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MUSC's new hospital Offering MUSC Excellence in patient access by Heather Woolwine Public Relations As MUSC continues on the path to service excellence, the new hospital will play a role in offering that excellence via medical procedures, clinical research and patient care. An  important component to this is preserving patient confidentiality and  ensuring efficient access to services and records for all MUSC patients.   The following comments are from members of the new hospital action coordinating committee responsible for patient access and confidentiality. Their words convey the drive for service excellence at MUSC, as well as conviction that the new hospital facility will help MUSC continue to provide quality patient care. “With this new facility ... my hope is that we will offer an atmosphere of service excellence and detail to patient needs that will set us apart from other facilities in the area. All HIPAA policies and procedures in the new facility are the same as in the main hospital. We may have some different situations because of physical location, but the majority of things will be handled in the same proactive manner. I consider the new facility an extension of the services that we provide on Ashley Avenue, (and) excellence with HIPAA compliance needs to be a priority in both facilities. Clinically, I know the new hospital will be excellent, I just hope that everyone appreciates what has been going on administratively behind the scenes.” —Sharon Knowles, Medical Center HIPAA Compliance “We will transfer two staff members to cover the new facility. We expect it to be a  seamless process and will use the same type of equipment/procedures we use in the main hospital. Our office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be located on the first floor. However, utilization reviewers will be out on the units most of the day and available by pager. I think it is great that we will have a new, fresh look for the medical center and this should show to the public that even though MUSC is a historical institution, we are continually projecting our medical knowledge and capabilities into the future.”—Hannah B. Waites, Utilization Management “The new hospital is just one more way that MUSC is providing the best service to patients and is the best place to work. Patient Registration will be centralized at the Courtenay Facility, so this is different from the site specific registration we now have. This centralized point of registration will allow our team members to attend inservices and classes. Our patients will also benefit because the centralized registration area is highly visible and easily accessible. The employees moving to the new facility will have the same job function and the same expectations of excellent customer service. The new hospital will allow the services there and the ones remaining in the current facility to grow.” —Cindy Williams and Lisa Cooper, Patient Access Services “When the new hospital opens, Health Information Services (HIS) will operate from four sites including the new facility, Institute of Psychiatry, Charleston Memorial Hospital, and the main hospital. Paper records will be completely eliminated for clinics at the new facility and HIS will operate from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some weekend coverage will be provided. The new facility will also play a major role in aiding the main hospital with its goal to provide documents of quality within the electronic medical record. Patients will be able to pick up records from the new hospital within 24 hours after discharge in an inpatient setting, and daily within ambulatory settings. HIS will be able to provide access to scanned information within 24 to 48 hours of input. We’re continuing to focus on our goal of becoming the provider of choice, through excellent customer service and creating an electronic medical record that will enhance the physician experience as they continue to provide care for the patients of MUSC.” —Regina M. Dell, Health Information Services     Friday, Oct. 27, 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.