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Currents To Medical Center Employees: As we close out the calendar year I want to thank everyone for your dedication and hard work. We continued to provide excellent and compassionate care throughout the year while achieving record level inpatient volume as well as outpatient activity.   We have many irons in the fire as we prepare to enter the new calendar year. While we will fine tune our goals, our overall priorities for the year will include: keep on schedule for completion of the Phase I hospital facility in 2007, prepare for the move into the new facility and plan for “back filling” of space in MUH; place heavy emphasis upon “employer and provider of choice” to include increasing patient and employee satisfaction; continue to improve quality and safety with a focus upon achieving 90 percent compliance with CMS measures and selected evidence-based practice for prophylaxis; achieve or exceed a 4 percent financial margin for FY 05/06, with emphasis upon department-based cost control; improve communication including “internal awareness” (knowledge of services provided, organizational priorities, new initiatives and so forth) and prepare for implementation of the advanced point-of-care system and other systems.   We will be following up on the recent Town Hall meeting sessions and the employee satisfaction survey conduced in August. My office has received approximately 3,500 evaluations from employees who attended the department-based satisfaction survey rollout sessions conducted by managers and directors over the past two months. The ninety day departmental action plans have been submitted and a summary of all action plans is being compiled at this time. Preparation of these specific departmental action plans has been a learning process, and we will improve with experience. In the near future a summary of all the action plans will be reported in Currents.   Thank you again and have a happy holiday season. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center HR, Medicare Part D/Pharmacy updates Pharmacy Administrative Services coordinator Chris Fortier, Pharm.D., and Pharmacy Practice Management resident Matthew Maughan, Pharm.D., provided an update for health care workers about Medicare Part D program.   Fortier reminded the managers that it has been almost two years since President George Bush signed the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 which initiated Medicare Part D—allowing 43 million seniors to have expanded prescription drug benefits and more choices in health  care. But news about Medicare’s Prescription Drug Benefit (PDP) from the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) still puzzles many Americans. The pair provided a brief introduction about the components relating to Medicare Part D and explain how the hospital’s Pharmacy Department will provide support patients and staff inquiries.   As of Jan. 1, Medicare Part D’s prescription drug coverage begins. Starting in November and extending until May 15, seniors must enroll in order to participate in the plan. Beneficiaries who do not enroll by mid-May, will be charged a 1 percent monthly increase until they complete their enrollment. Participants may not switch plans until after completing one year in the PDP program.   The program offers participants potential savings: CMS states that the average annual prescription costs for one patient averages $2,200. With Medicare Part D, drug spending is expected to decrease by 50 percent. Patients who are Medicaid and Medicare eligible will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part D. Low income beneficiaries will receive added discounts, specifically no co-pays or a lower line of a deductible. Beneficiaries with creditable prescription insurance are encouraged to keep their current coverage and not advised to apply for Medicare Part D. The standard coverage breakdown for a patient in 2006 includes: minimum standard $32 monthly premium ($384 annually); In South Carolina, premiums are as low as $17 per month $250 deductible Once a patient reaches the $250 deductible, the patient pays 25 percent of charges from $250 to $2,250, with CMS paying the other 75 percent. Patient pays 100 percent of charges from $2,251 to $5,100 Once a patient reaches $5,100, they pay the greater of $2 generic drugs; $5 brand or 5 percent of charges, thereafter In addition, each of these plans have their own formulary requirements. In South Carolina there are about 45 different plans. CMS will review and approve formularies with at least two medications from each drug category and class (i.e. proton pump inhibitors, Prilosec and Previcid) and both brand and generic drugs included.   If a medication were taken off the formulary, the prescription drug plan requires a 60-day notice for the removal of a covered medication from its formulary. In addition, patients may file a petition if a PDP discontinues coverage of previously covered medication. Covered medications may include: insulin/supplies; cancer medications; immunosuppressant; biologicals; anticonvulsants; HIV/AIDS therapies; antidepressants and antipsychotics. Excluded medications include: over-the-counter medications; barbiturates; benzodiazepines; vitamins/minerals (except prenatal vitamins or fluoride for children); drugs for anorexia, weight loss, weight gain, cosmetic enhancements, fertility, hair growth, cough and cold relief.   Maughan unveiled a new pharmacy brochure which covers details about Medicare Part D. It contains plan information, addresses prescription drug coverage questions and other issues that promote dialogue between health care professionals, patients and pharmacists. Pharmacy coordinators have also created a Web forum and e-mail address, incorporating the CMS plan finder, and a pharmacy contact number. To help identify plans, users can input their zip code to locate local pharmacies around their geographic area. It also asks about specifics like the drug name, dosage, quantity, frequency and expected duration of therapy. Maughan reminded managers that although pharmacists may not recommend a specific drug plan, they may help patients with choices of up to three plans to benefit the patient. Finally, the Web forum will provide additional resources from other Web sites and publications to telephone numbers for Medicare and the Social Security Administration.   For information, visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/news/MedicarePartD.htm . HR Update Helena Bastian, director of Human Resources, announced that 2005 evaluations must be submitted to Human Resources in order for the pay for performance increases to be processed for the Jan. 18 paycheck. The EPMS reports in the Impromptu Web Reports (IWR) system will be updated the evening of Dec. 20.   Bastian also announced that effective January 2006, JCAHO standards will require that the Medical Center conduct primary source verification of required licensure, certifications and/or registration at the time of hire and renewal. Human Resources will conduct and document the initial verification. This information will be entered into CATTS. The manager or designee will be responsible for conducting and documenting the primary source verification at the time of renewal. Documentation of verification may consist of the official online verification document or a copy of the current license with documentation of the primary source (agency) and the date of verification. The documentation must be maintained in the unit file and the manager or designee is responsible for updating CATTS with the verification date and the new expiration date. Human Resources will conduct training on tracking verification in the CATTS system in January. Employer of Choice—New Turnover Report Bastian also announced that a new report section specifically for turnover has been established in IWR. A list of old and new report titles was shared with a description of each report. She indicated that the reports will run 45 days after the end of the month for more accurate reporting. She also shared a new turnover report that separates turnover categories by “preventable” and “non-preventable.” The report groups regular permanent and temporary employees and only includes separations from the Medical Center. This new report will assist managers in identifying potential areas for improvement. Announcements Results from MUSC Heart Walk 2005 top teams and individuals were announced by Kelli Davis, Pharmacy and Clinical Services. The winning teams included Pharmacy Family, who raised $6,799; Business Development/Marketing Services, $5,500; and HVC, $3,925. First place winners received a catered lunch by Savory Catering. Other place winners received 10 free passes to Cypress Gardens, Drayton Hall or Fort Sumter. Top individuals were Suzanne Ravanel, MICU, $1,000; William Mountford, Cardiovascular/Epidemiology Class, $955 and Nannette Berenson, Pharmacy Faculty, $931.   The top individual winners received prizes donated by Concorde and MUSC Parking Management. Oncology and Medical Surgical Services Clinical Director Colleen Corish recognized former HCC business manager Casey Liddy for his work and dedication. Liddy has since moved to Marketing Services as of Dec. 5. Corish also welcomed Karenne Campbell-Bagwell as the new pain specialist nurse available to the adult hospital. Her background is in hospice and pastoral care from Duke Medical Center.     Friday, Jan. 6, 2006 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.