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MUSC Medical Links Charleston Links Archives Catalyst Advertisers Seminars and Events Research Studies Public Relations Research Grants MUSC home page Community Happenings Campus News Applause

 


Currents  May 4


To Medical Center Employees:
The Medical Center Employee Partnership Survey was conducted April 12 through April 23. The survey firm, Press Ganey, has given us the preliminary results and I am pleased to report that we reached our overall organizationwide goal. Our goal was a mean score of 72.5 and we achieved 72.6.
 
Of significance, 4,640 Medical Center employees (including some contracted services) or 71.9 percent of the work force participated in the survey. I want to thank everyone who took time to complete the survey.
 
Press Ganey will be providing us with additional survey data during the next few weeks. We will present a summary of the organizationwide findings during the June town hall meetings listed below. 
 
Managers will be asked to roll out department-based survey results in the months ahead and to involve everyone in developing new action plans for continued improvement.
 
On another matter, 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/.
 
Finally, as indicated in this newsletter, eligible medical center (MUHA) employees will have the opportunity to cash-in up to 40 hours of PTO this July (The option for a December 2010 PTO cash-in will be determined at a later date). Also, medical center employees will be able to transfer the cash value of PTO to the MUSC YES campaign this year. Additional details are included in this newsletter and will soon be posted on the medical center intranet.


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


Town hall meetings
June 17, 2 p.m., ART Auditorium; June 18, 11 a.m., IOP Auditorium; June 21, 11 a.m., ART Auditorium; June 22, 2 p.m., Gazes Auditorium; June 23, 7:30 a.m., SEI Auditorium; June 24, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., 2 West Amphitheater; June 25, 10 a.m., SEI Auditorium  and 2 p.m., 2 West Amphitheater; June 28, 11 a.m., Room 120 Hollings Cancer Center; June 29, 11 a.m. 2 West Amphitheater
 
Additional department-based sessions are scheduled but not listed above.


Finance—Providing the highest value to patients while ensuring financial stability
Steve Hargett, controller, reviewed details for the nine month period ending March 31 fiscal year (FY) 2010 and FY 2009.
 
He reported that bottom line is approximately $29 million, with $3 million ahead of the budget for entire fiscal year. Hargett encouraged managers to continue processing invoices before FY’s end. For March, MUHA had $40.6 million cash with 16.4 days cash on hand. April’s cash was predicted at $48 million. Hargett could not predict if the organization could meet the $52 million and 21 days cash on hand FY goals due to June having three pay periods, but it will be close.
 
Auditors will be arriving May 10 to conduct two weeks of interim work in advance of their August audit.

People—Fostering employee pride and loyalty
Helena Bastian, MUHA HR director, reviewed the following information:

National Hospital Week Activities (May 9-15)
Monday (May 10) – Bagels and fruit (morning and afternoon)—Served by hospital administrators, directors and managers
 
Monday to Thursday – MUSC Trivia; Test your MUSC knowledge. Visit the MUHA intranet for the Trivia Question of the Day, employees who answer correctly will be entered into a drawing to win a prize (Employees may only win once)

Tuesday (May 11) — Costco (ART lobby) and Sam’s Club (University Hospital) visits, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Wednesday Evening—Ice Cream Social (for night staff), 10:30 p.m. to Midnight,  ART and University Hospital cafeteria and IOP lobby—Served by  administrators, directors and managers,

Thursday (May 13) —Third Annual Bake Off (ART and University Hospital cafeterias), judging at 2:30 p.m. (One entry per employee)

Friday (May 14 —Photo contest, Children’s Hospital lobby. Registration is required, judging at 2:30 p.m. (Only one entry per employee)

For information, call Tammy Rapp, rapt@musc.edu or Nicole Bernier, berniern@musc.edu

PTO update
•    Final details of FY 2010-2011 Pay Plan are under review and will be announced when approved.
•    PTO Cash-in/PTO Conversion will be available July 21.
•    Eligible employees may cash in/convert up to 40 hours of accrued PTO provided a balance of 120 hours of PTO remains after cash-in.
•    Eligible employees must submit an online request form to payroll by July 9. Online request form will be available on MUHA intranet on/around May 18.
•    Option for a December PTO Cash-in will be determined at a later date.
•    PRO Cash-in incentive is subject to appropriate taxes and deductions for lump sum pay – 25 percent federal tax, 7.65 percent FICA and 7 percent state tax
•    PTO cash-in or conversion will be based on accrued PTO balance as of July 3
•    In support of 2010 YES Campaign, MUHA will allow eligible employees an opportunity to transfer PTO hours in support of the campaign. This request is separate and independent of pledges to the YES Campaign
•    Employees may transfer the cash value of PTO hours. MUHA will write a check for the total cash value of PTO hours transferred
•    Transferred hours will not be considered gross income and concerned employees will not pay normal taxes on the value of leave transferred. Tax counsel advises that PTO hours that are transferred cannot be claimed as a tax deductible gift.
•    To be eligible, an employee must have a remaining balance of 120 PTO hours
•    Employees may request to transfer a minimum of 8 hours maximum of 40 hours of accrued PTO to support he campaign.
•    Online MUHA PTO transfer request form will be available on the MUHA intranet on or around May 18. Requests must be submitted online.

SuccessFactors update
•    Peer review is ongoing through May 15
•    Annual (self) reviews roll out is scheduled May 15
•    Annual Review Training (all staff) begins May 18
•    SuccessFactors training Web site will be updated and will feature an online tutorial (now under construction)

Benefit of the Month – May
Employees can enjoy a one-week complimentary pass to the MUSC Wellness Center throughout May (Offer expires May 31). The facility is open to all MUSC and MUHA employees. Employees may tour the facility and receive a $100 discount off the annual non-MUSC membership fee and can set up payroll deduction. For information, call 792-5757 or visit http://www.musc.edu/hsc.

Action O-I
Pam Marek, Decision Support Services manager, reminded managers of the final quarterly Action O-I data submission class (drop-in), 8 to 11 a.m., May 7. She also talked about some changes involving ambulatory clinics (any outpatient clinic area) and the adoption of APCs as a way to measure staff workload. Marek will meet with department managers and employees in the coming weeks and provide regular updates on this effort. Meanwhile, major renovations continue throughout medical center inpatient areas and Marek hopes to organize an internal task force to offer guidance and solicit input to support these changes.

Yes Campaign
Office of Development’s Becky Dornisch and Whitney McLuen, both reported about 2010 Yearly Employee Support (YES) campaign (May to June). Since 1988, MUSC employees have contributed more than $5 million to the YES Campaign. All money raised goes to support any of the 1,200 funds within the MUSC Foundation. This year’s goal is $300,000 and the theme is “every gift counts.”  The 2010 campaign chair is Darlene Shaw, Ph.D., associate provost for education and student life and leadership chair is Bill Moran, M.D., professor and director of general internal medicine.

Campaign pledge forms are available. Gifts are tax-deductible and can be made via check, credit card, pledge or payroll deduction. Call 792-1973 or visit http://www.musc.edu/giving.

Green Cards
Steve Paterniti, Business Development & Marketing Services, reviewed user instructions for submitting emergency weather information using the new general/emergency information line or Green Card system. Messaging instructions were distributed to managers. Managers are advised to prepare their message using a suggested format, which includes name, date, time, nature of weather emergency or issue and status. Users log in using their MUSC NetID and password and review and edit their topics. Once complete, they can review their topics by calling 805-5010 or 1-866-398-1586. For questions, call 792-8958.

Social media policy and guidelines
Kerri Glover, Business Development & Marketing Services, Heather Woolwine, Office of Public Relations and Reece Smith, medical center compliance, reviewed concerns relating to the use of social media in the workplace. Marketing Services and Public Relations began evaluating the value of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other products about a year ago as a way to promote good will and enhance MUSC’s reputation and brand with the public and press. Currently, there are about 30 MUSC groups on Facebook. The team explored multiple areas and collaborated with departments and groups to respond to questions about institutionwide useage.

1.    MUSC has policies governing IT and news media/public communications, but no specific online communications or social media policy.

2.    Marketing and PR met with OCIO, MUHA and University HR, MUHA and University Compliance, MUHA and University Legal and the Student Facebook Committee regarding social media.

3.    Guidelines were developed and approved by Marketing Advisory Council and the President’s Council. These guidelines are similar to other institutions including St. Jude’s, Mayo Clinic and Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

4.    Social media guidelines will be posted on MUSChealth.com, MUSC.edu and MUSC Intranet.

5.    The guidelines:
•    do not supersede existing policies
•    represent official MUSC social media
•    guide personal use of social media as an MUSC employee
•    evaluate official pages and those that violate MUSC policy or guidelines may be removed
•    allow departments to govern employee usage

6.     Three Ps of social media – Institution looks to managers and supervisors in handling employee situations as it relates to social media
•    Productivity – Evaluate improper usage of Internet time at work.
•    Professionalism – Monitor and evaluate behaviors to ensure appropriate conduct.
•    Privacy — Employees should refrain from discussing patient care information at all times. This includes all social networking sites and other media.

Announcements
  • The next meeting is May 18.




Friday, May 7, 2010



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.