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New emergency alert system launched  by Mary Helen Yarborough Public Relations MUSC has found a way to responded to  violent and disastrous events, like the tragedy at Virginia Tech, by evaluating existing communication methods and enhancing its current emergency notification systems.   MUSC’s University Risk Management Department, Business Development and Marketing Services (BDMS) department, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) collaborated to create a campuswide emergency notification system called MUSC Alert.   This system will enable faculty, students and staff across all functions of MUSC to receive immediate notifications of emergencies on a variety of telecommunication devices.   The new patent-pending system utilizes short messaging services (SMS) and will transmit notices to cell phones—both via text messaging and eventually voice mails—e-mails and PDAs (i.e. Blackberrys). It also will generate a pop-up alert on MUSC-networked computer workstations. Text messages of up to 160 characters will be sent to cell phones.   Architecture and design of the system was the result of collaboration between Sujit Kar, BDMS system administrator; Bill Rust, OCIO technical services manager; and Dave Bennett, director of MUSC Web Services for BDMS. The team developed the system by using existing infrastructure and software systems that also were developed by BDMS and OCIO staffs.   “The notifications will only be sent in the event of a dangerous, life-threatening situation that impacts or would impact the MUSC campus,” said Jennifer Taylor, business manager for University Risk Management. “We anticipate the ability to post text messages for delivery to approximately 10,000 phones in 1.6 minutes. The actual receiving time of messages will vary based on the end user’s service provider’s network.”   Students, faculty and staff may register as many cell phones and e-mail addresses as they desire (including those of parents, spouses, and other family members).   The emergency alerts will originate from the departments of Public Safety, Risk Management or a designated senior official.   The new alert system testing is in the final stages, and registration began Nov. 1. Risk Management will continue to evaluate new notification technologies and capabilities to provide comprehensive emergency alerts to faculty, students and staff, Taylor said.   To register or get  information about MUSC Alert, visit http://www.musc.edu/muscalert.     Friday, November 1, 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.