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MUSC Rumor Mill separates fact from fiction
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Starbucks discount at ART
I just bought a coffee at Starbucks in University Hospital and the
woman next to me said I should have walked to ART because the Starbucks
there has an employee discount. Why no discount at University Hospital?
Answer: In
an effort to increase sales and keep the ART Starbucks open, a 15
percent discount is offered to anyone with a hospital ID badge (MUSC,
Roper or Veteran's Administration employee).
Gift shop
How can I find out who owns the gift shop so I can contact them with a problem?
Answer: The gift shop is contracted through Sodexo. Contact Brad Masteller at 792-3559.
Parking sticker application
Not much of a rumor, but a question. Why does it matter how the parking
sticker for a garage is attached to your windshield? I realize the
rules read “permanently attached,” but it’s not like I plan on taking
it out even if it is just attached with scotch tape. I pay for my
parking spot, I park in my assigned garage, and I have a valid sticker.
Why do I get a $10 ticket (and the hassle of getting it resolved)?
Answer:
The requirement that a parking decal be permanently affixed to the
vehicle to which it is issued is twofold. It controls the use of the
employee parking system by preventing decals from being shared, given,
loaned or sold to another. It insures that the decal is readily and
easily visible to enforcement staff. In the eventuality you fail to
display your decal, say the scotch tape lets go for instance, you avoid
the hassle of responding to a ticket.
H1N1, pregnant health care employees
What is the Center for Disease Control approved policy of MUSC when it
comes to providing health care by pregnant health care employees to
patients who are suspected to be H1N1 positive? I would appreciate a
clear answer rather than just a web link.
Answer:
All pregnant women should receive the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal
influenza vaccine. If you have not been vaccinated yet, personal
protection with good handwashing, appropriate masks, and isolation of
patients should occur. Review the medical center influenza plans on the
medical center intranet. If any employee has concerns, speak with your
immediate supervisor, human resources, or the Infection Control &
Prevention department.
Overtime
I have a friend that works in ART. She is on call one or two weekends
out of the month. She told me that they get over time due to being on
call. I thought all over time was suspended, and no one was allowed to
get overtime. Is this going to hurt our pay raise in October?
Answer:
As discussed in the town hall meetings, eligible medical center staff
will receive the pay-for-performance increase effective Oct. 11. The
increase will be reflected in the Nov. 4 paycheck. In regards to
on-call hours being paid as hours worked for overtime purpose, the
medical center complies with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Not all
on-call hours are considered as hours worked. While senior leadership
has encouraged the discontinuance of overtime, it is permitted if
needed for staff coverage due to patient care needs.
Emergency Department (ED) entrance
I think the institution is doing a wonderful job during these economic
times with renovations. The hospital is looking good. I heard a rumor
that the adult emergency receiving area is being redesigned, including
the removal of the smoking area in front of the hospital to create
additional space for EMS vehicles. Is this part of the master plan?
Answer:
The Adult ED renovation is a phased project that has begun. When the
Pediatric ED was completed, the Adult ED space increased. The remaining
phase doesn’t envision moving the smoking shelter.
Valets at Hollings Cancer Center (HCC)
I walk down Jonathan Lucas Street several times a week and see the
valets at HCC making U-turns on Jonathan Lucas dangerously close to the
Roper parking entrance. On occasion the valets have almost run head-on
into cars exiting Roper Parking.
Answer: Making
a U-turn in that area of Jonathan Lucas is not illegal. There have been
no accidents as a result of U-turns. The valet vendor has been
consulted and valet drivers have been instructed to drive carefully and
to use roadways appropriately to deliver patient vehicles to the
storage lot.
ART cafeteria schedule
I tried to find a schedule for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the ART
cafeteria. Could we make the time schedule more obvious?
Answer: The hours of operation are posted at the entrance to the cafeteria.
Trashed trees?
As construction has started on the new building in what was G lot, I
noticed a pile of palmetto trees that had been uprooted in the process.
Were these trees trashed or were they saved for replantation?
Answer:
The City of Charleston relocated 22 palmetto trees and 12 were taken by
others. Some of the trees were not claimed and were disposed of. There
was considerable opportunity, prior to G-Lot demolition, for folks to
claim and relocate trees and/or plants that they were interested in.
The general contractor made arrangements with Legare Farms to assist in
relocating trees for those folks that needed assistance. The charge for
assistance was around $400 per tree, and no one chose to take advantage
of that opportunity.
Construction
What will happen to the Wachovia building now that University Press has moved?
Answer: The
plan is to take the building down when funds are available. Given its
age and condition, MUSC was advised that it would not be wise to
attempt to renovate.
Popcorn
I was told we aren’t allowed to pop popcorn in the hospital because of
all the accidental overpopping and therefore setting off fire alarms.
Is this true?
Answer: This is not true. Staff are encouraged to practice safety precautions when using microwave ovens for popping popcorn.
Bonuses
Is it true that physicians earned bonuses for this last year based on
productivity? This extra money was not passed on or shared with nurses,
mid-level providers, assistants, etc. All the people that help ensure
productivity are not rewarded. Also, I heard that for new physicians
future bonuses are included in their hiring. Is this true?
Answer:
Physician salaries are set based upon national benchmarks and personal
productivity in areas of research grants, educational grants and
clinical collections. Physician clinical salaries are tied to
professional billing collections, not hospital collections. The vast
majority of physicians in the College of Medicine/University Medical
Associates total salary is a combination of a base salary and an “at
risk” salary, which can only be achieved if they meet productivity
targets. Those that do not meet expected productivity targets will be
paid much less than their total original salary.
Reproduced from http://www.carc.musc.edu/rumormill
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
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