Transition Plans.  With the opening of the new Nethercutt Emergency Center scheduled for late July (see “Column One”), plans are underway to move the main entrance to 15th Street, close and demolish the existing ER, open a temporary entrance on Arizona Avenue and get the Laboratory settled into its new home in the Southwest Wing.

Here’s a tentative timeline on how these events will
unfold …

April Financials.  SM-UCLA & OH was $290,000 over budget in April, making our year to date financial results about $500,000 off the targeted goal.  Officials are hopeful that our financial performance will improve slightly over the final two months of this fiscal year.  Look for a progress report in next month’s Update.

Pension Plan Update.  Previously announced plans to restart UC and employee contributions to the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) on July 1 have been delayed due to a lack of state funding for this purpose.  University leaders will continue to discuss this issue with state officials over the coming months.  Although the new date for resuming contributions is not known, UC Regents expect that UC and employee contributions will be consistent with the state’s approach to funding CalPERS.  UC employees have not had to contribute toward the cost of their pension benefits for more than 15 years because the plan was fully funded.  However, current projections indicate the plan will be under funded in the near future unless contributions are restarted.  Watch for updates in future editions.

Newsmakers.  Welcome back to Dolores Siegman, who returns to SM-UCLA & OH as interim Unit Director of Critical Care.  Dolores has capably served our hospital in several capacities over the past few years … Welcome aboard to DerJenn “D.J.” Liu, right, who transferred from the Westwood campus to serve as chief technologist in Nuclear Medicine.  D.J. succeeds Chris Robinson, who retired from our hospital in early June.  Two other longtime employees, Louann Pedersen and Penny McClowry, will be retiring later this month.  With 25, 33 and 37 years of service, respectively, this terrific trio will be greatly missed!

We’re on Gamma Camera.  Nuclear Medicine is now using the GE Infinia gamma camera.  This technologically advanced system is used primarily for heart and brain imaging and bone scans.  It features a full field of view and provides superior image quality.  Additional features include patient selection from a worklist that is downloaded from the IDX scheduling system, thereby eliminating operator entry, and user-friendly image archiving for reporting to and viewing by the referring physician.  It’s the same system used by Radiology.  Consequently, images can be viewed with CT, MRI and ultrasound simply by entering the patient’s medical record number.

Parking Fee Increases.  Beginning July 1, parking fees will increase to $61/month due to increased operating expenses associated with providing the service at SM-UCLA & OH.  The increase will apply to all employees except those who belong to collective bargaining units currently in negotiations with the UC system.  Parking fee increases for those employees would be implemented after agreements are reached between their bargaining units and UC.  Questions can be directed to Jeri Simpson in Human Resources or Vernon Goodwin in Security and Parking.   
 

Honorees, left to right, Janine Hubalek, Myrtle Stephens and Nora Brierley

Service Milestones.  More than 100 SM-UCLA & OH employees who reached service milestones ranging from 10 to 40 years were honored at the Service Awards Ceremony on May 10.  Surgery’s John Lawson and Nursing’s Nora Brierley were the top honorees with 40 years apiece!  Two other employees, Janine Hubalek of Labor and Delivery and Myrtle Stephens of Central Service, were recognized for 35 years of sterling service.  To view the entire list of honorees, click on the file below.  Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, on your remarkable milestones!

Staff Recognition.  SM-UCLA & OH celebrated “National Nurses’ Week” and “National Hospital Week,” both May 6-12, in grand style with a Staff Recognition Reception on May 15.  The event featured the presentation of scholarships funded by our Board of Advisors and Executive Medical Board, as well as awards for exemplary performance.  Sylvia Jaurequi and Alison Wrigley were chosen as “RNs of the Year.” Dr. Gerard Frank was selected as “Physician of the Year” and Meg Armbruster and Al Johnson were honored with management awards.  To view the list of all award winners, click on the file below.

Meg Armbruster "CCP of the Year" Paddie Hill

Sylvia Jaurequi, Alison Wrigley

Al Johnson

Second Shuttle.  Why wait in traffic driving between the Westwood and Santa Monica campuses when you can hop on the UCLA Healthcare shuttle van?  And now there’s a second shuttle in operation, meaning one is available at either end every 30 minutes.  Each van contains bottled water for passengers and reading material.  Give it a try.  You’ll like it!

Referral Bonus.  Want to make some extra cash and win your dream vacation?  Refer qualified RNs to work in the Oncology Unit at SM-UCLA & OH and you could be on your way!  Our hospital is seeking experienced Oncology RNs as well as other RNs interested in training in Oncology.  If they are hired from your referral, you earn $2,000 and will be entered into a drawing for a $3,000 travel voucher.  For more information, email Sheri Monsein or call (866) 895-6690.
  
Art & Wine Auction.  On November 2, SM-UCLA & OH will host an inaugural Art & Wine Auction at The Victorian in Santa Monica to benefit our hospital.  The event will feature a live auction of art and wine, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.  Our Development Office is currently seeking art and wine donations for this event.  Please forward contact information for any potential donors to Development Director Wendi Morner or call her at (310) 825-5328.

Relay for Life.  Join the SM-UCLA & OH team for the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” event and help raise money for cancer patients and their families.  This year’s event begins at 9 a.m. on July 28 and continues for 24 hours at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica.  Participants can walk for a two-hour period or camp out over a 24-hour period while enjoying numerous family activities in a safe and secure community setting.  To join the SM-UCLA & OH team, called “Faith, Hope and Love,” contact team captains Ishara Bailis or Jean McNeil Wyner.  Open this file for more information.

Keep on Riding.  Kudos to Radiology technologist Tom Keep, who recently completed the AIDS LifeCycle Ride, a 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  The 7-day event raised funds for HIV and AIDS services.  Tom captained a team from St. Monica’s Catholic Church that raised almost $20,000 for the cause.  

Month at a Glance.  June brings recognition to healthcare professionals in the specialties noted below.  Please acknowledge your co-workers in these areas:

Wednesday, June 20, 2007
"The Benefits of BruinCard."
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Café Santa Monica. Representatives from UCLA will be present to explain the benefits and associated discounts of the BruinCard, and help you arrange to load money onto the card via payroll deduction.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007
"Wellness Lecture: Summer Safety."
Noon. 9 Tower Board Room. Sponsored by the Wellness Initiative, this month's talk will be given by the UCLA Healthcare Safety Department.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
"Credit Union Display."
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Café Santa Monica. Representatives from the University Credit Union will help you open a UCU checking or savings account and set up direct deposit of your paycheck.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
"Nursing Grand Rounds: Congestive Heart Failure."
Noon to 1 p.m. 7 Tower, Room 723. Jeannie Meyer and Loida Ellis will cover congestive heart failure, "from the surface to the core." Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007
"Fidelity Workshops and Q & A Sessions."
10 a.m. and Noon. 9 Tower Board Room. Fidelity Investments provides financial seminars on choosing the right investment strategy and enrolling in UC-sponsored retirement plans. Q & A sessions will be held between seminars. No reservations needed.

Thursday, June 28, 2007
"Battle of the Sexes Blood Drive."
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 7 Tower, Room 723. Second-annual challenge to determine the weaker sex. All donors receive a movie ticket and help earn bragging rights for their gender. See your departmental recruiter, call ext. 50888, option 2, or email gotblood@ucla.edu for an appointment.

Thursday, June 28, 2007
"Wellness Fair."
2 to 4:30 p.m. Café Santa Monica. Learn how to take better care of yourself so that you can take better care of others at this fair hosted by UCLA Healthcare's "Wellness Initiative."

Monday, July 9, 2007
"New ER/Lab Open House."
2:30 to 6 p.m. Southwest Wing on 15th Street. Come tour the new Nethercutt Emergency Center and Laboratory in the Southwest Wing on 15th Street, near Arizona Avenue. Refreshments, entertainment and giveaways.

Sunday, July 15, 2007
"Community Open House for New ER."
1 to 4 p.m. Southwest Wing on 15th Street. Open house for residents to tour the new Nethercutt Emergency Center scheduled to open July 25. Tours, refreshments, health screenings, kids' activities, entertainment and giveaways.

July 28-29, 2007
"Relay for Life Event."
9 a.m. John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St. in Santa Monica. Annual fund raiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. To join the SM-UCLA & OH team, email team captains Ishara Bailis or Jean McNeil Wyner.

Quotable "Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time." — Steven Wright Update is published electronically by Marketing and Public Relations. Comments or suggestions for future issues can be emailed to Ted Braun.