Modified Operations Guidance

A Message from MUSC Leadership - March 15, 2020

Dear MUSC family,

At a statewide COVID-19 press conference late this afternoon, Governor Henry McMaster announced that all pre-K and K-12 schools, technical colleges, and public colleges and universities across the state will be closed through March 31. In his order, Governor McMaster also noted that educational institutions are authorized to “make any necessary and appropriate decisions or arrangements to account for local needs and other unique circumstances, to include establishing or maintaining means to deliver virtual instruction and remote learning…”

As an academic health sciences center with students engaged in course work, ongoing clinical rotations and patients who need our help, MUSC must continue operations and meet the varying needs of our constituents. We will spend the next couple of days moving into a modified operations status that will maintain the safest, most well-organized and productive environment for all of our constituents. Certain employees will be designated to continue their work on-campus as is necessary. Supervisors will confirm which individuals and teams will need to continue their regular duties to support the institution. Please bear in mind that while we continue our work, we must each focus on ways to flatten the curve and minimize opportunities for this virus to spread.

University

Parents with child-care issues and those with underlying medical conditions should connect with your supervisors to confirm your ability to work remotely or to arrange for the appropriate type of leave.

Students will continue to take classes, tests and engage in other required assignments through alternative learning methodologies. Every college has mapped out plans for business continuity and ongoing education using advanced technology. For details, faculty, students and staff should connect with your program directors and individual college deans’ offices.

Each college dean will be making decisions related to the continuity of clinical rotations. Please stay tuned for more information from your program director and/or college dean.

For university staff, please communicate with your manager, supervisor or department chair to determine whether you have the option and technology to work remotely. If you have assigned work that can be done remotely, the technology to do so and you have approval from your supervisor, you may engage in telework starting as soon as you receive confirmation from your supervisor to begin. 

Please note the following operational details.

• In an effort to encourage social distancing and to reduce possible spread of the virus on the MUSC campus, our on-campus MUSC library location will be closed until at least March 31. Access to online library resources remains available.
• The Wellness Center will be closed until at least March 31.
• Research initiatives will continue with all appropriate risk-mitigation strategies in place.
• University clinics will remain open unless specified by the dean of the college that houses and operates the clinic. Please refer questions about individual clinic operations to the appropriate college dean’s office that is associated with the clinic.
• For guidance on updated University Human Resources policies visit: Guidance on Leave Usage for COVID-19 (PDF, login required)

More details will be forthcoming as we receive additional guidance from the Governor’s office and as this situation develops.

MUSC Health – including the hospital system and MUSC Physicians-operated clinics

All clinics and hospitals will remain open and on their regular schedules until otherwise announced. Care team members are expected to monitor their email messages and the medical center intranet for continuously updated information.

For more details about MUSC Health, please use these links:

• MUSC Health intranet (login required)
  
• Dr. Cawley’s most recent message

Next Steps

Please continue to watch your email for additional announcements and updates as this rapidly changing situation evolves. We know this situation is unprecedented and will require flexibility, understanding and the ability to quickly adapt so that we can continue to keep the wheels of our work and business in motion to the degree necessary.

We thank you for your thoughtfulness, dedication to personal responsibility, good hygiene practices and social distancing -- as much as possible. As always, the incredible work you do every day enables MUSC to fulfill our mission, even in the toughest of times. And we thank you for it.

Lisa K. Saladin, PT, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
MUSC

Lisa P. Montgomery, MHA
Executive Vice President
Finance and Operations
MUSC

Patrick J. Cawley, M.D.
CEO, MUSC Health and Vice President for Health Affairs, University

Thomas Crawford, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer
MUSC Health - Charleston