2 The CaTalysT, November 18, 2011
Holiday parade set to roll Jesse Dasinger cuddles with his dog, Liberty, a prize from his parents on the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis. He had a bone marrow transplant Jan. 20.
Some employees think MUSC’s Holiday Parade is just a cheery break in the day. Though that’s true, Elizabeth Nista, quality coordinator of MUSC’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, knows it’s so much more. It’s a way to salute the courage of the children and their families, such as Jesse Dasinger who is this year’s parade marshal. Nista describes him as a miracle child. “Every single one of them had lifethreatening illnesses but are here because of the expertise and care they’ve received, and they are going to be here for this Christmas and a lot more Christmases,” she said. Nista said the parade is a concrete way of showing the generosity that MUSC has for its patients. MUSC and the Angel Tree board was recognized
Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425. 843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Kim Draughn catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu
Applause Program The following employees received recognition through the Applause Program for going the extra mile: Medical Center
by the Salvation Army as being the largest contributor to the Angel Tree program. Nista said there will be 2,000 toys coming into the Horseshoe. “People show up with trucks loaded up with toys even if they haven’t picked an angel. MUSC employees are generous every day just by the work they do, but this is a fun, concrete way to show their generosity.” This year’s parade starts at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 9, leaving from Ashley River Tower, going down Jonathan Lucas to Sabin Street and then up Ashley Avenue to end at the Horseshoe at noon. Nista said they need employees to participate in the parade, doing everything from riding on floats to pushing along toy bikes, as well as cheer on the sidelines. For more information, visit http:// www.musc.edu/catalyst/angel.html, call 792-8382 or email nistal@musc.edu. The Catalyst is published once a week. Paid adver tisements, which do not represent an endorsement by MUSC or the State of South Carolina, are handled by Island Publications Inc., Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or 843-958-7490. E-mail: sales@moultrienews.com.
Dana McCarthy, Med/Surg ICU; Linda Bredewater, Pharmacy; Harolyn Smith, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Chris Hardee, 3W; Oliver Horne, Medicine; Diana Fikes, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Mary Katherine Melroy, Occupational Therapy; Courtney Matthews, 9PCU; Megan Artz, 4E; Nadirah Peterson, 4E; Carolyn Reed, Surgery; Suzanne Ramage, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Christina Picado, 9E; Patty Johnson, 2 CCV; Sandra Buck, Urology Clinic; Jessica Fowler, 8E; Krishna Woods, 8E; Jerome Perilla, 8E; Kristen McCutcheon, 8E; Nicole Summers, 8E; Megan Squires, 8E; Sara LaBissoniere, 8E; Joan Madriaga, 8E; Leanna Loud, 8E; Marites Wallace, 8E; Wesley Smith, 8E; Nicholas Salvucci, 8E; Baby Cinense, 8E; Melinda Anderson, 8E; Amy Hanna, 8E; Kellyn Schroeder, 8E; Maria Torres, 7E; Gloria Mort, 9E; Rebecca Cleaves,
Pharmacy; Melvena Nelson, Environmental Services; Lisa Pinckney, Family Medicine; Cheryl Kerrigan, Pediatrics; Rickey Greene, Business Operations Administration; Melanie Brooks, 8E; Patricia Maddox, GI Clinic; Ashley Sevier, 6W; David Marcum, 6W; Christopher Hairfield, Transplant; Judith Singleton, Transplant; Joseph Amundsen, 8E; Shirley Dais, 8E; Diana Williams, Environmental Services; Jacobi Whaley, Environmental Services; Demetre Taylor, 8E; Nathalee Nelson, PAS; Sonita Mom, CCU; Rita Duffy, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Snek Gaillard, Inpatient Phlebotomy Services; Diana Fikes, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Melissa Knoppe, CTICU; Latonia Ray, 2 CCV; Eric Rice, Patient Transport Services; Shandela Gethers, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; and Kimberle Pride, Pre/Post Ambulatory. University
Dee Crawford, Human Resources Management; Michelle Daniel, Cardiology; Terrence O’Brien, Cardiology; and Dolores Tetreault, General Internal Medicine.
Nurses get high patient ratings MUSC medical center has received an Excellence in Patient Care award given by the Studer Group. The award is based upon exemplary “nurse communication” ratings on the HCAHPS patient survey. HCAHPS, or Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, is a national standardized survey tool used to measure adult inpatient perception of the quality of care people receive at a given acute care hospital. The 27-question survey was created in 2002 by the combined efforts of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Scores are publicly posted four times a year at http://www. hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. The Studer Group gives its Excellence in Patient Care awards based on very high scores in each of the HCAHPS categories. MUSC medical center
received its award in the “500 and Above beds” category for having the best responses to HCAHPS questions regarding nursing performance in the areas of courtesy, careful listening and clear explanations. “Providing a positive patient experience is one of our top priorities. We are very pleased to have our nurses recognized for their great work,” said W. Stuart Smith, vice president for clinical operations and executive director, MUSC medical center. Quint Studer, founder of Studer Group, explained, “This is the HCAHPS composite most highly correlated with overall satisfaction. In other words, communication matters — a lot. When nurses listen carefully, treat patients with courtesy and respect, and explain things in a way patients can understand, everyone wins. Patients get the best possible care, and the organization gets to feel good about providing it.”