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MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction County Garage Rumor: I have heard that when the new hospital opens the county garage will be used for patient parking. Where will the employees currently parking in the garage park? Truth: Employees currently parking in the Courtenay Drive garage (former county garage) will continue to park there when the new hospital opens. Parking for patients of the new hospital will be provided in two locations. The 92-space parking area located under the new hospital will serve handicapped and disabled patients and visitors. Parking for other patients and visitors will be provided in the Courtenay Drive garage. Space to provide these parking services is being accumulated now and will continue to accumulate through attrition of MUSC employees and planned changes in non-MUSC tenant occupancy of the Courtenay Drive garage. Working During Hurricanes Rumor: I have heard several different things about the authority of the hospital to require workers during a hurricane. What are the facts? Truth: The Medical Center’s policies and procedures regarding weather emergencies focus on the safety and well being of our patients and employees. Each department identifies designated employees (primary response team and relief team) by job title and job responsibility who must report during hazardous weather or emergency conditions. Designated employees (primary response team) must report to work as scheduled and are expected to come prepared to stay (i.e., three to four days). Employees who are designated to relieve the primary response team are expected to return to work as directed. The primary response team will be called in advance of the storm and should not be put in harm’s way. In the event of a hurricane in which the governor mandates an evacuation of the facility, agreements are in place with other hospitals within the state to transfer patients and, as needed, appropriate staff members. For additional information, refer to the following Medical Center policies: Medical Center Administrative Policy 64, Weather Emergency Plan http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/policy/Med/A64.pdf; Medical Center Administrative Policy 42, Staffing During Emergencies and Disasters http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/policy/Med/A42.htm Medical Center Human Resources Policy 13, Hazardous Weather and Emergencies http://mcintranet.musc.edu/hr/documents/POLICY13-HAZARDOUS_WEATHER.pdf. Shift Differential Rumor: I heard that nurses make more on shift differential and weekend differential than respiratory therapists. If this is true, why the difference? RT’s are professionals just like nurses. Truth: The Authority’s Human Resources’ Compensation section reviews compensation practices on an ongoing basis and makes recommendations based on data received from purchased national published salary surveys such as Mercer, Hay, and the South Carolina Hospital Association. Premium pay such as shift differential pay practices are among the many compensation issues reviewed. Who Provides the Facts Rumor: A Rumor Mill clarification: From time to time the Rumor Mill is asked who answers these rumors. And, how are they processed? Truth: All rumors meeting the published ground rules are accepted for further consideration. Depending upon the nature of each inquiry, it is referred to the individual at the university or hospital who has responsibility for that area to provide the facts. Cannon Place First Floor Rumor: I have heard that the new childcare facility is to occupy the first floor of Cannon Place now that the President’s Office has new quarters in the old cannon foundry. Is this true? Truth: It is not true that the proposed childcare facility will be in the first floor of Cannon Place. MUSC has negotiated a separate lease for that purpose. The location will be announced upon the completion of licensing and the award of a vendor contract. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.     Friday, July 7, 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.