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Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Open Visitation Rumor: I was told by a manager that MUSC has adopted the open visitation guidelines for all critical care areas. If this is true, many are concerned about the safety of their workplace. Truth: Currently in the main hospital, four of the five adult critical care units have open visitation hours. The unique characteristics of a Surgical Trauma, Neuro ICU related to trauma victims bear thoughtful evaluation of visiting hours for both patient and staff security and with regard to our customer service goals. There is evidence in clinical literature that supports open visitation in critical care for many reasons. Any consideration of changes to visiting hours will include staff, physician, security and management collaboration. Thank you for you interest and concerns about this important patient and staff safety and customer service issue. Administration Library Building Rumor: I understand that the administration level of the MUSC Library is going to become a transitional care unit for the hospital and potential rehab. I thought this was for student space. Truth: This rumor is not true. The second floor of the building will house the Center for Academic Excellence and Writing Center, which are universitywide student support services, and the Clinical Evaluation Unit and Doctoring Curriculum staff that serves the College of Medicine. This is also a student function. These functions were displaced when the two wings of the Alumni Memorial House were demolished and have been temporarily in McClennan-Banks Hospital. The first floor of the Library Building will house classrooms, small conference rooms and student lounge areas, making the whole building devoted to academics and student learning. Rutledge Tower Rumor: Are nurses in the main hospital allowed to park in Rutledge Tower for free or do they pay the monthly fee? I heard they park for free. Truth: The only employee free parking option that exists in the MUSC parking system is at the Hagood lot as part of the park-and-ride system. All employees, including nurses, who have an assignment in the MUSC reserved parking system, which includes the Rutledge Tower garage, pay a monthly fee to park. Salaried Employees Rumor: I heard a rumor that monthly (salaried) MUSC employees will soon be “punching” a time card to keep track of annual/sick leave times. This is to prevent abuse of leave. Is this true? Truth: The rumor is incorrect. Currently, exempt (salaried) employees must submit a leave request form (available http://www.musc.edu/hrm/forms/) sufficiently in advance, except in emergency situations, to obtain the necessary departmental approvals before the requested periods of leave are to begin (in accordance with Human Resources policies #18 and #19). Leave used is then recorded by departmental administrative personnel on the monthly leave summary. University Payroll Services is currently developing a web-based product that will streamline the administrative procedure of how leave for exempt employees is requested, approved, recorded and processed. The process will not require employees to “punch” a timecard. Abuse of leave by any employee (exempt and non-exempt) should be addressed in accordance with Human Resources Policy #45. Closing Charleston Memorial Parking Garage Rumor: I have heard that the CMH parking garage closed the first floor for a “special event”? Employees pay for these spaces. Truth: The garage serves both as an employee garage and a public access garage. A portion on the first floor was reserved on April 8 in support of an official MUSC event—Hospital Phase I ground breaking. Employees and others who have contracts in the garage were not denied access to the garage during the event. Public access to the garage was limited by the number of spaces set aside for this purpose. Use of MUSC parking resources for special events associated with the university calendar happen throughout the year. Commencement is another example. Handicapped Access in the New Ashley Avenue Parking Garage Rumor: I have heard the new Ashley Avenue parking garage will not be better equipped to deal with access for handicapped persons. Truth: The new Ashley-Rutledge parking garage is well equipped to meet handicap parking needs. Fifty-six of the 640 spaces are designated for handicap parking, and there will be 30+ spaces immediately adjacent to the garage for handicap parking and vehicles which exceed the 6’8" clearance in the garage. This number exceeds the 10 percent ADA requirement for parking facilities which serve hospitals and ambulatory care centers. The garage is served by two elevators, both of which are accessible. The hospitals are accessible through the climate-controlled crosswalk on the second floor which links the garage and Storm Eye Institute and by way of a raised mid-block crosswalk which will be installed on Ashley Avenue as part of the garage project. Rutledge Tower will be accessible from the garage by way of a covered walkway leading to the RT front door. Harborview Office Tower Garage Rumor: I heard the reason the HOT garage elevator is not being repaired is that the HOT garage is going to be shut down/remodeled into additional office space now that more parking is available on campus and in the lot adjoining HOT. Truth: The 1971 vintage Harborview Office Tower garage elevator is currently not operating. After many hours of troubleshooting and repair attempts, it has been determined that the elevator controls and wiring are beyond repair and need to be completely replaced. The upgrade is estimated to take four weeks to install once parts are received from the manufacturer. It normally takes six weeks to receive parts from the manufacturer once ordered. That would mean that the elevator would be operational again the last week in June or first week in July. We are attempting to accelerate that schedule. Hospital Options Pool Pay Rumor: I heard there might be a pay raise for HOP employees this summer. I know that HOP pay, although higher than permanent staff, has not increased during the last several years, even though other hospitals such as Roper has. This is long overdue. Truth: The MUSC Medical Center conducts market reviews on an ongoing basis to ensure that salaries are competitive. We are in the process of reviewing many compensation related issues, including the registered nurse temporary pay rates. Should you have additional questions, contact Susan Carullo, Medical Center Office of Human Resources, at 792-1684. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.   Friday, May 6, 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. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.