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Currents Oct. 16 To Medical Center Employees: Medical center town hall meetings are scheduled for Oct. 22 to Nov. 7.      Details on the times and locations are included in this newsletter. At the Oct. 16 management meeting we presented a “dry run” of the upcoming town hall topics. Comments were solicited to improve the delivery of the town hall presentation.   The town hall topics include: overview of the Employee Perspectives Survey results; High/Middle/Low (HML) meetings that should be 90 percent positive and focus on standards of behavior and performance; preliminary results from the ClinDoc system vital signs documentation initiative; infection control goals; Consumer Choice Award for overall quality and image; the new MUSC logo; events being planned around the opening of Ashley River Tower; update on the Medical Center goals and other topics.    In regard to the Employee Perspectives Survey, we are very pleased that the scores improved for all 67 questions repeated from last year’s survey. The survey results provide extensive information that will enable us to focus on organizationwide and department-based strengths and weaknesses.  Among other things, the survey provides us with our top ten strengths and top ten opportunities for improvement. We will discuss this at the town hall meetings, and in the weeks ahead managers will roll out department-based results and involve everyone in development of action plans for continued improvements. Thank you very much. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Town hall meetings: Oct. 22, 3:30 p.m., IOP; Oct. 25, 2 p.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 26, 11 a.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 29, 11 a.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 30, 6:45 a.m., Room 100, BSB Auditorium; Oct. 30, 1 p.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 31, 7:30 a.m., IOP; Nov.1, 2 p.m., 2W Amphitheater; Nov. 2, 7:30 a.m., 2WAmphitheater; Nov. 6, 3 p.m., 2 W Amphitheater; and Nov. 7, 10 a.m., 2W Amphitheater. People: Fostering employee pride and loyalty HR update Open enrollment for employees to make changes to their benefits continues until Oct. 31. HR will host benefit informa-tion sessions at 2West Amphitheater: 1:15 p.m., Oct. 18; 11:15 and 12:15 p.m., Oct. 23; and 1:15 and 7 p.m., Oct. 25.   Additionally, HR has kept expanded hours (7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, Room 109, Clinical Sciences Building) to accommodate employees.   Employees also can file benefit  changes online at http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/news/MyBenefits.htm.   Education Roll-out update Laurie Zone-Smith, Ph.D., R.N., manager for the Center of Professional Development and Clinical Educational Resources and 8West interim manager, reviewed items from the Oct. 4 meeting which included the conversion of old tympanic thermometers with Genius- 2 tympanic thermometers; revisions to the Peds 24-hour Nurses Notes and revised pain scales; MAR changes in preparation for Admin Rx; Blood Transfusion Audit and Policy C-149  and the imple-mentation of Medical Emergency Teams.   Additional information can be found at http://mcintranet.musc.edu/clined/Ed%20Roll-Out/minutes.htm. MNA ID is required. Town hall highlights The quarterly town hall meetings will take place from Oct. 22 to Nov. 7.     The event’s agenda will focus on an MUSC Excellence goals update; Employee Perspectives Survey results; infection control update; inpatient rounding plan; Ashley River Tower events; new MUSC logo; and the National Research Corporation’s 2007 Consumer Choice #1 Award.   Remarkably, MUSC has received this award continuously for the past decade. This annual award recognizes MUSC as Charleston’s most preferred hospital as voted by Tri-county health care consumers. MUSC won in best overall quality and image among hospitals in the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester area. MUSC led other hospitals in awareness, brand loyalty, familiarity and other areas. MUSC ranked highest in the survey’s quality/image profile categories for best doctors, best nurses, most personalized care, latest technology/equipment, imaging services, cancer treatment, mental health programs, best community health programs, Web services, pediatric and women’s GYN services, transplants, etc. Announcements Pam Marek, Decision Support Services, reminded managers to submit their Action O-I data for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 (July to September). She reminded managers that financial goals for the institution has changed from 45 to 40. The deadline for all data is Nov. 30, however due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays, managers are strongly encouraged to submit their data by Nov. 10. Cardiovascular, IT and pharmacy areas have undergone major changes with information and may require additional training and support. Training will occur from 8 until 11 a.m., Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Room 271, main hospital. For information, call 792-8793. Helena Walo, R.N., has been permanently named as 8 East nurse manager. Walo has more than 13 years experience in nursing with eight years at MUSC. Kathy Burt, R.N. was named 8West nurse manager. Burt, who worked has a hospital services coordinator, has more than 34 years of nursing experience. HCC Volunteer Services has been realigned under HCC. The program is now part of the Division of Oncology and Med/Surg Services. Rhonda Breeland, R.N., and Bonita Gotbaum, R.N., were recognized for helping to coordinate the structure. Denise Wiese was named coordinator of the program.     Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 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.