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MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction Pediatric ED Rumor: I hear the Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) is closing and is moving into another location in a smaller space. Is this true? Truth: The planning team for a new Pediatric Emergency Services is considering an entirely new location for these pediatric services to be located near the Children’s Hospital. When the Pediatric ED moves, the Adult ED will expand into the vacated pediatric space area as part of the overall renovation. This work must be done in phases and may require some areas of the present Adult and Pediatric EDs to move temporarily during construction. The ED management is part of the planning team, and all phases will consider the space and support needs of both EDs. At present, those plans have not been finalized. Deplorable condition of cafeteria Rumor: I hear rumors that the condition of the cafeteria will be improved. Truth: Sodexho, the food service contractor, is currently in the process of drawing up several renovation options that will soon be presented to MUHA administration. Once both parties are in agreement on the best design and contractual arrangements, a renovation schedule will be determined. Education assistance Rumor: I hear that MUSC reimburses employees for seeking education such as four-year degrees whether or not they are for the purpose of increasing skills for work at MUSC, and that some employees use this to find jobs elsewhere. Can you clarify? Truth: As an educational institution, MUSC recognizes that education benefits both the individual and the organization as a whole. As a result, MUSC has adopted a tuition assistance policy. That policy affords employees the opportunity to enhance or further their educational pursuits. To participate in the program, an individual must seek approval from his or her department head. Each department has the discretion to approve requests or deny them, if the department head believes the course or degree program does not fit with the mission of the organization. Employees who participate in the tuition assistance program must agree to a service commitment requiring them to serve a specific amount of time based on the amount of assistance received. For further information, contact Susan Carullo in Human Resources at 792-2130. Employee handicap parking Rumor: I have a handicapped coworker who is forced to pay $55 a month for parking because she is physically unable to ride the shuttle bus from Hagood. We heard a rumor that MUSC might be adding a handicap accessible vehicle to the route for those who are on crutches or wheelchair bound. Can this rumor be confirmed? Truth: Seven of the 10 buses currently in service in the MUSC Shuttle System are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant now and the drivers are trained in the use of the lifts and equipment. Spaces near the bus stop in the Hagood lot are reserved for handicapped parking. If there isn’t enough handicapped parking in Hagood, the Office of Parking Management (OPM) will add more. There is no reason a handicapped parker should feel forced to pay parking fees. The individual can change his or her parking status to the Park & Ride system and identify him or herself as a special needs rider. At that time, the individual would be asked to share his or her work schedule with OPM staff. OPM will provide this information to University Transportation Services (UTS) to identify the individual and the likely times he or she will be arriving and departing from work. UTS staff will work with the employee on boarding and departing processes. If you have any questions on how to make these arrangements, contact Allison Reece, OPM, at 792-3665, or Betty Bryant, UTS, at 577-6683. Clogs Rumor: I hear there is a committee that is deciding on making nurses in patient care areas wear closed heel shoes only—making it against policy to wear clogs that are presently accepted in patient care areas. Truth: At this time, there are no plans to change the policy. Parking Rumor: I am a recent hire for the 2 to 11 p.m. shift. I am hearing conflicting information about where to park. Currently, I am parking at the dirt lot near The Citadel and taking the bus to the hospital and then walking to the dirt lot at The Citadel at night to get my car. Any better suggestions? I feel this is unsafe, and I would appreciate the facts. Truth: MUSC does not have an agreement with The Citadel for use of its lots and fields for parking, and these areas are not recommended parking options for MUSC employees or students. Guaranteed parking is currently available in the MUSC parking system. Contact the OPM to discuss options in obtaining a space through the parking system to include the potential of parking in the Hagood system. Smoking policy Rumor: I heard that Roper Hospital also has a “Smoke Free” campus; however, we see their employees taking their cigarette breaks across from Hollings Cancer Center on the side of Roper’s parking garage. Are they violating their own smoking policy, or ours? This area is heavily littered with cigarette butts and apparently not maintained by either facility. Truth: The area in back of Roper’s Parking Garage across from Hollings Cancer Center is not a part of the MUSC campus and not governed by the MUSC smoking policy. Ultimately, this is a Roper concern. Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.     Friday, Aug. 3, 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.