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MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Weekend Option Only plan Rumor: Is the Weekend Option Only plan going to be discontinued? Truth: There are no plans to discontinue the plan. Medical records Rumor: I heard that once the system changes over to electronic medical records, assistants will no longer be needed. If this is so, will someone let the workers know? Truth: While we expect the job duties of the Medical Record staff to continue to change as we transition from paper to a computerized patient record, there will always be some information to scan and audit. Also, there still will be online abstraction of data, coding, record review and release of information. Some of these duties may require different job skills. At this point, any reduction in staff would be through attrition. New hospital Rumor: We heard that the move to the new hospital is sometime in early 2007 and that part of the staff will go there. How does the hospital plan to adequately staff both hospitals when we are having such a big problem with just one? Also, why the big up- roar with changing of key personnel (nurse manager, charge nurse) during this very critical time? Are the powers that be not concerned about the morale of the main operating room? Truth: We will be opening a new 156-bed hospital in the summer of 2007. Human Resources (HR) and MUHA clinical leaders are working with consultants to determine the process for staffing the hospital. HR has already begun the recruitment process, including recruitment for existing positions such as the Main OR manager and future positions. Our goal is to have staffing levels in the existing MUHA structure and the Courtenay facility to continue  to provide quality  patient care.  One of the goals of implementing MUSC Excellence is to provide a place where staff loves to come to work, a place where patients want to come for health care, and a place where physicians want to practice. Spanish competency exam Rumor: Is it true that bilingual employees are required to take a Spanish language competency exam before they are allowed to speak to their patients in Spanish? Why is MUSC charging to take the class that is offered in preparation for this exam? It would make more sense to offer this class free of charge, since the exam is  required for bilingual employees to serve their patients and the hospital. Truth: MUSC Policy A-30 states: “Only employees, medical staff (including PA’s NP’s and CRNA’s), house staff, students and volunteers who have successfully completed the competency screening for Spanish, or the approved Foreign Language Competency Letter of Disclosure for any language may communicate with Limited English Proficient patients in the patient’s native language.” Although the competency screening is a mandatory component of Policy A-30, the workshops offered by MUSC Interpreter Services are not mandatory. These workshops are designed to provide additional instruction, medical terminology and study strategies for those who plan to take the screening. In order to offer these optional workshops, Interpreter Services pays for the time (4.5 hours on Saturday) of the staff that teaches as well as the materials provided during the workshop. Many unit managers are willing to cover the cost so that their staff  is prepared to take the screening in compliance with the policy and some employees are willing to pay for this learning opportunity themselves. Parking Rumor: When I review my place on the wait list for a spot in the parking garage, I am disheartened to find that I am consistently further down the list than when I previously checked. Truth: Names are placed on the parking waiting lists in the date order in which they are received. There are two waiting lists for each location, one for faculty and one for classified employees. Assignments are made from the two waiting lists in rotating fashion in accordance with university policy. No positions at MUSC take precedence over others on either waiting list. Employees are entered on the list for which they qualify in the order that their requests are received. Occasionally, an addition to the list is made to correct an omission, which may have occurred. This may trigger an adjustment, but there should be no significant backward movement. Working weekends Rumor: I heard that a program similar to the nurses' WWO (compensation to working weekends) is going to be applied towards the patient care techs (PCTS) and CAS to help eliminate the shortage of help on weekends. Truth: At this time, there is no plan to offer the WOO (weekend option only) plan for clinical associates (CA) or patient care techs. However, a task force is examining the CA demand versus the supply and will be making recommendations. OCIO IT staff Rumor: I heard that all of the IT support staff under OCIO (Quovadx) employees will be made MUHA employees. If this is true, how will they be classified and at what band level? Truth: Effective Jan. 1, Quovadx contracted information technology employees will become MUHA employees. Job classifications and salary bands will be determined by MUHA Human Resources working with OCIO management. Back door Rumor: I heard that the back door of the Clinical Sciences Building is locked earlier than 7 p.m., which is around the time I and some others often leave work. Is there a reason for this? Truth: The CSB's exit is locked between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and all periods on weekends and holidays. Previous surveys indicated that staff from CSB generally leaves the building by 5:30 p.m. daily, and this exit experienced very little use after 5:30 p.m. Additionally, surveys reflected that most staff were leaving the facility from  the North Tower, because their routes of travel take them to the first floor via elevators D and E, which is close to the North Tower exit. Efforts are in place for continued evaluation to ensure a safe environment is maintained for care of patients, staff and visitors. Carta Rumor: I was informed that MUSC employees will have to go back paying to ride the Carta bus. Truth: MUSC employees will continue to have access to the basic CARTA system free of charge. However, when the Express Park and Ride Service starts, employees wishing to use that service will have to pay a discounted rate. Clocking in and out Rumor: Can all employees clock in and out on the first floor? I was told you had to clock in on your unit. Truth: Employees are assigned a “home clock,” which is located closest to their work site. Employees should clock in and out at the assigned clock. If you have a question regarding your assigned home clock, contact your timekeeper, manager or 792-1004. Pay increases Rumor: We have been told by someone in our office that our pay within the MUSC system can never increase more than 10 percent, even if we apply for another post in a higher pay ban, if we are vastly overqualified for our present position, or if moving up would better reflect our qualifications. Truth: MUSC (university) and state pay guidelines currently allow up to a 15 percent salary increase in conjunction with a promotion, reclassification and in-band increases, provided the employee's salary is at or above the minimum of the respective pay band and does not exceed the maximum of the respective pay band. Departmental budgets and equity considerations are factors utilized when determining a salary increase for any employee. Different pay policies apply to employees of MUHA or other affiliates. Cost of living increase Rumor: Will employees be getting a 4 percent cost of living increase? Truth: The South Carolina General Assembly authorized a 3 percent cost of living/general base pay adjustment this past July for university employees occupying state positions. MUHA's Human Resources compensation policy #15 can be located on the intranet. MUHA's does not provide cost-of-living increases, but its plan does include market equity adjustments when needed, and annual performance pay increases subject to financial conditions of the organization. OR attire Rumor: I heard that OR staff can walk freely outside wearing attire such as booties and designated scrubs without covering them, between cases. Truth: If the individual has completed work for the day and is not returning to the OR, the person may be in the scrubs and not have on a cover coat or gown. Staff should remove the shoe covers and masks when exiting the OR. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/. Friday, Nov. 3, 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.