MUSC Catalyst

May 27, 2011

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 29, No. 39

AfterShockS

Mental health professionals reach out to Japan

These peaceful scenes from Japan were taken by MUSC psychologists who recently traveled there to provide disaster mental health training. Below, Dr. Peter Tuerk lights a candle at a Buddhist shrine for the victims.

Afraid to go out after the earthquake, this child got a reward for his first successful outing.

By DAwn BRAzell

Public Relations

A

s if the 12-hour flight from Detroit to Tokyo wasn’t enough, there was the earthquake in the middle of the night that woke up psychologists Peter Tuerk and Matthew Yoder, and intern, Brian

3

Hall. Not to mention they were traveling with a Geiger counter and radiation dosimeters.

Not the best formula for a good night’s sleep.

What was, though, were the 300 kazoos and whistles that the experts in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had brought along. The toys

Boeing’s investment MUSC Children’s Hospital receives $1 million to improve children’s health.

4

were teaching tools to give to therapists attending workshops to better be able to help people hardest hit by Japan’s magnitude 9 earthquake March 11.

Tuerk, associate director of the PTSD Clinical Team at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and assistant professor in MUSC’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, said

the natural disaster was a triple whammy given the subsequent tsunami and radiation scare.

The toys were a reminder of the value of letting children living in temporary evacuation centers be children and to encourage normal activities such as play and homework. Fears regarding See Shocks on page 6

RememBeRing DR. glen Askins

2

Medical musing

College of Health Professions reflects on department clinical services chair.

5

Meet Shannon

9

Town hall meeting

READ THE CATALYST ONLINE - http://www.musc.edu/catalyst

2 the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011

Key to first year of medical school: ‘enjoy the ride’

Editor’s Note: Chelsey Baldwin of Little River is a firstyear medical student. This column follows the journey of her class in becoming doctors.

T

he second annual dean’s poster presentation was one of the last times our entire class gathered for the year. “Ya’ll clean up pretty good,” the ever popular Dr. Paul McDermott prodded us as we filed into the lobby of Colbert library.

It’s true, there was quite a miraculous transformation from the normal sweaty clothes and disheveled hair that accompanies test week to that day. But we were there for a purpose: We had come to convince our various professors that we had understood what they taught us throughout the year and demonstrate that we were worthy of moving on to the next step.

Chelsey Baldwin Luckily, the responsibility of this task was spread out across a group of students called a “COM team.” Each team has nine first-year students, who throughout the year become a close knit, built-in support network. As a team, we witnessed each other’s clumsy beginnings and strides of growth throughout the year. Therefore poster day became the paramount of team pride.

It was times like those that I wish we had some sort of a chant or hand shake because by the end of the presentations, I was full of team spirit for A4, my COM team. A feeling as if we had won poster day rushed through the group and added to my sense of denial that, despite my team’s strong performance, we still had another individual test to pass.

However, this was far from the only factor playing into my denial, which included the fact that I felt like I had sacrificed all year, and now that the weather had turned I had had enough. The artificial light of my

Medical musings

desk lamp wouldn’t do anymore. I needed the sun on my face. Plus, the recent purchase of Netflix did little for my drive once the sun had gone down. Yet the days leading up to the test pass whether you spend them studying or not.

So with the last exam behind me as well and with a sense of due completion, I feel free. I had chanted the date May 14th to myself so many times over the past few months, half believing that it would never come, that seeing days pass the 14th is almost unreal. I’ve begun my “last summer,” as my colleagues call it. It is the last time that I can escape from the clutches of my schooling for months at a time for next summer is the Boards and then straight into rotations. Therefore, the pressure to make this “last summer” equivalent with the “best summer” is on. In fact, my peers and I have spent the last several weeks convincing each other just how awesome each of our summers will be.

“I’m going on a weekend trip, like every weekend.”

“Well I’m going to lay on the beach all day, pretty much every day.”

“We’re going to make it to Disney World!”

“Psh, I’m going to read novels!” … “OK nerd,” we tease the only honest person in the conversation, secretly knowing that we all can’t wait to do the same.

In fact I have started working on two books. I am still working on “The House of God,” the novel I had put down halfway finished at the end of Christmas break, literally not one page turned since my last hiatus from school and have also started “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson at the request of my editor.

While neglecting to initially focus on the author’s comedic writing style, as I’m sure my editor intended, I’ve become infatuated with the idea of an adventure.

While I know medical school is an adventure of its own, I think about the amount of time spent on just that one pursuit and it makes me restless. For example, taking in some of the facts from this latest adventure tale, it takes roughly four months to complete the

Appalachian trail. If the amount of time I’ve spent mulling over my first year endeavors was equivalent to time spent on the Appalachian Trail, I would have made it from Maine to Georgia and back again, and I truly think that’s enough hiking to make even the most dedicated outdoorsman a little weary.

However, since I haven’t spent a bit of the past nine months in the lush greenness of the outdoor world, I’ve grown quite attached to the idea of making it to the mountains this summer. Hiking around in the undomesticated flora and playing in the ice cold streams of the Blue Ridge seem like the furthest place from the drafty third floor of Colbert library as I can get, a complete and healthy change of pace.

I have fond memories of the mountains from childhood. My parents, sister and I commonly found our way to a town called Blowing Rock in the mountains of North Carolina. These childhood memories glazed over with my desire to do something great this summer have left me with a craving that I think only some hiking and genuine bluegrass music can appease.

Making it back to the Blue Ridge Mountains is just one of the many items that are accumulating on my summer bucket list. Not to insinuate that there is a death of sorts when I return to school, but to stress completion of this list would be a way of avoiding regret for missing out on the opportunities that only time can afford me.

Learning to enjoy the ride has been key for me this past year.

The time and place you find yourself in, is the place to be: That goes for tough blocks of school, the few short hours of spare time on the weekends, or as for now, the summer with seemingly endless opportunities to fill in the gaps I noticed throughout the year. While this philosophy has served me well, I feel certain that at this time in my life, convincing myself to enjoy the summer will not be hard to do.

Colbert comedy show to benefit Medical University 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

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.

Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” will visit Charleston July 1 for a one-night appearance at Gaillard Municipal Auditorium to raise money for an endowed chair named in his father’s memory at MUSC. Tickets go on sale May 31, and may be purchased at http://www.TicketMaster. com. VIP tickets, also available through TicketMaster, will include premium seating and a reception with Stephen Colbert.

Appearing with Colbert will be guest

interviewer, Bloomberg view columnist and MSNBC analyst Jonathan Alter.

The James W. Colbert Endowed Chair is named in memory of Stephen’s father, who served as the university’s first vice president for academic affairs, from 1969 until his death in a plane crash in 1974.

When fully endowed, the Colbert chair will support the activities of the provost and vice president of academic affairs, a post currently held by Mark Sothmann, Ph.D. For information, call 792-4223.

the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011 3

Boeing makes investment in children’s health, fitness

MUSC Children’s Hospital will use a $1 million charitable investment from The Boeing Company to establish a communitybased center aimed at promoting better health among the state’s young people.

The Boeing Center for Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Children and Families will focus on helping children make the link of how healthy diets and physical activity impact good health.

The center will help children adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors through a multi-pronged approach involving nutrition counseling, fitness training, exercise classes, medical assessments, individualized treatments and participation in group programs. Because young people acquire so many of their lifestyle habits at home and

MUSC President Dr. Ray Greenberg, second from left, is presented with a commemorative Boeing 787 Dreamliner during the May 5 ceremony. With Greenberg are Lorenzo "Dipper" Burns, from left, Boeing S.C. employee; Jim Albaugh, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO; Tim Keating, Boeing senior vice president of government operations, and Jack Jones, Boeing S.C. vice president and general manager. in school, the center also will Although the center will be support teachers and families in housed and managed from MUSC how to foster environments more Children’s Hospital, its activities supportive of healthy living. will take place at schools and

other locations throughout the community. The idea, said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., is to prevent unhealthy lifestyles from developing in the first place.

“Children are our future and by making this investment, Boeing is helping to shape a healthier South Carolina. We need to instill healthy lifestyle practices at the youngest possible ages in order to prevent the development of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other illnesses down the road.”

By the end of the center’s two-year ramp-up period, it will serve more than 8,000 children and family members, and an estimated 47,000 children and 8,000 personnel who will benefit from menu adjustments and other environmental changes made in 79 schools.

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4 the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011

Departmental chair remembered for thoughtfulness By wAlly PRegnAll College of Health Professions

W

hen Glen Askins, M.D., passed away on May 2, the obituaries that followed were appropriately extensive, noting the many achievements and honors of a lifetime spanning 76 years.

For the MUSC community and beyond, it is the qualities known to those closest to Askins, College of Health Professions professor and clinical services department chair, that make his legacy and his loss all the more profound.

Colleagues repeat certain words to Askins describe Askins: thoughtful, insightful, steady, low-key, unflappable, caring, empathetic, humble, endearing and intellectually curious are among the most common.

Friend and colleague Layton McCurdy, M.D., dean emeritus of the College of Medicine, describes him as “wonderfully complex.” Students sensed his interest in their lives and careers was real. Colleagues knew that his love of knowledge and the practice of his profession were authentic. Patients in his care recognized that they were respected, listened to and understood.

Not one to hesitate expressing what he thought, Askins was often direct, a quality sometimes misunderstood until it was evident that his motivation was simply the desire for the best for the patients, students, colleagues and institutions he served. As Arnie Metz, assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program recalled, “At first, when we were trying to get the PA Program off the ground, I thought of him as a gruff, smoking doctor. As our relationship developed, we both opened up and I saw the kind, thoughtful man behind the deep Southern drawl.”

Ben Clyburn, M.D., associate dean for Graduate Medical Education Faculty Development, noted that

Askins had no problem pointing out areas in which a student had a weakness and needed additional work, yet he was universally loved and respected by his students because his concern for them was transparent.

Askins’ qualities were appreciated by his colleagues as well. Jerry Kurent, M.D., said Askins served as an outstanding role model for his students and residents.

“I already was well established in my own career when I came to know Glen Askins as a kind, empathic, and skilled clinician, outstanding educator, and tireless administrator, who possessed a great sense of humor and was fun to be around,” said Kurent.

Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, former director of the PA Program and current chair of the Wake Forest University Department of Physician Assistant Studies, appreciates that Askins passed on his gifts. “I don't think anyone ever challenged me the way he did,” said Bushardt. “He thought more than he talked, and he always listened.” Shortly after informing Askins of his difficult decision to leave MUSC for Wake Forest, Bushardt remembers a note he got from Askins. “I received an envelope in the mail from him a few days later, and there was a little note inside which in his handwriting read ‘management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right thing.’ He taught me to always choose leadership.” The note now hangs above Bushardt’s desk, just as it did in Askins’ office.

The qualities which endeared Askins to colleagues, students and patients transcended formal relationships and resulted in deep, lasting friendships. As Metz states, “We spent many a day traveling through small-town South Carolina meeting with his innumerable contacts trying to establish clinical training sites for our students.

We talked about everything from God to baseball to fishing and hunting.”

As they and their wives became friends, they often enjoyed traveling to Florida for spring training baseball games, fall color excursions in Maine and fishing.

International Scientific meeting draws many Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta, left, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, presents Dr. Kee Jun Kim, University of Kansas Medical Center, with the award for a Best Abstract submission.

Del Poeta hosted an international scientific meeting of which more than 250 people attended.

Glen Askins q Founder and later senior medical advisor of the Physician Assistant (PA) Program at MUSC q Chair of College of Health Professions Department of Clinical Services. q Served on the Marion County school board q Member and chairman of the S.C. Commission of Higher Education, Committee on Health and Medical Education, and Committee on Planning Assessment. q Distinguished Service Award, American Heart Association; Marion Citizen of the Year; Health Sciences Foundation "Clinician of the Year" Award.

Clyburn, almost 30 years Askins’ junior, marvels at how easily Askins bridged the generational gap, as they often traveled together to football games or entertained at one another’s homes. Kurent recalled the laughs as they traded stories about their fishing excursions. All who knew Askins know he derived his greatest pleasure from his interaction with students, his treasured friends, and above all, his beloved family, he said.

For innumerable reasons, both personal and professional, Askins will be missed by the MUSC community. His legacy will live on not only through his achievements and the many students he sent forth to practice, but through the manner in which he lived life.

“I'm especially going to miss the quiet talks we had about everything and nothing,” said Metz—a sentiment undoubtedly shared by many.

In his closing remarks at Askins’ funeral, McCurdy quoted Robert Louis Stevenson. “That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who looks for the best in others and gives the best that he has; who leaves the world better than he found it.”

McCurdy concluded, “Glen Askins was such a man.”

Career program for women’s health seeking applicants MUSC’s Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Career Development Program is seeking two female junior faculty members to support and develop their research careers.

Qualified faculty must have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships, and who have mentorship. Applicants also must have a plan (basic research, translational research,

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BIRCWH is a K12 career development program co-funded by the Office of Research on Women’s Health and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institutes of Health.

Visit http://www.musc. edu/psychiatry/research/cns/ BIRCWH/BIRCWH Home or e-mail smithsar@musc.edu.

the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011 5

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shoCks Continued from Page One

personal safety and anxiety in recalling traumatic events are common after natural disasters, but the important thing is to not avoid normal everyday activities.

It was one of the main messages that the internationally-renowned researchers delivered in trainings for parents, therapists and community leaders.

Part of a team invited to go to Japan April 16 to provide disaster mental health training, the psychologists met with students, community health workers and professors at Tokiwa University in Mito, Japan. The team provided a 14hour workshop training for students and therapists and a 2.5 hour community education session (in Japanese, with translators) that was attended by 140 community leaders, including police chiefs, school principals and mayors. The community training was broadcast live on national television.

Tuerk said the goal was to provide education as a preventative measure against PTSD. “When people don’t have their houses—when there is a high resource loss—their risk for getting PTSD is much higher. So we’re anticipating a lot of PTSD from this event. It takes awhile for PTSD to develop. In that interim, while some people might be developing symptoms, targeted education can help prevent the disorder.”

Tuerk and Yoder focused the mental health worker’s training on teaching about assessment and screening, which is crucial following these events to identify the 10 to 20 percent of the population that typically is vulnerable to PTSD following a tragedy. Yoder, also an assistant professor in MUSC’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, assisted after Hurricane Katrina and the Virginia Tech shootings, and he and Tuerk also will be presenting materials in Alabama to help those recovering from the storms.

Yoder said they had heard that people in Japan might be more closed and reserved because of their culture, but that they didn’t find that to be the case.

“The people we trained were very open to our being there. To me, this was a reflection of a fundamental human desire to help in the face of suffering,” said Yoder. “There was a hunger, among

WAnt to help?

To find out about supporting the Japan/U.S. Evidence-Based Mental Health Response Initiative (JEMRI) e-mail: Donate2JEMRI@gmail.com.

Dr. Matthew Yoder gets a photo beside two Japanese shoppers beneath tsunami art. To see a video of the Japan trip, visit http:// bit.ly/MUSCJapan.

Dr. Peter Tuerk, right, and Dr. Sheila Rauch, from the University of Michigan, collaborate with Dr. Nobukazu Nagae. the people we trained, to assist fellow survivors, and we offered tools to do just that. Even though it felt like a very different culture, we were able to connect in this way, even in less than a week.”

One touching story was that of a mother who wanted to help her 7-yearold son, who had stopped playing with his friends and avoided going outside.

She came to them for advice, and Tuerk worked with her to develop a plan of action. The plan included stopping some of the avoidance behavior she was re-enforcing, and getting her to coax her son to his favorite restaurant, McDonald’s, with the goal of staying there long enough for his fear to go away.

Since the child enjoyed origami, they made origami birds while there.

The outing, along with other nonavoidance strategies, worked. His grateful parents sent a thank-you e-mail with a picture of their son eating so much ice cream at McDonald’s that he got a stomach ache.

Tuerk hopes to see that healing scenario played out throughout the devastated areas in Japan. “Hopefully, that one mother’s experience will spread.

She will tell her friends, ‘Go ahead and take your kids out’ or ‘Don’t spend too long in your family’s earthquake safety room’ or whatever the avoidance behaviors are.”

And it’s not just the mother they hope will be spreading the news, but everyone in the trainings.

The trip also gave Yoder and Tuerk the opportunity to hear the experiences Japanese therapists are having with prolonged exposure treatment, which involves intentional prolonged exposure to feared stimuli in a safe setting to decrease anxiety. “There were more avenues to help than we originally had anticipated because we are experienced in training and disseminating that model,” said Tuerk. “Similarly to the United States, in Japan there are not

enough mental health providers trained and experienced in providing evidencebased treatment for PTSD. Hopefully we might be a part of its positive spread.”

Prolonged exposure treatment helps a person’s PTSD symptoms decrease with time. Yoder said people suffering from PTSD don’t do what others do naturally to heal, which is to talk about the trauma and gradually resume regular living patterns. They withdraw and don’t want to talk or think about it. “We help them stop the avoidance so the normal, natural healing process can take place.”

Because Tuerk and Yoder have seen this type of therapy’s effectiveness with veterans and other trauma victims with whom they work, they feel strongly about being advocates. One benefit that Tuerk was surprised to get from his Japan trip was a boost of inspiration.

He saw therapists there trying to do evidence-based treatment face the same institutional barriers that therapists in America do.

“It affirms the value of the hard work that we do every day—not in psychological practice—but in administration, infrastructure building, policy work, advocacy and education.

These are the things that get evidencebased medicine and evidence-based psychotherapy to suffering individuals.

To see different cultures struggling with the same issues helped put some gas in my tank for the barriers here.”

Education, collaboration and research are powerful tools, though, he said.

“We have a great internship that teaches evidence-based therapy. Most prolonged exposure therapists become very strong advocates because they see its effectiveness for PTSD. Here at MUSC, our psychology interns are empowered not only to provide excellent care but also to do the research to understand how behaviors and systems work, to push on and expand the boundaries of effective care.”

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8 the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011

Medical Center

‘Making a difference every day’ Employees of the Month Sara Hendrix, Dietetic Services “Recently, Sara Hendrix was asked if she knew of a way to provide a wedding cake to a patient who had just been married in the CCU. She did not hesitate a second. In about an hour she returned to the unit with five or six other dietary staff to congratulate the newlyweds. She even found a camera to take a picture of the moment.”

Nominated by Sharon Schaller Theryn Robinson, Environmental Services “As an Environmental Services employee, Theryn’s service has exceeded the requirements of the job. In a large organization, it is possible for people not to recognize when their help is needed. Theryn helped me when the equipment cart had faulted to keep the 75 pound battery in place when traveling on the incline to the Children’s Hospital. He not only lifted the battery back onto the cart but assisted me down the hall to ICU. He also called bio med to notify them to repair the broken shelf on the cart.”

Nominated by Toni Mullins Erica Gordon, Dietetic Services “A mother and her child were going through Erica Gordon’s cash out line, when the child began to choke on a french fry. Erica quickly took the child and, by patting on the back, dislodged the fry and averted what could have been a fatal situation.”

Nominated by Randy

Fredrika Wright, Environmental Services “On Feb. 15 my mother finished her chemotherapy treatment but had to use the restroom on her way out. While I was pushing her in the wheel chair she had a bad accident and couldn't make it. Everything was all over her clothes and her chair. We saw the housekeeping lady cleaning and she asked if she could help. We said ‘yes.’ She got towels and wash clothes and helped me get mom cleaned up. Thank you Freddy.”

Nominated by Vivian Worthstein

applauSe prograM The following employees received recognition through the Applause Program for going the extra mile: Medical Center

Moya McFadden, Radiology; Mary Morgan, Storm Eye Institute; Tabor Culbreth, Women’s Services; Scott Sullivan, OB/ GYN; Jennifer Griffin, Women’s Health; Donald Fylstra, OB/GYN; Eugene Chang, OB/GYN; Charles Rittenberg, OB/GYN; Alison Dillon, OB/GYN; Margaret Villers, OB/GYN; Nicole Lefever, Women’s Services; Donna Williams, 9E; Melvena Nelson, Environmental Services; Edward Tarnawa, OB/GYN; Jill Norman, 10W; Cassandra Poinsett, Venipuncture; Serena Buckheister, Pediatrics; Nathalee Nelson, PAS; Cassandra Dickerson, Women’s Services; Penelope Murray, Emergency Department; Thomas Pollehn, Emergency Medicine; Wendy Suhre, Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine; Karen Wildes, 7A; Eric Nelson, Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine; Krystal Raybuck, ART OR; Michelle Doudiet, ART OR; Lauren Vassallo, ART OR; Linda Aytes, ART Pre-Op Surgery; Rebecca Stephens, Dietetic Services; Shirley Bluford, Radiology; Austin Yoder, 6W; Karen Walker, Environmental Services; Liz Causey, Peri-Anesthesia; Shane Cox, Radiology; Alison Cox, HR; Sheba Pringle, Environmental Services; Clara Smith, Environmental Services; Mary Brown, Environmental Services; John Hart, Safety & Security; Josh Sherwood, 8W; Jessica Caples, 8W; John Carson, 10W; Corey Slusarski, 10W; Emmanuel Tria, 10W; Michael Sawin, 10W; Melvena Nelson, Environmental Services; Jennifer Haughney, 10W; Brain Baker, 10W; Martha McRae, Business Operations; Holli Hoagland, Radiology; Kellie Adams, Radiology; Sharon Hilliard, Radiation Oncology; Kia Jones, Radiation Oncology; Shanda Bowman,

Radiation Oncology; Amanda Anderson, Hollings Registration; Dianne Kelly, Medical Records; Ivy Mack, Hollings Registration; Teresa Harrison, Radiology; Danielle Lebakken, PACU; Patrice Santos, PACU; Erin Swanson, OB/GYN; Sam Guffey, 10W; Patricia Brown, PAS; Toschua Thomas, 10W; Rachel Golub, 10W; Mary Morgan, Storm Eye Institute; Tayelor Jarrett, Family Medicine; Karen Glennon, PACU; Michele Mack, Business Operations Administration; Brian Parks, Family Medicine; Ruth Peterson, Family Medicine; Tammie Williams, Family Medicine; Barry Green, Radiology; David White, Otolaryngology; Dandre Jackson, Children's Services; Velma Williams, MedSurg Registration; Ashley Boehm, Physical Therapy; Diana Fikes, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Harolyn Smith, Safety & Security/Volunteer & Guest Services; Thomasina Foster, ART Endoscopy; Kelly Burns, ART 3W; Betty Hobbs, ART 4E; Holly Grych, ART 2-CCV; Erin Johnson, ART 2-CCV; Caroline Flowers, ART 2-CCV; Terra Kirkwood, Children's Services; Mary Wright, ART 2-CCV; and Betty Tilley, Hospital Communications Call Center.

University

East Cooper Cardiology; James Amlicke, Orthopaedic Surgery; Richard Anderson, Pediatrics; Harold Capers, Engineering & Facilities; Peggy Cunningham, Accounts Payable; Michael Delambo, Wellness Center; John Fletcher, Engineering & Facilities; Terry Harmon, Student Accounting; Matt Herriott, Wellness Center; Christopher Nielsen, Cardiology; Jeff Ruark, Engineering & Facilities; Nick Smith, OCIO-Information Services; Carol Thomason, Wellness Center; and Patrick (Eddie) Wellman, Engineering & Facilities.

the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011 9

Town hall discusses present, future

People—Fostering employee pride and loyalty

goal of $25.5 million (currently $21.6 million).

Growth—Growing to meet the needs of those we serve

The hospital’s inpatient growth goal is 3 percent and to date, it stands at 1.7 percent.

While MUHA observes a record-breaking census, acuity of care and length of stay has complicated reaching this goal. Inpatient growth goal is 5 percent, but currently it is at 1 percent.

The hospital is feeling the national trend, as a result of the economy, of individuals delaying physician appointments and elective surgery.

The employee partnership survey concluded May 13 and only preliminary information is available. The goal is to achieve a mean score of 73.6 (currently 71.1). Darby indicated, while unfortunate, the drop by .5 from last year’s results were not entirely surprising given the pressure many have experienced this year and is consistent with reports from other hospitals.

More detailed information from survey vendor, Press Ganey, will be available by mid-June and results will be widely communicated.

Celebrating success From July 2009 to June 2010, HCAHPS results between local hospitals showed MUSC ranking at 79 percent. From October 2010 to March 2011, MUSC was at 80 percent (HCAHPS national average hospital score is 67 percent).

The overall rating reports among a dozen similar academic medical centers rank MUSC in the 80th percentile or second highest in this category behind UNC-Chapel Hill, who was at the 81st percentile).

Quality—Providing quality patient care in a safe environment

5 & 5 plans The 5&5 cost savings initiative is intended to improve quality of care while reducing costs. The goal is to reduce costs by 5 percent this year and 5 percent next year. This campaign was necessary based upon Medicaid reductions at the state level and projected decreases in Medicaid and private insurance.

The hospital’s percentile ranking slipped during October to January time frame and as of April, this year’s ranking is in the 66th percentile. The goal is to achieve the 80th percentile among approximately 100 academic medical centers involved in mortality benchmarking. March results were particularly favorable (approximately 95th percentile for the month) and it’s expected that the overall score will improve by year’s end.

Compliance with hand hygiene audits is at 69.4 percent (stretch goal: 90 percent). Secret observers as well as inpatient and outpatient unit teams are observing this practice throughout hospitals and clinics.

Finance—Providing the highest value to patients while ensuring financial stability

The financial goal was to reach 25 days cash on hand and currently MUSC has 10.5 days.

Another financial goal is to achieve a net income

Looking ahead Nancy Tassin, R.N., Musculoskeletal Service Line administrator, addressed employees about the effects of health care reform. Hospital leaders want employees to be aware of changes and will communicate these changes via upcoming town hall meetings.

Starting July 1, reimbursement funds at risk using CMS value-based purchasing (how much money will be at risk) is set at 2 percent.

Under value-based purchasing, 70 percent will be based on process core measures, while 30 percent looks at HCHAPS results (top 10 percent or higher).

2186 Annie Laura Lane (off Six Mile Road)

$204,900

(reduced by $20,000)

New Construction Complete April 2011

Call 843-270-7600 for details.

IP04-526219

“The Power to Own”

VALUE. QUALITY. INTEGRITY Affordable, energy star rated homes in great locations in the Charleston Area.

100% Financing Available.

DEER FIELD HALL

Single Family Homes prices from the mid $100s.

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CHARLESTON CHASE Single Family Homes priced from the $120s.

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843 - 296 - 4825 www.jmeyerhomes.com

IP05-531946

June Darby, R.N., Neurosciences Service Line administrator, explained the adult inpatient service goal for this fiscal year is for 78 percent of respondents to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey to rate the medical center a 9 or 10 on the 10-point rating scale for the “overall hospital rating” question. To date, 80 percent of the survey respondents have rated a 9 or 10.

The outpatient service goal is measured by our Avatar patient satisfaction survey tool. The goal is for a mean score of 92.59 (current: 93.05).

10 the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011

Ashley River Tower Call Center to close for renovation Effective May 27, patient and interpreter telephones and Wi-Fi batteries will be available through the hospital Security desk at both ART and university hospital locations.

Call 792-4196 or visit the North Tower Security Desk at the main campus or ground level security office at ART campus.

IP07-526838

The Ashley River Tower (ART) Call Center will close May 27 for renovation.

All paging and call center services will be provided by the call center’s office in Room 243 North Tower until its permanent relocation in ART this fall.

For assistance, visit or call 792-7992.

TERRABROOK 5 minutes to MUSC! FROM THE $240s

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TERRABROOK ON THE RETREAT JAMES ISLAND AT JOHNS ISLAND 843-795-8255 843-559-1088 www.CrescentHomes.net IP07-527079

IP05-539234

THE RETREAT 15 minutes to MUSC! FROM THE $190s

the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011 11

CLASSIFIED P AGE • Household Personal Items for MUSC employees are free.

All other classifieds are charged at rate below. Ads considered venture-making ads (puppy breeder, coffee business, home for sale, etc.) will be charged as PAID ADS •• PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED * NO MORE THAN 3 LINES * FREE ADS RUN 2 WEEKS ONLY!

PAID ADS are $3 per line (1 line = 28 characters) DEADLINE: TUESDAY – 10:00 AM * CLASSIFIED ADS CAN BE E-MAILED TO sales@moultrienews.com, OR MAILED (134 Columbus St., Charleston SC 29403) Please call 849-1778 with questions. *Must provide Badge No. and Department of Employment for employees and Student I.D. Number for MUSC Students.

IP01-213824a

Rental Properties

Homes For Sale

Close to MUSC 173-N Rutledge Ave in Rutledge Green 3BR/1.5BA, central heat/air, W/D, no pets $1590 mo. + 1 mo. dep 843-571-4048 or ahanderson51@aol.com

House for sale in N. Chas 3BR / 2BA in Northwoods Estate. 2 Car garage, large corner lot.

Close to I-26 & I526. $140,000 Call 843-814-5421

APARTMENT FOR RENT Spectacular 1 BR apartment avail.

June 1. Only 5 min. from DT over the James Is. connector.

With balcony, garage, W/D. Located in the "Peninsula," a luxury condo resort w/ pool, tennis and clubhouse. $850/month. Call Emerson, Jr. 577-5400 or 364-1948.

Call

303 CESSNA AVE WEST ASHLEY 3 BD, 1.5 BA, 1358 sq ft $155,000 800-603-5624, ext 5449

Items for Sale

849-1778

Home Sweet Home! Take a drive by 75 Bull St See this unique and charming home for yourself 3BR, 2 1/2 Ba, & tons of personality. Bob Rymer 3457828 Daniel Ravenel

668 SCHOONER RD JAMES ISLAND 3 BD, 1.5 BA, 1106 sq ft $179,500 800-603-5624, ext 5599

1327 HEADQUARTERS PLANTATION JOHNS ISLAND 4 BD, 3.5 BA, 3286 sq ft $695,000 800-603-5624, ext 7009

to place a Classified.

Randall Sandin rsandin@carolinaone.com Charleston Pier Partners Cell (843) 209-9667 Fax (843) 202-8928

IP07-526834

Matthew W. Poole mpoole@carolinaone.com Charleston Pier Partners Cell (843) 830-0027 Fax (843) 202-8566

1265 Folly Rd • Charleston SC • WWW.CHARLESTONPIERPARTNERS.COM

IP05-518120

12 the CAtAlyst, May 27, 2011

IP07-526829