CurrentsTo Medical Center Employees:At the recent MUSC Board of Trustees meeting the board reelected Dr. Donald Johnson II and Dr. Cotesworth Fishburne Jr. as chair and vice chair, respectively. Our Board of Trustees consists of 14 members, with 12 being elected by the General Assembly (two from each Congressional district) and two appointed by the governor. The MUSC Board of Trustees also serves as the Medical University Hospital Authority governing body. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated board to lead MUSC. On another matter, I want to thank everyone for your patience and cooperation during last week’s “near visit” by Hurricane Charley. While we did not fully activate the emergency weather plan, a number of university and Medical Center employees were asked to report to duty to ensure for appropriate patient care and support services. We are now in the midst of the hurricane season and all employees should be familiar with Medical Center Weather Emergency Policy A-64, Medical Center Staffing During Disasters and Emergencies policy A-42 and Medical Center H R Policy #13. Everyone should also be well informed of unit-based weather emergency procedures and communication mechanisms. Anyone who has questions should contact their respective manager or director. Finally, as previously communicated, MUSC will be taking part in a Tri-county disaster preparedness drill. The drill is expected to begin the evening of Friday, Aug. 20 although we do not know a specific time. Reporting instructions for “calling in” are being issued to concerned directors and managers. This drill is being led by local and state agencies and our active participation is needed. Thank you very much.
W. Stuart Smith
Hospital managers, admin meet SimManTaking its cue from aviation, another high-risk industry, health care could close its decadewide gap in ensuring basic safety by implementing simulated training.MUSC, meet SimMan. Hospital administrators and managers did just that Tuesday at the regularly scheduled hospital communications meeting. SimMan is a technologically sophisticated mannequin that simulates an actual patient with airway features and cardiac functions, and responds to cardio-pulmonary resuscitation efforts. Ellis said to expect a slow, planned implementation of SimMan training that will probably be made available in six to nine months. The airway features include: realistic life-size intubation head; fiberoptic bronchoscopy; standard ALS airway skills; needle and surgical crico-thyrotomy; spontaneous respiration with variable respiratory rate, auscultation of breath sounds and CO2 detection; and airway complications. Cardiac functions include: ECG library of more than 2,500 cardiac rhythm variants; defibrillation by Automated External Defibrillators (AED) or manual defibrillators; three or four lead ECG monitoring, external pacing with variable pacing threshold. CPR responses include: ventilation; chest compression; ECG and heart rate can be displayed on the simulated monitor. Rosemary Ellis, who presented the SimMan overview, said that having the simulated training mannequin was the result of a collaborative effort of the following: Dr. Jeana Havidich, Anesthesia; Amanda Barnhorst, CCE and Patient Safety; Wayne Brannan, University Risk Management; Mary Allen, CCE and Patient Safety; Annette DeVeaux, CCE and Patient Safety; Josh Neff/Robert Winn, Meducare; Phil, Central Supply; Donna Bolus, Respiratory Therapy; Marshall Mc-Fadden and Mike Williams, Security; Katy Kuder, Volunteer Services; Fred Miles, Facilities; Freddy Axson, Biomed; Scott Barnes, CMH Facility Manager; Tom Moore, Administrator, CMH. Disaster Drill
“You will be asked to give your name, the clinical service or department that you represent and the estimated time of arrival if you were getting into you car after receiving the page and driving into the hospital.” Nesmith said that the documentation would be information needed to complete required entries for a report to JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organiza-tions). He said that the phone lines should accommodate the influx of calls, but in the event there is a short delay getting through, “Please be forgiving.” Human Resources Update
The Service Awards Ceremony for university and authority employees will be held in room 100 of the Basic Science Building on Sept. 23 with a reception to follow. The JCAHO lab survey will be conducted in September, she said. “The surveyors may go anywhere in the hospital where point-of-care testing takes place. We now have point-of-care testing on CATTS. Employees who participate in point of care testing should complete the CATTS lessons prior to the survey. Bastian addressed the overtime issue, which had generated interest from a Business Review article in Monday’s Post and Courier. She stated that Medical University Hospital Authority Human Resources has been reviewing all classifications in exempt and non-exempt status to ensure adherence with the regulations. HR training that will be available in September:
Action I-O
“Once again, the sessions will begin every half-hour. These are scheduled
for anyone who needs assistance for either reporting or data entry,” Marek
said. “Please feel free to call me at 792-8793 or on pager, 11821.”
The Catalyst, Aug. 20, 2004
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