ensure accurate patient identification. Contact Ellis at ellisro@musc.edu. Announcements Chris Malanuk, Strategic Planning director, Kelly Shaw, Medical Records/Admissions manager, and Peggy Purohit, interim nurse manager, were all recognized with stars and movie tickets for demonstrating recent dedication and commitment to their positions and special projects. .   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.