Author: Carolyn Pennington

Successful Survivors Day at UConn Health

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  • From left, Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology at the Neag Cancer Center, and Abigail O'Brien, senior director of development at the UConn Foundation and breast cancer survivor, spoke during the event.
    From left, Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology, and Abigail O'Brien, senior director of development at the UConn Foundation and breast cancer survivor, spoke during the event.
The 19th annual Survivors Day event was held Sunday, Sept. 18 in the new Academic Rotunda at UConn Health. Abigail O’Brien, senior director of development for the UConn Foundation and a breast cancer survivor, kicked off the morning by inspiring guests to celebrate and “live life like you’re dying.”  She introduced Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology in the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Tannenbaum reminded the audience to reflect on not only the patients as survivors but the caregivers as survivors who are strong and resilient and are in the fight together with patients. Close to 200 survivors with their caregivers, family, faculty and support staff enjoyed brunch before creating beautiful drawings of a butterfly – a symbol of endurance, change, hope and life. The art piece was made possible by CT Art School in South Windsor, which had six instructors on staff to help narrate and assist with the drawing. Attendees also got a chance to paint portions of a mural that will later be displayed in the cancer center.  The event ended with nearly each survivor receiving a basket or gift card compliments of the generous UConn community.

 

New UConn Health ID Badges for Everyone

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In keeping with the new branding for UConn Health, the UConn Health Police Department will issue new ID badges to all employees who still possess a UConn Health ID badge with a blue background and the former UConn Health logo.  The new ID badge will include your name, department of assignment and a maximum of two credentials.  The expiration date listed on your current ID badge will not change unless your current ID badge is due to expire in 2016.  New ID badges for employees will be issued as follows:

Birthdate         Badge Issuance Month
January, February, and March September 2016
April, May and June October 2016
July, August and September November 2016
October, November and December December 2016

You must report in person to the UConn Health Police Administration window to obtain a new ID badge. You must also return your old ID badge or pay a $15.00 fee prior to being issued a new ID badge (cash, checks and credit cards are accepted). The old ID badge will immediately be deactivated when the new ID Badge is issued.

Our hours of operation for the issuance of ID badges are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 10:30 am and 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

Our People Make Possible Happen

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Food and Nutrition Services prepared a special meal on white china for the Dixon's 60th wedding anniversary.Thursday, August 11 was the 60th wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Dixon…but the couple thought a celebration did not look possible and would have to wait because Mr. Dixon was a “visitor” here.

Then came the staff of the University Tower’s 5th floor. They got busy, called in help, and the party was on.

Food and Nutrition Services delivered individually made meals on white china  and wine glasses for their sodas. Sounds of their wedding song – “Sunrise, Sunset” by Perry Como – filled the room.

A magical anniversary for the Dixon’s brought a tear to everyone’s eye….including the newlyweds.

Applause for the PAWS Winners

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PAWS Award July 2016
Representatives from the Medical 3 Unit Staff were honored at a reception today for the July PAWS winners. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

Human Resources and the Pride In People committee at UConn Health hosted an awards reception today for the July PAWS winners. The celebration honors employees who consistently perform above and beyond the expectations of their job and exhibit the following attributes: part of a team; awesome attitude; wonderful work ethic; and superior service.

Kidd Collins……………………………………………… CMHC – Hartford / Mental Health

Margaret Cummings…………………………………. UMG – General Medicine

Jessica Demarest……………………………………… Intermediate Unit

Sarah Higley……………………………………………. Surgery/Orthopaedics Unit

Michelle Masters……………………………………… Intermediate Unit

Carol Wiediger…………………………………………. CMHC – Hartford / Mental Health

Vincent Williams………………………………………. Orthopaedic Surgery

The team award went to the Medical 3 Unit Staff.

 

 

Broadcast Message to Retire August 8

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An email inbox (Shutterstock)Monday, August 8, the UConn Health daily Broadcast Message email, and the system that supports it will be ‘retiring.’ In its place, a new format and new name – UConn Health Lifeline.

The new UConn Health Lifeline will continue to consolidate internal announcements, however, in a more useful and user-friendly way. “It is no less information, but it is a modernization of look and employing an already existing online tool that is more efficient and really tailored toward the end-user,” says UConn Health Chief Communications Officer Chris Hyers.

The new Lifeline is coordinated by UConn Health Marketing and Multimedia Services with great support from University Information Technology Services (UITS). As a “self-service portal,” gone will be the days of emailing information. Now, users will self-submit using an online submission form which allows for a preview of the announcement and editing before and after final submission. Lifeline will be distributed on weekday mornings. To be considered for inclusion, announcements must be submitted at least two days prior.

What you will see as a reader is an expanded list of categories; such as Human Resources and Benefits; Lectures and Presentations; Research, Funding, and Awards; Student Activities, and more. This will make it easier for you to find the information of interest to you, click the link and learn more. Lifeline is designed as a companion resource to “The Pulse,” UConn Health Express, and events.uconn.edu.

Check out what you need to know on UConn Health Express for more details and guidance on how, when, and where to submit.

Send questions or comments regarding the new UConn Health Lifeline to uconnhealthlifeline@uchc.edu.

Main Lobby Closure to Impact Foot, Bus Traffic

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Main Building lobby (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)
The main lobby will soon be closed for renovations. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

UPDATE: The closing of the main lobby and opening of the academic entrance, originally scheduled for Monday, July 25, has been postponed, with further information to come next week. Therefore, the changes to Shuttle Routes 3 and 4 and the Storrs Shuttle, also scheduled to take place Monday, will be postponed until further notice.

Starting this weekend, the main lobby area of the main building will be under construction for the next several months. This is to allow renovations that will grow and modernize the lobby as well as the dental clinics and the Calhoun Cardiology Center.

The front entrance to the building will remain open with a detour around the construction Foot traffic will flow to the left and let out in the hallway that runs along the windows to the center courtyard. The lobby elevators will continue to function, but only serve Floors G, M and 1.

For employees that use the main entrance to get to and from their jobs, please note that it may be quicker for you to use Garage 2. Garage 2 is for employees only and has a dedicated entrance on the bottom floor of the garage. The employee entrance will bring you to the University Tower and you can access the Connecticut Tower by following the signs, which lead you through Radiology.

With this also comes changes to the campus shuttle services. Starting Monday, July 25, two of the campus shuttle routes will discontinue service to the main entrance. The Munson Road shuttle (Route 3) will go back to stopping at the academic entrance, also scheduled to be re-open by Monday, and the 400 Farmington Ave. shuttle (Route 4) will pick up and drop off at the University Tower instead of the main entrance. All campus shuttle maps and schedules are available at health.uconn.edu/park/shuttle-bus-service. CT Transit and CT Fastrak routes are not changing.

UConn Health Discontinuing Clinical Pediatric Services

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UConn Health has made the strategic decision not to continue to deliver clinical pediatric services.

This decision is in part financial and in part due that pediatric clinics fit more aptly within the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center model of care.

Connecticut Children’s has decided to operate pediatric clinics in the same sites of East Hartford and West Hartford. The effective date for this change is planned for October 1, 2016

However, Connecticut Children’s will be employing the same pediatricians and without any disruption of service to patients. Each year, East Hartford has approximately 8,000 pediatric patient visits while West Hartford has 4,500 visits.

While layoff notices were delivered on July 5 to 11 staff members, UConn Health is optimistic that through the filling of internal needs and jobs with pediatrics that Children’s will be posting that job losses will be minimal.

UConn Health’s leadership is working with the leadership of Connecticut Children’s to ensure a seamless transition that is supportive to patients, providers and employees.

For more information about this pediatrics news, please review the following Questions and Answers:

Q & A about Pediatrics

Does this affect neonatology or pediatric patients seen by non-pediatric specialties?
No, this change affects only the primary care pediatric sites of East Hartford and West Hartford.

Will this impact any UConn School of Medicine education or research activities currently associated with UCH clinical pediatric services?No. Pediatric education is conducted as a UConn School of Medicine function which is already conducted in part by Connecticut Children’s. This relationship will continue unchanged.

How much will be saved by this decision?
This decision will save nearly $700,000 annually.

How many UConn Health employees are employed in pediatric clinics?
Many of the employees are ‘dual’ employees, serving multiple UConn Health clinics in this location, so a count is tricky. In all, there are about 4 physicians and 11 staff who in part or whole support the pediatric clinical operation.

How many employees received notice, how many will be laid off?
Eleven people received layoff notices. Most are expected to be retained by UConn Health in other clinical operations or offered employment by Connecticut Children’s.

With this decision, will employees maintain their state employee status and state benefits?
Employees who stay with UConn Health to support the remaining non-pediatric clinical operations or transfer to other internal opportunities will continue as state employees. Those employees, including the physicians, who join Children’s would leave state service and become Connecticut Children’s employees.

Will all current employees be offered positions with Connecticut Children’s?
Children’s has expressed their desire to make this as seamless as possible. Children’s will make available to all involved their position postings so they can work through filling slots in a way that reflects their business plan and clinical operating model going forward.

Will Connecticut Children’s pay rent at East Hartford and West Hartford; are these locations owned by UConn Health?
Both sites are leased, not owned, by UConn Health. Children’s will assume a portion of the rent proportionate to the space they will use to operate pediatric clinics.

How many patients are seen at each site?
Approximately 8,000 pediatric patient visits occur at East Hartford and 4,500 at West Hartford annually.

Will this change decrease access to care?
Thanks to the Connecticut Children’s plans to operate pediatric clinics at these sites, community access to care will not change.

 

 

HealthONE Project Now Officially Underway

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R. Dirk Stanley, MD, MPH Chief Medical Information Officer
R. Dirk Stanley, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Information Officer

By R. Dirk Stanley, Chief Medical Information Officer

Disclaimer: The modern “information age” may not really be so modern. It actually started about 35,000 years ago in a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Some of our earliest human ancestors made cave paintings to share information with other humans and – voila – Homo sapiens thrived. Since then, information sharing among humans has grown exponentially, and in the last 150 years, health care leaders such as Florence Nightingale and John Snow have used this information to help save lives. Indeed, documentation, information management, and health care share a long tradition.

Therefore, as a history-loving doctor and technologist, I’m very proud to report the HealthONE project at UConn Health is now officially underway!

The HealthONE project is a 22-month journey to replace our various current clinical systems with a single, unified electronic medical record (EMR) from the Epic Corporation in Verona, Wisconsin. This ambitious and forward-thinking project will bring together large numbers of our staff, both clinical and administrative, to help decide as a team: What do we want clinical care for our patients to look like in the future?

Not only will the project break down barriers between doctors, nurses, and other clinical and administrative staff – it gives us a real opportunity to combine the best practices of the past with the most recent evidence-based research. New clinical decision support tools will help improve and streamline care, while new analysis tools will help drive research and identify opportunities we have yet to discover.

UConn-Health-One-sqWill all this bring change to our organization? You bet. But the change is going to be great. Just imagine the clarity, efficiency, and harmony of being able to find the information you want, at the right time, to guide the best decisions. The HealthOne project is going to help us design that future together, for the benefit of patients, families, and clinical providers.

To make this happen, UConn Health has now assembled a dedicated technical team who will be working very hard with clinical and administrative leaders over the next 22 months. They will collect information from our many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinical and administrative staff, and build the configuration and processes needed to break down barriers, create new opportunities, and bring HealthOne to our patients, staff, and community.

As a chief medical information officer, I’ll be part of both the technical and clinical teams, helping to guide the project to our go-live. It’s rewarding work, with a great outcome in our future. Until we get there together, I’ll keep an eye out for more opportunities to show you what one place, one record, one reason is all about. You.

ACO with Hartford Healthcare – What Does It Mean for Us?

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What it is

A voluntary collaboration, related to clinical care only and is separate from existing partnerships or affiliations.

What it is not

Not a merger, joint venture, or anything that involves the transfer of assets. As an ACO partner, Hartford Healthcare has no governance or other control over UConn Health.

For the past 9 months UConn Health has been pursuing the selection of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) affiliation partner from among the surrounding health systems and physician groups in Connecticut.  An ACO is a group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who voluntarily collaborate to coordinate care and ensure that patients receive the best care at the lowest possible cost. UConn Health’s process for seeking an ACO partner began with an October 2015 letter to 13 regional providers seeking interest in UConn Health joining one or more their ACOs “at a leadership level.” UConn Health followed these letters with meetings and phone calls with the CEOs and/or ACO representatives of these institutions. This process has concluded and UConn Health has selected Hartford Healthcare (HHC) to be its ACO partner.  The reasons for choosing HHC include that HHC leadership was extremely engaged and motivated to find a customized non-binding model for UConn Health that allowed for equal leadership. It was also viewed favorably that HHC has local leadership and a strong regional reputation as a quality healthcare provider.

Key characteristics associated with this ACO partnership are:

  1. The ACO partnership is voluntary non-binding collaboration that does not include any merger of assets, nor is this a form of  joint venture as that term is often used.
  1. It is essentially an agreement where the leadership of both entities will jointly identify and implement initiatives to improve the quality and costs of shared populations of patients.
  1. Once the ACO partnership identifies joint initiatives, the appropriate structures will be created
  1. UConn Health and HHC has equal leadership in the collaboration.
  1. To ensure maximum flexibility, UConn Health is not joining HHC ‘s existing ACO (“ICP”) rather this is a separate collaboration that will benefit from ICP’s experience without becoming a member of ICP.
  1. The ACO partnership does not affect existing clinical or other relationships with other regional health systems or providers.
  1. This ACO partnership pertains to clinical care, not education or research.
  1. This initial ACO partnership does not include any payment or receipt of funds.

What Happens Next?

UConn Health leadership and HHC leadership will work together over the next few months to identify specific initiatives that will increase the quality and decrease the costs of care for shared patients. We look forward to sharing these initiatives as they are contemplated and developed.

Parking News Roundup

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parking, skyWe know parking is one of your favorite topics so we’ve got some parking-related news you should know.

Name Change

First of all, the room scheduling folks are now part of the parking department so its new name is Parking Transportation & Event Services.

Director Allan Peterson says the change is a good thing because “as we continue to expand our beautiful and innovative patient care, academic and research facilities we also experience increased demand for event space, meeting rooms and parking. Bringing event scheduling and parking together allows us to more efficiently manage the capacity in both areas of our organization, while continuing to provide our patients with convenient parking options.”

Peterson adds that the room scheduling process should be relatively seamless with Leslin Vinton still overseeing the scheduling. They will continue to use the Meeting Room Management (MRM) system, and the current reservation process.  The room scheduling information which is currently on the Facilities Management website will be moved to the Parking, Transportation and Event Services website on July 1. The employee parking registration and payment processes will not be changing.

There will be two general email boxes for inquiries and suggestions:

parking.transportation@uchc.edu and roomscheduling@uchc.edu.

Good News for Paying Parkers

The employee payroll deduction for parking has automatically become a pre-tax deduction for all employees. “We’ve been working on this for the past several months after receiving inquiries from employees,” explains Peterson. “It’s really been a team effort along with Human Resources/Payroll-Benefits and the Office of the State Comptroller.”

It’s automatic so no need to fill out any forms. So check your pay stub – you should see the change in this week’s paycheck. If you don’t, contact the parking department at extension 4248 or Human Resources/Payroll at extension 2426.

And FYI, if you currently participate in the Qualified Transportation Account (QTA) program, someone from HR will contact you with further information.

Patient & Visitor Parking Rate Changes

For those of you who deal with patients and visitors, be aware that the parking rates are changing July 1. Also important to know – they’ll now be offering discounted self-park options for patients and visitors.

Up to 30 Minutes Free
31 Minutes to 1 Hour $2.00
61 Minutes to 2 Hours $3.00
Each Additional Hour $1.00
Daily Max $8.00
Lost Ticket $8.00
Valet Parking $6.00

Discounted Self-Park Options
Frequent patients and visitors may purchase discounted single use self-park validations.

10 Validations: $20.00
30 Validations: $50.00

The discounted self-park validations are single use and cover 100 percent of the fee. They may be purchased at the Parking Transportation & Event Services office on the 3rd floor of the ASB building, the LAZ parking office on level 1 of Garage 1, and at the LAZ valet cashiers.

Please note, the self-park validations are intended for use by patients and visitors and may not be used by staff, students, or contractors for parking on campus during employment or academic activities. Misuse of validations may result in disciplinary action and parking citations.

Finally, Peterson wants to thank everyone for their patience. “We believe the parking situation has improved for many people, especially since the opening of Garage 2, and will continue to improve as more of our construction projects are completed.”