To Medical Center Employees: 11/7

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To Medical Center Employees

On Monday, Nov. 3, plans were announced to relocate the Charleston Memorial Hospital Emergency Department (CMH ED) and other CMH-based clinical functions. We had planned all along to relocate CMH ED sometime following the opening of Ashley River Tower (ART). Relocation of CMH ED to the University Hospital (UH) will ensure high quality services while reducing expenses. The relocation is planned to take place on or shortly after Nov. 17.

Relocation of the CMH Transitional Care Unit (TCU) to UH will occur shortly after the CMH ED relocation. TCU will move to 2 Center of UH around Dec. 1.

Kindred’s Long-Term Care facility will continue to be housed within CMH and we will continue to provide certain services to Kindred through contract agreements. It’s expected that Kindred may remain located at CMH for up to two years.

We will no longer house radiology and laboratory services within CMH. Kindred’s radiology needs will be managed from ART and their laboratory services needs will be provided through the UH-based operation.

Kindred has a more significant need for on-site pharmacy services. Therefore, CMH pharmacy staffing will be reduced slightly, but maintain a CMH presence.

Various other support services including security, dietetic and environmental services and plant operations are being scaled back and realigned within their respective home departments. Registration services will no longer be provided at CMH.

Additionally, some personnel reductions within various divisions are being implemented at the same time to reduce expenses.

A total of 116 MUHA employees are affected by this change. Some are being relocated with their respective service, while others are offered new assignments within MUHA (i.e. into authorized vacancies) and efforts are under way to assist others in locating other employment. MUHA HR, with the support of the administrative team, is working closely with all concerned employees.

I want to thank everyone for your support during these challenging times.

W. Stuart Smith
Vice President for Clinical Operations
and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center

Nov. 7, 2008

The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The 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.