June

Health System Academic & Research Employee Council Minutes Thursday, June 15, 2000

Present: Jane Adair, John Aufill, Kelly Bell, Leigh Ann Bush, Daweslyn Butler, Pat Harlow, Sharon Heyka, Bonnie Martin, Lynn McCutcheon, Sherry Morris, Gail Prince-Davis, Gina Steppe, Mary-Leigh Thacker, Eleanore Wade, June Wade, Charlene Williams and Pat Williams

Jim Kennan was the first speaker. The medical center is doing better financially. The 4.1% margin has increased to 4.6%. A consulting group is working to increase revenue. A project done in Neurosurgery has increased both efficiency and quality of care by using nurse practitioners for follow-up, and other changes have also brought improvements. Many clinics switched to hospital-based on 7/1/2000. Employees were given the chance to switch to agency 209. DHHS has deferred the implementation of APCs (Ambulatory Payment Classification) until 8/1/2000. The Children's Miracle Network broke the $1,000,000 mark for the first time, and raised almost $1,096,000. A motorcycle was donated for a raffle, and the drawing is to be 6/17. The value of the motorcycle is close to $20,000; a grateful patient and his family contributed it. Jim explained the snafu with the hospital tickets. The two different color tickets were well intended, but there was a failure in communication. Medical Center employees (agency 209) were issued blue tickets, and medical school (agency 207) employees were issued red tickets. The blue tickets were accepted in the cafeteria, while the red tickets were not. The acceptance of the blue tickets was to accommodate shift workers in the hospital. It was expected that those with red tickets could attend the picnic. When he became aware of the confusion over the acceptance of the tickets in the cafeteria, the Dean agreed to cover items purchased with red tickets. The Brandon Avenue light flashed on yellow for several weeks due to an adjustment problem. It is now fully operational and should be working. A national search for a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is being conducted. This position has a non-academic function in the health system to replace Mike Halseth. It will report to Leonard Sandridge to decrease his workload. Nick Carter is the COO (Chief Operating Officer). A new organizational chart for the health system is being developed. The governor has granted an additional holiday on Monday, 7/3. Agency 207 (medical employees) will be credited with 8 hours of compensatory time to be used within the next year. The extra time does not apply to agency 209 (medical center) employees. Clinics will be open. Blue Ridge Hospital is no longer health system property. It has become the property of the UVA Real Estate Foundation. Approximately 30 acres are on a long-term lease with Monticello. The business portion of Monticello will be relocated.

Other news:

• An anonymous donor contributed $1 million for a chair to the School of Nursing.
• A chair in memory of Dr. Butch Roberts will be announced in Pediatrics.
• An official resolution has renamed some suites in memory of Dr. Cail.
• Currently, an architect is being selected to design MR-6; MR-5 is being constructed behind McLeod Hall.
• The CMC received a $6 million grant, and Dr. Somlyo has received an $8 million NIH grant.
• Parking update: A question was raised about the difficulty in getting to the new Scott Stadium Health System lot (where 600 spaces will be reserved for health system employees) from 29N. It was pointed out that traffic backs up at both the Cavalier Inn (if you go down Emmett Street), and the access ramp to 250 at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House and Ivy Road (if you try to use the bypass). Although employees will not be forced to park at Scott Stadium, the express buses from U-Hall will be discontinued. Jim Kennan agreed to check on this parking issue. The medical center employee council had passed a motion to have free parking for those with 15 years or more of service, and to increase the fees for those with less than 15 years to cover this benefit. The resolution was sent to Dr. Cantrell and discussed with executive management, but all voted no. State funds cannot be used for parking. Fees charged for parking are used for debt service for garages (cost $10K per space), maintenance of parking, bus system, P&T operations, etc. Replacement buses are expensive; however, UVA tries to find good used buses to keep costs down. Some employees continue to park on the street, and pay nothing. There is still no discussion of a two-tier parking rate structure where those who make more, pay more. Leonard Sandridge is committed to providing a low cost option for parking so that individuals can choose. Some higher paid individuals choose to park in blue lots. It was suggested that the new temporary lot at the end of Hospital Drive not be removed as planned. Landscaping could help hide it from main grounds, and the spaces are needed for outpatients who come to clinics near Hospital Drive.

Bill Vining spoke next. UVA had more than 9,000 years of service represented among the 851 employees with 10, 15 and 20 years of service at the recent service awards ceremony. The 215 employees with 25 or more years of service had approximately 6,100 years of service for a total of more than 15,000 years of service. 50% of employees have more than 10 years of service. Employees display a high work ethic every day in their contact with, and support of, patients and students. While the trend now is for individuals to have 5 - 6 jobs in their careers, this doesn't happen at UVA. Its size allows employees to advance within the university. At one time, 40% of the jobs posted were filled internally. New grants provide new jobs and promotional opportunities. UVA has also been successful in retaining personnel whose grants are ending and placing them in positions paid by new grants and contracts. UVA's service awards were listed in the Daily Progress, Inside UVA and Link.

Other news from HR:

• The 8 hours of comp time for 7/3 can be used within the next year. Clinics will be open, and employees need to schedule the time off with their supervisors.
• The highest participation award for Give Air a Brake was won by Orthopaedic Surgery. The Spirit Award was given to Dr. Paul Dee who has ridden a bicycle to work for 26 years.
• The two upcoming trips (Lisbon & Prague) will be in the next issue of the Link.
• The increase in leave for those with 15 or more years of service is still pending with DPT.
• There is a new LT Care program; someone from Benefits will be invited to come to a future meeting to address this and other concerns.
• A question was raised about day trips to Potomac Mills or the Williamsburg Pottery. This has been tried in the past, and some trips have been successful, while others have fizzled. The council could sponsor a trip if desired, and HR would help coordinate it.
• New pay plan information sessions continue through July 2000. Sessions have been added at 400 Ray C. Hunt Drive for those off main grounds. New Business:
• It was suggested that the council recognize Beth Koehler, our former council chair, with a letter or certificate.
• Recommended speakers for future meetings are Martha Williams, Benefits; Dave Ripley and Donna Roach, from Human Resources, to discuss leave policies and the Fair Labor Standards Act; and Gene Block, VP for Research and Public Service.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes for the May meeting were approved with one correction: the outpatient clinics will be moving to an APC (not DRG) system starting July 1. There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.