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Currents May 15 To Medical Center Employees: During the period of April 23 through May 2, 13 Medical Center town hall meetings were conducted. The topics included an update on MUSC Excellence goals and a discussion of the administrative team’s Employee Perspective Survey Action Plan. A summary of the town hall presentations was included in the May 4 issue of The Catalyst.   A total of 1,029 employees attended the  presentations. During the previous town hall meetings held in January (14 sessions) a total of 1,154 employees attended. Our goal is to improve attendance in the future.   A summary report of the town hall evaluation forms will be issued in the future and will be on the MUSC Excellence Web site (http://mcintranet.musc.edu/muscexcellence/index.htm). The evaluations serve to measure not only the value of the presentations, but also to measure  progress with various MUSC Excellence initiatives such as employees' familiarity with department-based communication boards, awareness of department-based employee perspectives survey action plans, use of AIDET, and other topics.   On another matter, in an effort to reduce the likelihood of identity theft, effective May 29 the Medical Center will begin limiting the use of Social Security numbers as a means of tracking and identifying employees. The use of this number will be phased out throughout the organization beginning with the HR and payroll systems, with other systems to follow once appropriate preparations are completed. I want to thank Stewart Mixon, University chief operations officer and ID committee chair, and others on the ID committee for making this change happen.    To accommodate this change, all employees were assigned a randomly generated Employee ID number through the MUSC Identify Manager system. This will be available to you through “My Records,” a password-protected site, beginning May 29.  Your Employee ID number will stay with you throughout your MUSC career even if you transfer to the University or UMA.   This number will be used for identification and reporting purposes but not to authenticate that a person is who they are representing themselves to be; a separate process is being developed for this purpose. Knowledge of this number by itself will not permit another employee to access your personal information.   Although there will be occasions when you will be asked for your Social Security number, such as for tax reporting, this is a significant  improvement that  will provide additional security for personal information maintained by MUSC. Anyone with questions about the new ID system can contact Mark Stimpson (stimpso@musc.edu) of the Medical Center HR office at 792-9320, Mitchelle Morrison (morrisom@musc.edu) of the OCIO at 792-1949 or Stewart Mixon (mixonsa@musc.edu) at 792-0888.   Finally, MUSC commencement will take place Friday, May 18. Congratulations to all of the graduates, some of whom will soon be new Medical Center employees.   Thank you very much. W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Quality—Providing quality patient care in a safe environment   For the seventh consecutive year, the Medical Center received the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Commendation of Excellence Award for Safety of its Employees. The award is based on MUSC’s achievement of 2006 compensational rate of workday cases rating below 1. MUHA received a .35 score.   Additionally, MUSC was the only hospital in the state presented with the S.C. Occupational Safety Council’s Recognition for Efforts of Accident Prevention. Several hospital committees were recognized for leading this effort including: the Environment of Care, Injuries Task Force, Blood Bourne Pathogen, and Product Evaluation Committees. Service—Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence YES Campaign update The YES Campaign has begun. Development’s Becky Dornisch and Emily Ferraro reviewed details about this year’s theme, “Why Employees Give,” featuring MUSC employee testimonials supporting this effort. The goal is $320,000 and led by campaign chair Joe DiPiro, PharmD, (S.C. College of Pharmacy) and leadership chair Bernie Maria, Ph.D., (Charles P. Darby Children’s Research Institute). All monies raised go towards the MUSC Foundation’s more than 700 funds which an employee can designate his/her gift. Donations are tax deductible. New this year is online giving. Visit http://www.musc.edu/giving. New media protocol Public Relations’ Tim Gehret reviewed details of new media protocol and recommendations affecting the Medical Center and University. The Office of Public Relations should always be contacted as it relates to a media inquiry or request with the hospital. All media (print, radio or broadcast) must check in with Hospital Security desk of the main hospital or Public Relations office (135 Cannon Street, Suite 403). Each media member will receive a media badge to display. Media representatives will be escorted at all times by a PR representative or an approved business manager, area coordinator/administrator throughout their entire visit. Hospital staff are reminded that it is the goal of the Office of Public Relations to provide a clear and consistent positive message with all MUSC publics while protecting the privacy and interests of our patients, employees and institution. For information, call 792-2626, 792-5021 or 792-3621. Education roll-out Results from the committee’s May 3 meeting: Employees can now access the committee’s Web page via the MUHA intranet using the Training and Staff Education Toolbox/Roll-out Committee; Managers are asked to review a Cost Centers with No Completed Review list relating to the validation database established for the committee. E-mail fischerm@musc.edu; Stroke Program Survey—Hospital employees are reminded that the Joint Commission will be visiting in June to evaluate the MUSC Stroke Program and Brain Attack Team as part of the track to accreditation. The team will visit the main hospital and outpatient areas. Call Chris Zensen, program coordinator, at 792-1458; Form Fast-Wristbands and Labels—Project roll-out kits are now available. The effort replaces the blue addressograph plate units with the new system. Staff should review the education plan in their areas. Visit http://www.musc.edu/clined/Ed%20Roll-Out/minutes.htm. People—Fostering employee pride and loyalty Wellness Center open house Bobby Shaw, Wellness Center director, announced the facility’s Open House from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., May 22. The event will feature fitness assessments, demon-strations and nutritional seminars. Visitors can register to win gift certificates and give-aways courtesy of Hay Tires, Kennedy’s Bakery, the Mustard Seed and other area businesses. Also, throughout May 21-27, MUSC and VA employees can enjoy a free workout just by showing their badge. Call 792-5757 or visit http://www.musc.edu/hsc. HR update MUSC Excellence new employee training program will begin May 21. Employees hired after March 1 are required to attend training sessions sometime between 30 and 90 days of start date. Training includes MUSC Excellence Overview; Understanding Expectations of Rounding; Standards of Excellence; AIDET/Key Words at Key Times and Service Recovery. Employees can register online via CATTS. Call 792-1136. Employees hired prior to March 1 are invited to attend AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation and Thank You) make up training. Register online via CATTS. MUHA Applause update The MUSC Excellence’s Awards and Recognition Team has been revamped. Team leader Katy Kuder explained the differences and criteria for each award: STAR cards and “I Got Caught” stickers recognizes individuals for good work and on-the-spot performances. STAR cards, like thank you notes, recognize individuals who demonstrate great support, attitude and effort in their work. Applause awards are presented when an employee is recognized for performing a exceptional service that enhances the ability to provide quality customer service and patient care (MUSC Excellence’s standards of behavior).   A quarterly “Welcome to MUSC” reception is planned for employees who have completed their first 90 days of employment. Announcements Ralph Greene, is the new director of Treasury and Tax Management Services. Faye Brownlee will serve as interim director of Hospital Fiscal Services. Mansle Raines, Department of Radiology, reported some changes affecting MRI services.   The Clinical Documentation project was launched May 15 in 9PCU. The pilot will be monitored until late May.     Friday, May 18, 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.