Employees of the Month

Clara Wilson, Sleep Lab
“Clara demonstrated MUSC Excellence and really came through for a Neurology patient who was here for a study. After the procedure, the patient realized she had missed her ride back to her hometown, which was almost  two hours away. A social worker told the patient there was nothing they could do, except give her a bus ticket home. Clara first called Medicaid who was unable to help. After an hour or more of exhausted attempts at getting a ride, Clara went so far as to contact her own aunt to arrange for the patient to go to a friend’s house in North Charleston. She walked the patient out to the taxi and made sure the patient was taken care of. She really stepped up for the patient and set a great example for both the EEG and Sleep Lab.”
—Nominated by Barrie Tyler

Anna Bruce, 6East
“Anna organized a birthday celebration for a patient that included getting a number of staff together on a busy day to sing happy birthday as she presented a cake, a card and an encouraging plaque. I can’t explain how much this gesture meant to the patient. What I can say is that it made her day, if not her week, month and year. We will never know what a difference Anna made in this patient’s life, but her actions were truly inspirational and represent everything nursing should be about.”
—Nominated by Tony

Mark Lawless, ART—Phlebotomy
“Mark had just gotten off work on Friday night after a 40-hour workweek, when an older couple stopped him on the street near the bus stop and said they were looking for their son who had been admitted for a probable heart attack. Mark ended up riding in their car to help them find Ashley River Tower. He then accompanied them into the building to help find their son. The couple was very grateful.”
—Nominated by Stephanie Hunter 

September Benefit of the Month
Dental Plus Insurance
Open Enrollment will occur in October during which time employees will have an opportunity to change dental plans. The plan you select will remain in place for 2010 and 2011.
 
So, what are the differences between Basic Dental and Dental Plus?
--Basic Dental: available to all benefits eligible employees at no cost; and maximum reimbursement in a calendar year is $1,000.

--Dental Plus: employees pay all the premiums in exchange for a higher level of coverage; maximum reimbursement in a calendar year is $2,000; out-of-pocket expenses are much less for all procedures, except braces, where both plans provide the same coverage; and offers a higher dollar amount allowance for charges than Basic Dental.
 
For example, both plans pay 100 percent of the charges for biannual cleanings. However, the state allows approximately $50 for the Basic Plan but around $90 for Dental Plus.

Get Well Network
The following comments were sent directly from patients or family members in the hospital through the Get Well Network, the interactive in-room television system located in most inpatient rooms.

“The entire staff at MUSC is the best. They made us feel at home and comfortable during a very difficult time—especially Dr. Wharton and his staff. I appreciate all that the hospital has done in continuing to give patients the hospitality you do. I recommend this facility to anyone. May God bless each and every one of you.”
—Patient in Unit A3WX

“The nursing care was outstanding! On 4 East, the staff and all service providers demonstrated compassion, patience and patent care of the highest quality. All around us were smiling faces! I wish to especially commend our nurses: Sarah Watson, Suzanne Price and Nadirah Peterson. D. Denlinger is brilliant, caring and an asset to the medical profession. There was not a single moment during my husband’s stay at MUSC that was not pleasant. Thank you all for the high quality of patient health care.”
—Patient in Unit in A4EX

“We (my husband, who is the patient, and I) could not be more pleased at the quality of care here. It goes without saying that the facility itself is excellent, but much more important is the level of competence, attention and concern shown by doctors, nurses, aides, and even service people. As I have told a number of staff already, we are keenly aware of attitudes toward the psychological well-being of patients and caregivers, particularly since we have heard horror stories about how patients in similar situations have been treated elsewhere. We had to decide whether to come here or to go to Duke for similar treatment, and we were weighing both possibilities. One of the deciding factors was our interviews with the stem-cell transplant team.”
—Patient in Unit A5WA

September Standard of the Month: Be responsible by not wasting time or resources
Save energy by turning off the lights when you leave the room                   
Use water wisely       
No unauthorized usage of the Internet

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009