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Currents Oct. 2

To Medical Center Employees:
The next quarterly medical center town hall meetings are scheduled for Oct. 22 to Nov. 7.  Details on times and locations of the meetings are included in this newsletter.
 
The tentative agenda for the meetings include MUSC Excellence goals update; Employee Perspectives Survey results overview and department-based roll out plan; infection control update; inpatient rounding plan; Ashley River Tower events; new MUSC logo; and National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award. Attendance is strongly encouraged.
 
A summary of the July town hall meeting evaluations by attendees is posted on the MUSC Excellence Web site (http://mcintranet.musc.edu/muscexcellence/townhall/townhall.htm). The evaluations serve to measure the value of the presentations and measure our progress with various MUSC Excellence initiatives.
 
The meetings were attended by 1,041 employees and 95 percent agreed or strongly agreed the meeting was informative. Following are some examples of the town hall evaluation findings:
  • Communication Boards—employees reported that their department’s communication board is updated (84 percent), not knowing about the communication board (14 percent) and report that boards not updated (2 percent).
  • Rounding on Employees—employees reported that their manager or supervisor does regular rounding (56 percent), occasional rounding (24 percent), rounding is done rarely (10 percent), rounding is never done (4 percent) and are new employees (5 percent).
  • AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation and Thank You) —Survey results indicated employees who always use AIDET (59 percent), usually use AIDET (32 percent), sometimes use AIDET (5 percent) or occasionally/never use AIDET (1 percent) and not trained in AIDET (2 percent).
  • Employee Perspectives Survey—Meeting attendees reported strongly agree (30 percent) progress is being made on the employee perspectives survey action plan, tend to agree (55 percent) and the remaining tending to disagree or strongly disagree. (This question pertained to the Employee Perspectives Survey from last year).
The July town hall meeting evaluation results indicate we are moving in the right direction. We will continue to use the town hall evaluations to highlight our successes and to focus on areas that need improvement.
 
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  - 4:30 p.m., IOP Auditorium; Oct. 25, 2 - 3 p.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 26, 11 a.m. - noon, SEI Auditorium; Oct. 29, 11 a.m. - noon, SEI Auditorium; Oct. 30, 6:45  - 7:45 a.m., Room 100, BSB Auditorium; Oct. 30, 1 - 2 p.m., SEI Auditorium; Oct. 31, 7:30  - 8:30 a.m., IOP Auditorium; Nov.1, 2 - 3 p.m., 2 W Amphitheater; Nov. 2, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., 2WAmphitheater; Nov.  6, 3 - 4 p.m., 2 W Amphitheater; and Nov. 7, 10 - 11 a.m., 2W Amphitheater.

People: Fostering employee pride and loyalty

Flu vaccine
Linda Formby, R.N., manager for infection control, reported on progress made by the hospital’s Flu Vaccine Planning Group regarding the influenza vaccine distribution at MUSC. Formby noted that each flu season, hospital patients have a higher risk of acquiring the flu through their caregivers that may develop into complications and sometimes death.
 
A 2003 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report noted that only 40 percent of health care workers elect to receive the flu vaccine each year.
 
According to Formby, the flu vaccine is considered a patient safety issue; presented as an employee benefit; improves staffing and satisfaction; a Joint Commission Patient Safety Standard; recommended by a number of health care authorities and organizations (SHEA/CDC and APIC)
 
Last year, Infection Control conducted an MUSC Influenza Survey among clinical staff. More than 1,000 employees responded to the survey.
 
Among the top reasons why staff did not take the flu vaccine included:
  • No flu/no need (27 percent). Fact: The flu vaccine not only protects the health care worker and their families; it also protects the patients they care for or come in contact with.
  • Vaccine availability (22 percent). Fact: Organizers are working hard to make the vaccine available to as many employees as possible. In 2007, about 13,000 doses will be available for medical center and university employees.
  • Previous reaction (20 percent). Fact: The injectable flu vaccine is a killed virus and cannot be passed on as the flu. It may give people side effects, but is much milder than the actual flu. However, it may take a few weeks to develop immunity.
This year’s goal is to vaccinate as many employees as possible with the flu vaccine beginning Oct. 16. Managers may request to administer flu vaccine to their departments. For vaccine  schedule, visit http://mcintranet.musc.edu/ehs/flu_2007.htm.

HR update
Mark Stimpson, HR benefits manager, reminded managers and employees that October is Open Enrollment for employees to make changes to their employee benefits. Stimpson and his HR team will host expanded hours (7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, Room 109, CSB.) during this period to assist employees with information and filing.
 
Employees also may make benefit changes at any time on the Internet using the online system. Visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/news/MyBenefits.htm.
 
All changes must be completed by Oct. 31. The effective date for changes made will be Jan. 1. Stimpson reminded employees to verify any changes made by reviewing  their January pay stub.

October Benefit of Month
Karen Rankine, manager of HR development and training, announced October’s benefit of the month as the 2007 flu vaccine. Rankine reminded employees that MUSC Excellence and flu excellence are a mutual benefit as it relates to employees, their families and the patients in their care.

October Standard of the Month
The 10/5 Challenge continues to be the joint Standard of the Month as practiced with our MUSC Excellence colleagues in the College of Medicine/UMA. The challenge acknowledges an individual from 10 feet away by making eye contact and smiling and saying “hello” at five feet away. A poster is available for managers at http://mcintranet.musc.edu/muscexcellence/progress.htm.

Education roll-out update
Laurie Zone-Smith, Ph.D., R.N., manager for the Center of Professional Development and Clinical Education Resources and 8West interim manager, gave a report from the Sept. 30 meeting which reviewed the flu vaccination program, CVL bundle care, avoiding medication delays, blood culture education, sickle cell admission and pain orders (posted on the intranet Web site), Synera (a new pre-impregnated patch that can be applied to topical anesthetics for non-emergent patients). HR’s Karen Rankine also reviewed personnel/education file forms for staff  and Joint Commission readiness. Managers are reminded to check the Web site for an update on forms.

MUSC Angel Tree Program
Liz Nista and Marian Taylor, Transplant Center, presented details of the employee-inspired Angel Tree Program, working with The Salvation Army. Last year, organizers distributed more than 3,000 angels to departments and individuals throughout campus to help needy families, including employees, during the holidays. Already in its fourth year, Nista reminded employees that MUSC is the Lowcountry’s single largest contributor to this community holiday project.
 
Between Oct. 22 to Nov. 9, The Salvation Army in Charleston County will  accept applications for disadvantaged families and individuals for the holiday season. Nista distributed a flyer to managers to distribute in departments and areas. The flyer is downloadable from the intranet.
 
The program assists registered families with a meal, gifts and a stocking for children. For information, contact Nistal@musc.edu.

Service—Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence

eCareNet update
  • Clinical Documenta-tion Project: The system has been activated in the med-surgical units in the main hospital. Initial roll out of the Dinamaps w/tablets (2CCV, 9PCU and 10West) has also been completed. A problem with test icons is currently being resolved.
  • Admin-RX Project: Go-live date of Oct. 9 has been delayed. Currently in final testing of the application and C5 device, a mobile tablet that is mounted on med carts for nursing to use; also revising training schedule. Goal is to roll out this project in 2CCV, 9PCU and 10West by December.
  • Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Project: A decision to delay roll out of this project until after the Ashley River Tower (ART) opening. Additionally will be implementing SmartLink, which allows users to link Clinical Documentation and Order Entry systems, and CareBoard to help nursing track orders.
  • ED Tracking Board: Getting ready to start configuration for new board in Chest Pain Center/ART.
  • PICIS (Perioperative System): OR manager and Case Record is live in the main and ambulatory ORs. Will be evaluating system use in the DDC and other areas. Anesthesia manager and PACU manager systems soon.
  • OACIS: The system will not be retired and is being upgraded to a new version and hardware using the McKesson ClinDoc System.

Finance – Providing the highest value to patients while ensuring financial stability

Stephen Hargett, MUSC Medical Center controller, reviewed the Medical Center’s income statement ending in August.
 
Hargett reported an increase in total operating revenue of $15 million as it relates to last fiscal year. Helping to drive this gross revenue increase are: patient census (4.25 percent increase); inpatient surgeries (8 percent increase); outpatient surgeries (2 percent increase).
 
Medicare length of stay down from 5.44 to 5.26 from last year. Acuity of patients in as measured by case mix index is up from 1.57 to 1.59. 
 
Operating expenses, driven by volume and inflation, has increased by $18 million. Productivity management remains good as FTE per discharge and per patient day are below last year’s numbers.
 
Supply costs are an issue as they are up by 13 percent on a volume adjusted basis.
 
Operating income of $7.5 million results in an operating margin of 5.4 percent. Net income is $6.7 million.
 
The medical center reached $46.8 million in August translating to 22.3 days cash-on-hand. The average number of days to collect our accounts receivable is 57 compared to a budget of 55 and 58 days the previous year.

Announcements
  • Results from the Sept. 29 American Heart Association’s Heart Walk at the S.C. Aquarium netted more than $78,000 in donations for this year’s campaign.
  • Chris Murray, Business Development and Marketing Services, reminded managers of the upcoming ART dedication schedule. A street closure will occur between 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 12 at Courtenay Drive (between Calhoun and Bee streets). Parking for this event has been arranged at the Courtenay Drive garage.
  • The next Hospital Communications/Currents meeting is Oct. 16.


   

Friday, Oct. 5, 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.