To Medical Center Employees

A series of Medical Center town hall meetings were conducted May 16 through June 1. We got off to a slow start with attendance, but I am pleased that 1,477 individuals participated in the town hall meetings. The town hall evaluation comments are being reviewed and we hope to use this information to enhance future town hall meetings.

The town hall agenda included: pillar goals update; recognition of exceptional achievements of employees and departments; preliminary information concerning the employee commitment survey; general comments concerning the MUSC Health strategic plan; Joint Commission survey outlook; and our Magnet journey. A Tegrity recording of the town hall presentation has been posted on the MUSC Excellence website.

At the June 5 management communications meeting Dr. Philip Costello, chair, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, and president of MUSC Physicians, gave an update on the new MUSC Health East facility. Dr. Costello began by explaining the purpose of the name change from University Medical Associates (UMA) to MUSC Physicians was for a "unified message" and to improve public communication.

MUSC Health East will open July 9. This new patient-friendly 84,500 square foot facility will house all currently leased facilities in the East Cooper area under one roof. It is located on Hungryneck Boulevard next to the 526 flyover drop.

MUSC Physicians funded this $20 million facility plus $5 million equipment costs. Services will include a range of specialties and subspecialties, radiology and on-site laboratory and after-hours clinic. Building highlights will include the Black Bean Café, a rooftop healing garden, and community room. Additional details are included in this newsletter.

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

People–Fostering employee pride and loyalty

Employee of the Month — April
Contrenia Hayes, Volunteer & Guest Services, was praised for helping a family in need following a car accident as a family member was treated as a trauma patient. Using her own money, she purchased women's and children's clothes for family members who didn't have a change of clothes and provided a meal for them. (Nominated by Vanessa Stewart)

Wellness update
Susan Johnson, Ph.D., Office of Health Promotion director, shared news that the program is now under the newly created Office of Health Promotion (University's Finance and Administration).

The mission will be to educate the MUSC community of maintaining a healthy lifestyle; empower students and employees to make informed decisions and develop skills to enhance their well being; and build a collaborative multidisciplinary network that supports collaboration, coordination and commitment for wellness.

June activities includes include Obesity Awareness Month, a worksite screening, June 12 (2West classroom); MUSC Employee Fitness Series—free sprint intervals class, 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., June 20; and mobile mammograms (digital mammograms), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 20 (behind the Clyburn Research Center off President street)

MUSC Urban Farm will host an Open House, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 28. Visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/MuscURbanFarm.

Service – Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence

Phil Costello, M.D., MUSC Physicians president and Department of Radiology and Radiological Science chair, spoke about plans to open Mount Pleasant's MUSC Health East on July 9. The project, which is funded by MUSC Physicians, features an 84,000 square foot, three-story facility that's accessible via I-526 and US 17 North via Hungry Neck Boulevard.

The building was established to help consolidate many East Cooper – MUSC offices under one roof. Services offered include orthopaedics, neurology, cardiology, radiology, an onsite lab, dermatology, family medicine, an after-hours clinic (Carolina Family Care), a 10–bed infusion center, and other subspecialties.

Quality – Providing quality patient care in a safe environment

Jennifer Aldrich, quality and compliance manager, Engineering & Facilities, and Greg Weigle, construction and design director, Facilities Management, reviewed details of the institution's campus wayfinding strategy. Campuswide signage standards were initiated in 2007 as part of a new campus signage master plan conducted by Ayers, Saint and Gross. The plan made improvements to exterior, interior and parking signage.

Since 2007, new signage standards have been used for renovated areas, new space and other improvements. The long-term focus for signage improvements would be to start with the clinical areas first, then academic and student areas, research, administration, etc., as funding becomes available. Described were the differences between wayfinding as a methodology of providing indicators to guide people to their destinations and signage as a tool.
Branding refers to the emotional connection with the goal to create an automatic association between the name brand and positive impression. At MUSC, organizers have merged evidence-based industry standards for wayfinding methodology with campuswide sign standards.

Discussed were the use of patient touchpoints (first impressions, arrival points, parking, welcome and family support, medical care, wrap up and lasting impressions) to help patients and visitors navigate through the medical center. Also described were the wayfinding hierarchy (parking, building destination, elevator, floor, service line) ranked in importance. Working with a campus signage advisory committee, the process develops the hierarchy, establish sign locations, select sign types, develop sign messages and committee review. Current wayfinding projects include the university hospital main corridors, Rutledge Tower connector and implement exterior signage directionals throughout campus.

Next, the team will continue work on corridor projects, evaluate wayfinding in the upper floors of the university hospital and Rutledge Tower and implement exterior signage.

Announcements

• Tonya Green is the new patient safety nurse. Green will be rounding throughout the medical center, talking to staff about patient safety concerns.
  
• Mike Sawin, R.N., accepted a job as a nursing specialty manager for Therapeutic & Professional Support Services. He will begin in his position June 17.
  
• The next meeting is June 19.