To Medical Center Employees:
At the Oct. 5 management communications meeting Liz Nista, research and statistical analyst, Transplant Center, shared a heartwarming story about how the MUSC Angel Tree program has flourished over the years and served many in need. In 2003 Ms. Nista and the Transplant Center founded and kicked off the Angel Tree program which, at that time, provided much needed assistance to an MUSC employee during the holiday season.

In 2004 the MUSC Angel tree program partnered with the Salvation Army to expand their support to anyone in the community in need, including MUSC employees. The program grew so much that 41 MUSC Angel Tree board members, representing all areas of MUSC, volunteered to help with all the work required to solicit support and gifts for those in need.   
Congratulations to Ms. Nista, the Transplant Center and the Angel Tree Board members for their exceptional accomplishments and compassionate work to help those in need. Individuals in need can find out more information by clicking on the link below in this newsletter.
  
On another matter, Joan Herbert, director of organizational performance, announced that work is underway for the next series of town hall meetings expected take place the first half of November. Our hope is to improve town hall meeting attendance.
  
At the upcoming town hall meetings we will give an update on progress on the medical center’s pillar-based goals, discuss the Employee Partnership organizationwide action plan, focus on the “what and why” concerning our cost savings initiatives and recognize exceptional employees for outstanding work. The town hall meeting schedule will be widely disseminated within the next few days.
  
Thank you very much.

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

Wins
Elaine Smith, R.N., Eric Larson, M.D., and the adult emergency services staff were commended by Barbara Franklin and husband, Paul, who suffered from heat exhaustion after running the Ravenel Bridge.

MUSC Angel Tree
Liz Nista, Transplant Center, was joined by a dozen MUSC Angel Tree board members to introduce details about this year’s annual campaign. The program was established in 2003. Last year, employees from across MUSC’s campus and off-campus facilities supported more than 1,400 angels throughout the holiday season. With guidance from the Angel Tree board, this year’s effort is expected to be even greater. The team distributed Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance eligibility flyers on behalf of the Salvation Army and Lowcountry Angels. Sign up period is from Oct. 18-29. This year’s holiday collection is scheduled at noon, Dec. 10 at the MUSC Horseshoe. Visit http://www.lowcountryangels.com.

Trident United Way
Whitney McLuen, Office of Development, and Carter Hiestand, Trident United Way (TUW), addressed managers about this fall’s campaign, which began with the Sept.14 Day of Caring and will run throughout December. This year’s goal was set at $210,000. Pledge forms are available online or through the Office of Development. Gifts can be made via credit card, cash, check or payroll deduction. MUSC is one of the top five Lowcountry contributors to TUW, which helps their mission of strengthening communities by supporting programs focused around necessities such as income, education and health. For information, visit https://donor.united–e–way.org/?campaign=2009MUSC.

HR update
Helena Bastian, MUHA HR director, presented the following topics:

• Compensation update—Performance pay increases are effective Oct. 10; increases will be automatically adjusted and reflected in the Nov. 3 paycheck; and other status changes will not be processed with same effective date. For information, contact Lynn Campbell, Campbell@musc.edu.

• CATTS—2010 Mandatory CATTS lessons are due Dec. 1 q  PTO cut-off reminder—Up to 360 accrued PTO hours may carry over to 2011; Jan. 1 is the cut-off date q  2010 Annual Enrollment (Insurance Benefits)—Enrollment period runs throughout October; changes made in October are effective Jan. 1; changes may be made online or on paper. For information, contact Mark Simpson, stimpso@musc.edu.
  

• October HR Training Topics—new leader orientation, leader evaluation manager, CATTS admin access, disciplinary process, plan for your future and basic finance and financial planning, HR 101 tools and systems, personnel file review, people admin applicant tracking and LDI tracking database. Registration available via CATTS.

• 2010 Race for the Cure—The MUSC family is invited to support the 17th annual Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, Oct. 16 in Daniel Island. Employees are encouraged to register for the race or consider making a donation. Visit http://www.komenlowcountrry.org/race. The event is sponsored by Hollings Cancer Center.

Benefit of the Month—October
MUSC’s Vision Plan is offered through EyeMed Vision; employees may add or drop coverage every October; reasonable premiums; wide selection of care providers; in-network eye exam costs $10; Pair of glasses costs $10 (if one stays under budgeted amounts); $140 allowance for frames and $130 allowance for lenses (if one uses an in-network provider)

Additional Benefit (October)—Breast Cancer Awareness
Mammogram screenings—Any employee who schedules a mammogram at any of MUSC’s screening locations throughout October will be entered into a weekly drawing for a bag of goodies. Winners will be announced on Fridays beginning Oct. 8. An employees and co-worker also can register for a “buddy” appointment for mammograms at all locations. Call 792-8439 and indicate “buddy” appointment. Visit http://www.muschealth.com/cancer/breastcancer/mammogram.htm.

Shop for a Cause (supporting breast cancer research at HCC)—Through Oct. 25, employees can purchase a Pink Card for $1 (goes to HCC) and receive a 25 percent off an item at the Tanger Outlet in North Charleston. Participating stores include BCBG Final Cut, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Kenneth Cole and others. Contact Jenny Gilson at Gilson@musc.edu.
 
Town hall meetings
Joan Herbert, Organizational Performance director, reviewed the purposes of MUSC Excellence—to provide a great place for patients to receive excellent health care; to create a great place for employees to work and to establish a great place for physicians and other clinicians to practice and teach. Our quality, service, financial and growth pillars results continue to show marked improvements. While we also have achieved improvements in the People pillar, it is the area that shows the slowest progress.

One important component of creating a great place for staff to work is communications. Herbert focused on the value of the MUHA town hall meetings that were created as an important communications avenue to make sure that employees are informed about accomplishments and challenges in the medical center as well as how they may be affected and how critical they are in achieving success.
  
Herbert reviewed fluctuating attendance from 22 to 16 percent of employees at the town hall events from January 2007 to today. The goal is to have closer to 75 percent of employees participating in a session. As a step in that direction a more modest attendance goal of 25 percent has been set. She outlined a plan to improve employee attendance by raising awareness through publicity featuring screen saver reminders, cafeteria table tent cards and information presented at busy employee entrances and asking all leaders to support employees getting away from their work area to attend one of 11 sessions that will be available at varying days and locations during November.

Finance—Providing the highest value to patients while ensuring financial stability
Steve Hargett, medical center controller, presented financial results for Fiscal Year 2011 and gave an update on the audit for fiscal year 2010. The medical center is $2 million ahead of budget after the first two months of FY 2011 and cash flow is at projections. For FY 2010, net income before adjustments related to derivative accounting and medical resident FICA withholding appeals is $34 million, which is $5 million above budget.

Announcements

• Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D., Employee Wellness coordinator, shared details about October wellness activities. A list is available on the MUHA intranet.

• The next meeting will occur Oct. 19.

Friday, Oct. 8, 2010