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Currents To Medical Center Employees: Recently, Deborah Blackwell, business manager, Operations & Planning, Facilities Management; Adrianne Holt, Environment of Care coordinator, Safety & Security; Sharon Mazyck, manager, Clinic Business Operations; Lisa McKellar, manager, Peds Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services; and Cathleen Walters, clinical manager, STNICU and interim manager, NSICU, completed the Management Academy sponsored by the South Carolina Hospital Association. The academy is an intense one-year training program designed to help hospitals develop leaders. The academy’s training modules are designed to enable participants to address challenges managers face on a daily basis in today’s demanding health care arena. Also, the academy enables participants to build relationships with others from hospitals throughout the state. Congratulations to the Medical Center’s new Management Academy graduates.    We have begun the process of updating and refining our Medical Center goals (tactical plan). In particular, emphasis will be placed upon “provider of choice” and “employer of choice.” Among other things, we need to do a better job of aligning goals and leader behaviors to model values critical to moving our organization to the next level. We will seek to improve standardization of methods of service delivery, business operations, and behavioral expectations. We will do a better job with use and understanding of patient satisfaction data and other metrics. Employee recognition will be improved and we will take our recruitment and retention methods up another notch. These and other initiatives will take time. I will be routinely discussing these issues in this newsletter and other forums throughout the year.    Please be reminded the next Medical Center Town Hall meetings will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, and at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 a.m. in the Storm Eye Auditorium. I am asking for good attendance. Please mark your calendars.   Thank you very much. Sincerely, W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Changes on deposits, paystubs discussed Hospital Fiscal Services director Ralph Greene and Medical Center Human Resources director Helena Bastian gave an update on MUHA’s changes concerning direct deposit and electronic pay stub.   Greene provided a brief history, program basics and foundation of the events leading up to these changes. He reminded managers of the medical center’s previous payroll operation plan to convert monthly paid employees to a bi-weekly payroll and the elimination of supplemental payrolls.   Two unmet elements of that plan include changing the method of payment for MUHA employees to an electronic/direct deposit payroll and conversion to electronic pay stub. Beginning in November, both university and MUHA plan coordinators won approval by MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., and the President’s Council and within MUHA’s own administrative group to establish direct deposit as the prescribed method of payment of wages effective for all employees. To help meet these goals, the Payroll Office has actively volunteered to meet and talk to staff in hospital areas that are still being paid with paper checks. Currently, about 95 percent of MUHA’s employees utilize electronic or direct deposit. Greene’s group hopes to meet with about 235 staff who still receive paper paychecks to discuss the plan.   Greene spoke about the multiple benefits for this transition, especially as it relates to a reduction of costs, convenience, security and easy access. Under this plan, employees can choose from up to three banking institutions to deposit funds. For employees who do not have a bank account, organizers have coordinated with local, participating financial institutions to establish a free “pay access” account to access money via ATM card.   On Dec. 6 and 8, both MUHA and the university along with Wachovia, Bank of America and other local financial institutions will co-host an Employee Payroll Fair to offer employees other banking benefits and solutions. Details will be announced as to the event’s times and location.   In addition, he also announced plans for implementing electronic pay stub for employees. MUHA’s roll out of this plan begins Feb. 1, 2006.   Currently, employees can access electronic pay stub information as early as the Friday prior to the scheduled payday using the Intranet link, “My Record.” Access requires a current MUSC Network Account or MNA account. Payroll is currently working with the OCIO office to initiate the assignment of MNA accounts to employees. Payroll will continue to communicate with all new hires regarding sign-up for direct deposit or electronic pay.   Finally, Greene asked for input from managers concerning the placement of kiosks featuring a computer with printing capability in locations around the medical center for employees who can’t access electronic pay stub information.   Greene assured managers that both Payroll and Hospital Fiscal Services staff are available for staff training, assistance with MNA accounts and related information by contacting either Patty Burn, payroll coordinator at burnp@musc.edu or Greene at greener@musc.edu. New Hospital Update Chris Malanuk gave an update on upcoming traffic changes and a construction update for the new hospital. As of Nov. 14, planners reopened Charleston Center Drive by the County Parking Garage to make it bi-directional, alleviating traffic congestion around the new hospital construction site. By Dec. 16, the western portion of Doughty Street (west of Courtenay) will close permanently and be replaced by the new Ralph H. Johnson Drive. Bravo Street by the VA Medical Center will remain closed to regular traffic up to Bee Street. Malanuk also unveiled a progress report concerning three new hospital construction projects: site and infrastructure (underground utilities and storm drain systems), Central Energy Plant (scheduled to be in full operation by Spring 2006) and Phase 1 of the new hospital. He reviewed a month-by-month slide show revealing construction progress from the first pilings driven in February to today’s progress in attaching precast brick and demountable metal panels to portions of the building’s exterior.   He also explained in detail exposure testing related to the safety and durability of the hospital tower’s glass wall panels. Malanuk indicated that sample panels of the glass materials tested under simulated 230 mph hurricane force winds exceeded the capacity of the manufacturer’s testing chambers. Following the success of several scheduled quality tests, contractors plan to begin attaching the glass panels in February. Announcements Cindy Hough reminded the audience about MUSC’s Excellence Fair, which was held Nov. 17 at the Horseshoe. More than 50 people representing multiple disciplines presented posters and essays in this celebration. Compliance’s Kelly Shaw reminded MUHA managers that the deadline for CATTS compliance training should be completed by Dec. 31. Decision Support Services’ Pamela Marek also reminded MUHA managers that early submission for third quarter Action O-I data is due Friday, Nov. 18. Anyone having difficulty submitting their information after this date should contact Marek at marekp@musc.edu. All Action O-I data is due by Dec. 1. Critical Care and Emergency Services’ Brian Fletcher has been named interim manager for Meducare. He will also maintain his responsibilities for clinical disaster preparedness. Department of Therapeutic Services’ June Darby announced personnel changes in her area. Adam Kornegay was named coordinator of the Neurophysiology Lab. Donna Bolus is the interim manager for Neurophysiology in addition to her other areas of responsibility. JoAnne Sandefur has assumed management responsibilities for Adult Respiratory for the next six months. Marian Miller has assumed management responsibilities for the PFT Lab. Regina Bell has assumed a manager’s role with Health Information Services. Bell is in charge of file maintenance and release of information. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will not be a Communications Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The Nov. 29 Communication Meeting will feature a Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) Training. S.C. Hospital Association’s Carl Richter will conduct the training. Lunch will be served. Friday, Nov. 18, 2005 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. 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