To Medical Center Employees:
Our Employee Partnership Survey is underway at this time. The survey kicked off April 12 and is scheduled to conclude April 23. The survey measures employee satisfaction and engagement or the level of meaning and purpose people find in their work and in the organization. Individual responses are confidential. The results will be used to measure our progress and to develop action plans for continued improvement.
 
Press Ganey, a national survey firm, is conducting the survey for us. They report that as of midnight, April 20, 51.4 percent of eligible employees or 3,425 individuals completed the survey. Everyone’s participation is strongly encouraged.
 
National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week are celebrated May 6 – 12 and May 9 – 15, respectively. Numerous activities have been scheduled to recognize accomplishments and to express appreciation for exceptional service. A summary of activities planned can be found on the medical center intranet at https://www.musc.edu/medcenter/.
 
The Joint Commission validation survey completed on March 15 went very well and the results were positive. We need to sustain progress made through education, rounding, audits and holding all members of the team accountable. This is not simply about the Joint Commission, but is about excellence in patient care, safety and service.
 
I want to express thanks to all for a job well done.

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

Employee of the Month—April

• Chris Kindt, R.N., a nurse practitioner at 3N IOP, was recognized for her dedication to patients and is considered as a role model among her staff. Recently, Kindt helped save the life of a former patient who was suicidal. Working with Eileen McLaughlin, unit social worker, Kindt talked with the patient and safely located and guided her to get the medical support needed. (by Linda Lewis)

• Margaret Wheat, an IS pharmacist in Pharmacy Services, was praised for her dedication during the Feb. 12-13 snowstorm that affected the Lowcountry area. The storm affected Pharmacy Services’ computer system in the university hospital. That evening, Wheat traveled from her home in Summerville to the medical center to help make the system operational again. (by Lynn Uber)
  

March for Babies
Maggie Thompson, manager of Patient and Family Centered Care, and Meredith Repik, March of Dimes Lowcountry Chapter executive director, spoke about current and fundraising activities in support of the 2010 March for Babies campaign (formerly WalkAmerica), the organization’s biggest fundraiser. The recent Purses for Preemies effort helped raise $2,300 towards the effort. MUSC’s overall goal for 2010 is $25,000.
 
Repik reminded employees that 1:6 babies are born premature in this country and more than 28,000 babies will not reach their first birthday. Since 2007, the March of Dimes has directed more than $800,000 to MUSC to help fund and support programs and research that support babies.
 
The march will take place April 24 at Cannon Park with registration at 8 a.m. and the walk to follow. Visit http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1328841

HR update
Helena Bastian, MUHA HR director, and Kim Duncan, HR info systems manager, reviewed the following information:

• SuccessFactors Update—March to April: 360 staff Peer Review training; April 15-May 21: staff 360 rollout; May 15-June 15: employee self review; June 16-August: supervisors to complete employee reviews and planning forms; Aug. 31: all employees must have reviewed signed planning stage acknowledgment forms and annual review forms in SuccessFactors
• Peer/Staff 360 training—HR will offer Peer Review Training throughout April via a training class or drop-in sessions: April 21 (class), 10-11 a.m., 2West Amphitheater; and April 29 (drop in), 3:30-4:30 p.m., 2West Amphitheater. Drop-in sessions—Assist supervisors in pushing out forms or help employees complete forms (not a training class): April 22 and 28, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Library, Room 436.
  

• Pre-employment/post offer requirements—Nepotism: A manger/supervisor may not supervise or participate in a “chain of command” where he/she would influence the employment, compensation, discipline, performance evaluation, advancement or job responsibilities of a family member or a member of the employee’s immediate family who is employed by MUHA or any of its affiliated entities. Refer to MUHA HR Policy #6 for additional information; drug screening—Once an applicant presents to Employee Health Services for pre/post-offer health screening, he/she cannot leave the building until the drug screening is complete; delays in time to clear Employee Health clearance for new employees may occur when applicants do not come with requested documentation. Applicants should be advised that their hiring may be delayed if documentation is not complete prior to orientation date; important practice— Hiring managers of internal candidates should contact current or former manager for reference(s). Contact Lynn Campbell, Campbell@musc.edu for information.

National Hospital Week (May 9-15)

• Monday (May 10)—Employee greetings by hospital administrators, directors and managers

• Monday to Thursday—Test your MUSC knowledge. Visit MUHA intranet for the Trivia Question of the Day, employees who answer correctly will be entered into a drawing to win a prize (Note: employees may only win once)

• May 11—Costco and Sams Club Visits, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ART lobby and University Hospital

• Wellness Wednesday (May 12)— massages, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ART, Room 5044 and Children’s Hospital Lobby and IOP Lobby

• Wednesday Evening—Ice Cream Social (for Night Staff-ART and University Hospital) served by  administrators, directors and managers, 10:30 p.m. to Midnight

• May 13 —annual bake off (ART and university hospital cafeterias), judging will occur at 2:30 p.m.

• May 14—photo contest, Children’s Hospital lobby. Registration is required, judging will occur at 2:30 p.m.
  

Employee Partnership Survey

• Current participation rate as of April 20 was 46.2 percent

• Survey ends April 23

• Employees are urged to complete the survey as it is their responses that shape the organization’s goals and action plans
  

Benefit of the Month—May
Employees can enjoy a one-week complimentary pass to the MUSC Wellness Center. (Offer expires May 31). The facility is open to all employees. Employees may tour the facility and register to win a 30-minute massage or a one-month membership. Call 792-5757 or visit http://www.musc.edu/hsc.

Service—Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence
Pam Smith, STICU nurse manager, announced the re-opening of the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ST-South) with an open house, 1-3 p.m., April 26, Room 478, university hospital. All employees are welcome to visit. Unit staff will be relocating patients on the morning of April 27 and closing 4W (old location) and transfer them to the new ST-South. Renovations of 4W will follow for Phase 2 renovations and will ultimately be renamed ST-West. 8Center STICU will remain open until Phase 2 construction is completed.

Announcements

• April 18-24 is National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.

• April is Occupational Therapy Month.

• The next meeting is May 4.

Friday, April 23, 2010