PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MINUTES
August 27, 2008

Present: Tom Anderson, Wallace Bonaparte, Jack Feussner, Joe Good, Chip Hood, Sarah King, Walter Limehouse, Lisa Montgomery, Jerry Reves, Jack Sanders, Sabra Slaughter, and Stuart Smith.

Guests: Susan Barnhart, Herman Blake, Christine Cooley, Bo Faulkner, Tom Higerd, John Malmrose, Maurice Snook, Terry Stanley, Rick Terhune, and Stephen Valerio.

Note: In Dr. Greenberg’s absence, Dr. Jerry Reves called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM.

ITEM 1 Sustainability Presentation

Ms. Christine Vonkolnitz Cooley, MUSC Sustainability Manager, presented a synopsis of the accomplishments and challenges of the Engineering and Facilities Sustainability Program aimed at saving natural resources while developing means to advance energy efficiency, water conservation and reduce waste. Christine pointed out successes in each area, but that more was needed. The Program has taken on 23 different projects since 2002 and a savings of > $ 4 million has been estimated.

ACTION: A request to Dr. Greenberg to appoint and charge a committee on sustainability infrastructure issues. The committee would have enterprise-wide representation. Suggested membership will be forthcoming.

ITEM 2 Hospital Finance Initiatives

Mr. Stuart Smith summarized the various causes of MUHA’s current financial challenges and corrective actions that are underway to increase revenue. The hospital’s revenue shortfall is due to a convergence of several economic forces, most notably the general down-turn in the economy, the debt service on Ashley River Tower, fluctuating bed census, and changes in payment structure that is forecasted for Medicaid. The combined impact of these developments resulted in revenue falling short of projections. Corrective measures including increasing bed census, modifying staffing patterns, standardizing work design, and other cost reductions in personnel and supplies are being implemented to achieve a seven to ten percent improvement over current performance. These initiatives are achievable without jeopardizing the current high level of patient care and safety.

ACTION: Dr. Reves pointed out that this shortfall has broad implications for the enterprise as a whole, and that everyone needs to do whatever is necessary to bring resolution of the shortfall. “Not finding blame but finding solutions to restore profitability.”

ITEM 5 General Updates

Dr. Reves reported that a project to capture students in their clinical learning environment through pictures had been completed, and the COM will be requesting that they be allowed to permanently exhibit these pictures in the three rooms most frequented by medical students: Hospital Amphitheater (H282), Basic Science Auditorium (BS100), and Baruch Auditorium (QG103). In addition, Dr. Reves gave high marks to the success of the first Excellence LDI group meeting held August 15th in North Charleston.

ACTION: To acquire the permission of Drs. Greenberg and Raymond to post these pictures at COM expense in the three rooms cited.

Dr. Sabra Slaughter complemented the efforts by physical plant and others, particularly their proactive search to engage women/minority vendors as partners in our sustainability effort.

Mr. Anderson presented a brief good news/bad news report indicating that while benchmark losses through 6/30/08 were -5.0%, the investment performance on the MUSC Foundation endowment was -2/5%.

Mr. Bonaparte is working with HRM to update the way we keep personnel records regarding Veterans status as required by the federal government.

Mr. Good brought to everyone’s attention the effort that is being made to review and comment on draft of an enterprise-wide Conflict of Interest Policy that will be presented at the October Board of Trustee’s meeting.

Mr. Hood noted several potential licensing partnerships that are under consideration.

Dr. Limehouse stated that nominations for individuals to serve on the Faculty Senate has been requested and that the deans could play an important role in helping support their faculty’s willingness to be involved in the Faculty Senate.

Ms. King made a brief report on the successful retreat her office held on August 22nd.

Dr. Feussner reported on the general issues involved with the UMA’s expansion / relocation of off-campus clinical sites. Dr. Reves asked Tom Anderson to call Jimmy Bailey to coordinate any property assessment in the North area. Dr. Reves also reminded Council members that land purchases are approved by the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Jack Sanders, on behalf of the Academic Deans, reported that the colleges were appreciative of the lead COM and MUHA have taken in the Excellence Initiative and are pleased to join the group so that all the colleges can participate.

Mr. Terry Stanley announces that the Board of the Duke Endowment Foundation would be holding their meeting at noon today in MUSC’s Board Room followed by a tour of the ART Building.

The meeting adjourned at 11:14 AM.