Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Jan. 7, 2011 http://extra.upmc.com EXTRA NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR UPMC STAFF UPMC IN CHINA After successful expansion over the past decade into Italy, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, UPMC is preparing to make its first move into China, with a wealth of potential projects in the world’s fastestgrowing major economy. “Today we are looking at China as one of our primary targets for expansion,” says Chuck Bogosta, president of UPMC’s International and Commercial Services Division. “To be a significant global health care provider, we know that we need to have a presence in the Asian market. The biggest challenge is finding the right partners.” To help with that delicate task, UPMC has hired Travis Tu as the new head of its representative’s office in Beijing. Mr. Tu, who spent nine years in China working for other hospital companies, says China is hungry for medical expertise and a “name-brand” partner like UPMC. “China’s growing middle-class is starving for good, clean hospitals with patient-centered care and advanced technology. That’s where UPMC comes in,” says Mr. Tu. Born in Taiwan and educated in Singapore and the United States, Mr. Tu will be looking at opportunities throughout Asia, with a particular focus on China and South Korea. He previously helped to start two outpatient centers in China for publicly traded Parkway Health. After less than a year of exploratory talks in China, UPMC already has a strong pipeline of potential projects, primarily in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou. The majority of these opportunities are with academic hospitals or private health care companies, says Mr. Bogosta, and include potential development of a network of cancer treatment facilities, a technologically advanced second-opinion service for pathology, and hospital management agreements. “What is surprising is that we have so many opportunities so quickly,” says Mr. Bogosta. Although China offers excellent training for nurses and physicians, it is lacking in hospital management skills and has a need for more advanced medical and information technologies. “We think there will be a healthy exchange of knowledge that will benefit both UPMC and our potential partners in China,” says Mr. Bogosta. Other foreign hospital chains and health insurance companies are also trying to break into this fast-growing market, where the government has committed billions of dollars to providing affordable, communitybased hospitals for its citizens. With UPMC’s entrepreneurial culture and world-class health care and technology skills, “we think we’re well-positioned to be a significant provider in China,” says Mr. Bogosta. “We also think we can make a difference in the quality of health care and the quality of life for the citizens of this amazing country. At the same time, our efforts will bring new ideas, new jobs, and new revenue that will serve our patients and communities in western Pennsylvania.” INSIDE: Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC celebrates 100 years 2011 Weight Race UPMC Quality Chief named to Joint Commission Resources Board EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com UPMC CANCER CENTER OPENS AT UPMC HORIZON UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon opened at the Shenango Valley campus Monday, Jan. 3. This expansion to UPMC Horizon adds radiation oncology to UPMC Horizon’s existing cancer program. The center brings the most advanced radiation oncology services available at UPMC Cancer Centers community sites to UPMC Horizon’s service area. The center’s linear accelerator offers gated, image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with an on-board imager that delivers precise doses of radiation in a shorter amount of time than traditional IMRT. The new center also includes a patient waiting room with an educational kiosk, private sub-waiting rooms and dressing booths, four examination rooms, physician offices and staff lounges, and a conference room. The center is connected to the main hospital for convenient transport of inpatients. Members of the community will be invited to see the new center during a public open house Tuesday, Feb. 1. For more information about the UPMC Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon, call 724-983-7570. 2011 WEIGHT RACE: LOSE NOW. WIN LATER. Jump-start your new year by participating in the 2011 UPMC MyHealth Weight Race. The race begins Monday, Jan. 10, and ends Friday, April 1. It's a great way to make positive lifestyle changes and earn Take a Healthy Step points at the same time. Initial weigh-ins will be conducted during the first official week of the race: Jan. 10 to Jan. 14, 2011. Get started today. Form your weight race teams, consisting of three to five members, and create a motivating team name. A minimum of three original team members must complete the 12-week event to be eligible for team prizes. Prizes will be awarded based on the greatest percentage of weight loss goal achieved at your location. In the event of a team tie, a random drawing will determine the overall race winners. You also can register as an individual, but you will not be eligible for prizes. To register, log in to My HUB and select the Human Resources tab. Click on the MyHealth Online (Medical/Dental/FSA) link. Then select the Weight Race link from the MyHealth Online homepage. This year, you have more support than ever to reach your goal. • Check the weight loss goal calculator to determine your body mass index (BMI) and suggested weight loss goal, and then track your progress toward that goal. • Call or chat with a MyHealth health coach. • Visit the UPMC MyHealth Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, and get real-time information and tips. • Use the MyActivity Tracker located on the Weight Race weigh-in page to track your physical activity. Have a Weight Race question? Call a Member Advocate at 1-888-876-2756. 2 UPMC QUALITY CHIEF NAMED TO JOINT COMMISSION RESOURCES BOARD UPMC chief quality officer Tami Minnier has been appointed for a three-year term to the board of Joint Commission Resources (JCR), which sets quality and safety standards for hospitals and other health care organizations abroad. “I’m honored to be selected for this prestigious and influential board,” says Ms. Minnier, a nurse by training. “I’ve dedicated my career to ensuring the highestquality care for patients, and my JCR role will complement those efforts. Through this position, I will have insight and input into hospital quality and safety standards being set by the Joint Commission International, with an impact that is felt around the world.” As chief quality officer at UPMC since 2008, Ms. Minnier has played a key role in successfully leading UPMC’s hospitals in Italy and Ireland through the Joint Commission International accreditation process. She also oversees quality improvement and safety initiatives throughout UPMC’s 20-hospital system, where she has worked for 20 years. Ms. Minnier earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University and has served on the faculty of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. EXTRA 2011 Monthly Extra Publishing Schedule Feb. 4 — Deadline Jan. 25 March 4 — Deadline Feb. 22 April 1 — Deadline March 22 Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., please join the Center for Inclusion at UPMC on Monday, Jan. 17, for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club. In collaboration with Pittsburgh Cares, the Center for Inclusion, along with UPMC employees and community partners, will be asked to practice Dignity and Respect Tip No. 29 and Lend a Hand to those in need. Together we can make a difference. Complete the form found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VGPWKSQ to confirm your participation, no later than Monday, Jan. 10. May 6 — Deadline April 26 Date: Monday, Jan. 17 June 3 — Deadline May 24 Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys & Girls Club 29 North 3rd St. Duquesne, PA 15110-1047 July 1 — Deadline June 21 Aug. 5 — Deadline July 26 Sept. 2 — Deadline Aug. 23 Oct. 7 — Deadline Sept. 27 2011 CULTURAL COMPETENCY SERIES Nov. 4 — Deadline Oct. 25 Dignity and Respect Tip No. 11: Treating others the way they want to be treated is respecting others’ differences. As an organization, providing our patients with the dignity and respect they deserve includes making the experience meaningful to them as individuals. Dec. 2 — Deadline Nov. 22 Jan. 6 — Deadline Dec. 27 E-mail submissions to [email protected] before 4 p.m. on the deadline date. Questions can be directed to the Extra editor at [email protected]. Reminder: Flu shots still available Have you had your flu shot? Flu shots are still available for UPMC staff. Contact your local UPMC Employee Health Office. View locations at http://flu.infonet.upmc.com/EmpHlth Locations.htm. In the next few months, we will share real-life stories of how employees at UPMC put patients first by being culturally competent and recognizing those differences, ensuring they are taken into consideration for quality patient care. Our first story in this series involves a patient from United Arab Emirates who was to have gastric bypass surgery. She chose UPMC St. Margaret for her medical needs after investigating her facility options. In preparation for her arrival, the hospital staff researched cultural aspects related to caring for an Arab woman. Hospital staff collaborated to develop a plan of care that would meet her cultural, religious, dietary, and social needs, while maintaining the standard of care for gastric bypass patients. Staff worked closely with the patient’s family, implementing a 24/7 on-call translator when the family was not available. Staffing patterns were adjusted due to her culture’s prohibiting any male interactions. Hospital staff also rearranged the furniture in her room so that her bed could face east, as she preferred. The best way to foster cultural competency is by example. If you or a team member recognized that a patient had special needs, created a plan to meet those needs, and implemented the plan successfully, please tell us about it. E-mail your stories to [email protected]. If chosen, your story may be shared and highlighted in the cultural competency series in Extra. By treating people the way they want to be treated, we can all do our part to ensure that inclusion is at the core of what we do every day. 3 EXTRA EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com LIFESOLUTIONS CORNER “Everything makes me angry lately. My co-workers are really getting on my nerves — the least little thing sets me off at work. I’m yelling at my kids and even the dog! I think I need some help with anger management.” EXTRA Good for you for recognizing that your anger is becoming unhealthy for your relationships. You’ve taken the important first step of admitting to yourself that you may have a problem, and you are reaching out to prevent your anger from becoming destructive at work or home … and from affecting your physical health. EXTRA EXTRA Before your anger gets you into trouble, try some of the following tips: Take a timeout. Just as you do with your kids when they need to get themselves under control, give yourself a “timeout.” Get away from the situation, if you can. Go to a quiet place or take a walk. If you can’t leave a work situation, step away physically from the person you are upset with; take a deep breath and let the person know you can’t talk about this right now. . Learning and development opportunities are available for you UPMC offers a wide range of training modules to enhance management and staff development. Programs include training in leadership development, people development, and staff development. See what’s in it for you — check out some of our offerings. Upcoming Computer Skills Classes Microsoft Office Online Training Development Resources for Managers Focus on your breathing. Take three or four slow, deep, belly breaths. Don’t breathe from your chest; picture your breath going down to and coming up from your “gut.” Repeat a calming word or sentence to yourself, such as “Take it easy,” “I can handle this,” or “Chill out.” Close your eyes for a moment and think of a person, place, or thing that makes you feel calm. Consider other people’s points of view. Try to put yourself in their shoes to understand where they are coming from, in preparation for solving the problem. Practice empathy. Talk it over with someone. A good listener can help you to understand your own feelings and reactions and find ways to deal with them. Call LifeSolutions for that objective listening ear, to help you learn to practice the tips above, and brainstorm with you to develop a personal plan of action to deal with your anger. We can be reached at 1-800-647-3327. We’re available 24/7 for emergencies. And our services are free and confidential — one of your workplace benefits. Also, check us out online at www.lifesolutionsforyou.com. Click on the WorkLife portal log-in and put in your company code (upmc) to find articles, resource links, and webinars on anger management strategies. Nothing in this information is a substitute for following your company policies related to information covered here. 4 PATIENT EDUCATION MATERIALS ON UPMC.COM Print-friendly patient education materials are now available on UPMC.com. Created by the systemwide Patient Education Committee and clinical experts, these materials help to inform patients about strategies to improve health, prevent further disease, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. More than 700 patient education topics are available on the UPMC website and are accessible to patients, physicians, nurses, and employees, as well as the general public. The new print-friendly option increases accessibility to those who may not be able to download PDF documents on their computer. Visit http://www.upmc.com/ healthAtoZ/patienteducation/Pages/ patiented.aspx to access the patient education materials. EXTRA EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com CENTER FOR BLOODLESS MEDICINE AND SURGERY OPENS AT UPMC PASSAVANT EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA The Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at UPMC Passavant has been established to care for patients who are unable to accept blood transfusions for religious or ethical reasons or out of concern for blood safety. The center offers guidance to physicians and their patients on appropriate blood management strategies. UPMC is a leader in this field, and the center operates in collaboration with the systemwide Blood Management Committee. In addition, the center is positioned to provide consultations for the development of treatment plans for patients who are Jehovah’s Witnesses or members of other religious denominations that refuse blood products. “Physicians at all UPMC facilities are invited to use the resources of the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery to accurately assess the specific wishes of their patients who decline transfusions. A consult by the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery also can assure such patients that their refusal of transfusions will be addressed with dignity and respect,” says Perry Doebler, the center’s director. Blood management strategies and techniques offered include: Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery hosts seminar series The public and health care providers are invited to attend a free seminar series entitled, “Jehovah’s Witnesses, Understanding Your Durable Power of Attorney.” A question-and-answer session will address matters of conscience and their impact on durable powers of attorney. Upcoming seminar dates and locations are: Saturday, Jan. 8 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. UPMC Passavant–Cranberry Second Floor Conference Room Saturday, Jan. 22 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. UPMC Passavant–McCandless Assembly Hall Saturday, Feb. 5 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. UPMC Passavant–Cranberry Second Floor Conference Room Visit http://www.upmc.com/Hospitals Facilities/Hospitals/UPMCPassavant/ Services-Specialties/bloodless-medicine/Pages/Seminar-Schedule.aspx for a complete listing of upcoming seminar dates and locations. • Preoperative correction of anemia. The use of nutrition, iron, vitamins, and pharmaceutical agents often can address anemia in patients requiring elective surgery. • Intraoperative blood cell recovery and reinfusion. This technology is used to capture blood lost during surgery, clean it, and reinfuse it to the patient. • Hemodilution. Blood is removed during surgery, replaced with intravenous fluids, and returned to the patient with the goal of reducing or eliminating the need for transfusions. • Minimally invasive surgery and electrocautery. Smaller incisions and surgical instruments reduce blood loss. • Thrombin and adhesives. Human-derived and synthetic products can support the body’s ability to clot and reduce bleeding. Joint replacements, cancer surgeries, cardiac procedures, and organ transplants can be performed without the use of banked blood. Reducing the use of banked blood not only limits the patient’s potential exposure to blood-borne disease, but also helps to ensure adequate blood supplies for use in other patients. PANERA BREAD OPERATION DOUGH NATION BENEFITS WOMEN’S AND INFANTS’ HEALTH RESEARCH If you visit a Panera Bread café during January or February 2011, consider donating your spare change to Panera’s Operation Dough Nation. Donations during those months will benefit women’s and infants’ health research conducted by the Magee-Womens Research Institute. Donation boxes will be at all registers at the 26 Pittsburgh-area Panera Bread locations. Coordinators at the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery may be contacted at 412-630-7677 or 1-877-674-7111. 5 EXTRA EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com ACCOUNTING MADE SIMPLE Corporate Accounting and Supply Chain Management have partnered to deliver automated accounting in the eMarketplace, making it easier for UPMC employees to shop. The eMarketplace is accessible only through My HUB (https://myhub.upmc.com) in the eProcurement portal. Follow the tips below to help make managing your budget simpler. EXTRA The eMarketplace — think simple Every item you order in the eMarketplace has a predetermined general ledger account number that was preapproved by Corporate Accounting and Supply Chain Management. As an eMarketplace shopper, you should not change the account number of any item ordered in the eMarketplace. Budget limitations should not affect where an item will be charged or accounted. EXTRA Special requests — CAT codes are key Accounts are automatically assigned to your special request line items based upon selection of an appropriate category (CAT) code. Selection of the appropriate CAT code also ensures that your order routes to the correct approver and routes to the appropriate Supply Chain Management specialist for timely order placement. EXTRA Feel the need to change the account code? Did you select the correct CAT Code for the item that you are requesting? If you need to review the CAT code descriptions, use the search menu within eProcurement to find the most appropriate CAT Code for your request. For additional questions or assistance regarding Supply Chain Management, contact 412-647-8070. For accounting-related questions, contact your accounting department. AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S DAFFODIL DAYS FUNDRAISER The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) and UPMC Cancer Centers Volunteer and Community Services are coordinating the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days sale for UPMC staff in Allegheny County. Last year, more than $45,000 was raised — the largest amount given by any organization that participated in the fundraiser. 2011 Daffodil Days products • A bunch of 10 daffodils is $10. • Mini-potted daffodils are $12. Each four-inch, foil-wrapped pot includes three to four bulbs in potting soil. • Collectible vase and a bunch is $15. The clear, etched-glass vintage vase is six inches tall with a three-inch opening and is accompanied by a bunch of 10 fresh-cut daffodils. Vases are not sold separately. • Boyd’sTM Bear and a bunch is $25. The bear, named Liv N. Hope, sits 10 inches tall and comes accompanied by a bunch of 10 fresh-cut daffodils. Bears are not sold separately. • Gift of Hope — varying amounts. For every $10 donation, one bunch of daffodils will be delivered anonymously to a patient at a local hospital, treatment center, or nursing home in our community. • Project CARE is $25. The Boyd’s Bear, Liv N. Hope, will be delivered anonymously to a patient at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. All orders and payments must be received by Friday, Feb. 11. The Gift of Hope and Project Care donations are tax deductible. Visit http://www.upmccancercenters.com/daffodil for more information, or contact Lisa Huntley at 412-623-4636 or e-mail [email protected]. 6 EXTRA EXTRA PERKS New Year, New You As the New Year begins, many people are resolving to lose weight and take better care of their health. If weight loss is one of your resolutions this year, be sure to check out the UPMC Perks website when deciding to join a gym. EXTRA EXTRA Fitness 19 offers a discounted one-time joining fee of $59 and a $12 monthly membership fee. Membership includes access to more than 120 locations nationwide, unlimited child care services for an additional $10 per month, and a child obesity add-on program (ages 12 to 17) for a $5 per month membership with a $29 one-time joining fee. EXTRA Gold’s Gym offers a reduced one-time $69 enrollment fee and monthly dues of $29.99. Shadyside Spin offers one free class with the purchase of a 10-class spin package. Are you looking to purchase a home? Before you hit the market, check out the following real estate offers available through UPMC Perks: Howard Hanna offers UPMC employees a cash reward program on the sale and/or purchase of a home, along with mortgage services, closing cost credit, and various other services. Employees must register in advance with Howard Hanna's Relocation and Business Development at 412-967-7100, ext. 307, or online at www.hannagoldadvantage.com. American Property Capital Inc. offers a savings of up to a $500 appraisal cost credited at closing, and a $250 discount applied at closing. The Encore on 7th Downtown Hi-Rise Residence offers a waived application fee and 3 percent off the current rental price or acceptance of promotional special (whichever presents the greater savings). Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com MAGEE-WOMENS HOSPITAL OF UPMC CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SERVICE It all started on Jan. 19, 1911, when the Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital opened in the Christopher L. Magee homestead known as The Maples, located on Forbes Avenue and Halket Street. Upon Mr. Magee’s death in 1901, he stipulated in his will that after his wife’s death, the estate should be used to build and endow a hospital. This institution would be named Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital, in honor of his mother, and would “be open to the sick and injured of all classes without respect to their religion, creed, color, or previous condition ... I especially desire the admission to this hospital of all females who may apply for admission thereto for lying-in purposes and as to all such I direct that they be admitted without any question asked as to their lives or names,” Mr. Magee directed. And so was the birth of Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. This month, Magee begins a yearlong celebration of 100 years of excellence in the care of women and infants, which started in 1911 with just 14 new mothers and their babies. Since Mrs. Alfred Birdsall gave birth to the first Magee baby on Jan. 19, 1911, more than 500,000 babies have been born at Magee during the last 100 years, and outpatient visits have grown to 200,000 a year. During World War I, the hospital closed temporarily in 1918 while it was leased to the United States Army for treatment of stricken soldiers. This was during the worst influenza epidemic in U.S. history. The hospital reopened in 1920, and a nurses’ home was added in 1939. The facility expanded in 1952, and a new maternity suite was installed in 1956. The hospital added a research wing in 1959 and an antepartum and premature nursery in 1961. In 1962, Woman’s Hospital, a facility physically linked to Presbyterian Hospital that specialized in the treatment of diseases and conditions for women, merged with Magee Hospital to become Magee-Womens Hospital. The merger was tangibly symbolized by the addition of the Miller Wing to Magee’s facility, which housed eight operating rooms, 69 patient beds, two nurseries, offices for administrative and nursing personnel, and research laboratories and offices for the Department of Medicine. In the last few decades, Magee’s physical facility has been remodeled, expanded, and updated dramatically. This process continues today. Increasing numbers of highly trained personnel care for patients, performing diagnostic and treatment procedures unknown 25 years ago. In 2010, Magee ranked sixth in gynecologic care in the annual U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals. Magee also ranked 42nd in cancer care. Magee is not only a full-service women's hospital, it has recently expanded to include a range of services for women and men. From quality women's health and care to minimally invasive surgery, orthopaedic and spine surgery, plastic surgery and state-of-the-art imaging, geriatrics, and ultrasound — Magee has it all. To celebrate this historic milestone, the Magee family will celebrate all year long with monthly ceremonies, including opening and closing ceremonies on Jan. 10 and Dec. 18, 2011, respectively. For more information on the featured Perks offers and others, visit the UPMC Perks website at http://extra.upmc.com/perks.htm. 7 EXTRA EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com FORTY YEARS OF PURPOSE AND DEDICATION EXTRA EXTRA All she ever wanted to do was help people, so at the tender age of 16, Mary Daniels took a job as a nursing assistant at a small private hospital in Pittsburgh. Within a year she was referred by a friend for an opening at the Eye & Ear Hospital, and her 40-year career at UPMC was launched. A rich and satisfying career it has been. Ms. Daniels trained on the job as a vestibular technician to test patients for balance disorders. It was a natural fit that has withstood the test of time. For four decades, Ms. Daniels has brought a personal vibrancy and deeply human warmth to her work with patients who require testing for inner ear disorders. EXTRA “I just love the medical field,” she says. “Jobs in health care provide opportunities for people to give of themselves, which is the most important thing you can do.” Ms. Daniels works with a tightly knit group of professionals in the vestibular testing lab of the Balance Disorders Clinic of UPMC’s Eye & Ear Institute. The lab uses ocular motor screening, caloric testing, positional and rotational testing, as well as posturography and specialized vestibular testing to evaluate balance disorders. In order to prescribe the best treatment, physicians must first determine the cause of a patient’s condition. An accurate diagnosis allows the best treatment to be determined. During her tenure Ms. Daniels has experienced first-hand the evolution and increasing sophistication and computerization of vestibular testing. She was there at the merger of the Eye & Ear Hospital and UPMC, and has seen the progress of applied research in improved testing and treatment for her patients. Now, after 40 years of dedicated service to the Pittsburgh community, Ms. Daniels is moving on. “In deciding to retire I know I’ll miss the people the most,” she says. “My co-workers are like family, and my patients, they’re the whole reason we’re here.” She advises young people to enter health care professions. “In helping people we find a sense of purpose and meaning that we can’t get any other way,” she says. In retirement, Ms. Daniels will be making a difference in the lives of seniors at a neighborhood senior center where she volunteers. She’ll be spending time with grandchildren, traveling and touching people with her unique warmth and positive energy wherever she goes. CHECK YOUR CASH BALANCE PLAN ACCOUNT On Dec. 31, 2010, eligible UPMC employees received their annual retirement credit posted to their Cash Balance Plan account, which can now be viewed on the Your Benefits Resources™ website. To check your Cash Balance Plan account, log in to My HUB, click the Human Resources tab, and then select My Retirement under My Benefits. You will be linked to the recently updated Your Benefits Resources website, where you can view your Cash Balance Account balance in the Savings and Retirement “At a Glance” box. The Cash Balance Plan is an employersponsored pension plan in which you begin participating on either the Jan. 1 or July 1 after you have turned age 21 and completed 1,000 hours of service. Your benefit under this plan is based on annual “retirement credits,” which are based on your age, service, and eligible earnings. You get this credit on Dec. 31 of each year in which you are paid for 1,000 hours of service. For most UPMC locations, the retirement program consists of the Cash Balance Plan and the Savings Plan, which work together to provide annual contributions of 5.5 to 8 percent of your eligible earnings, in addition to your Savings Plan contributions, to help you build retirement income. For more information about the Cash Balance and Savings Plans, visit the Retirement section of Infonet. Also, look for your 2010 annual retirement statement coming to your home address in late January 2011. GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH ON FEB. 4 February is National Heart Health Month. Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women and help raise awareness with the American Heart Association by wearing red on the annual Go Red For Women® day on Feb. 4, 2011. Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of one in three American women each year — one per minute. Go Red for Women is asking to make it your mission to help save lives. Take time to “Tell 5” — tell five women you want them to live on GoRedForWomen.org. 8 In conjunction with National Heart Health Month, UPMC will be conducting cardiovascular screenings at area locations. Watch Extra for more details. EXTRA EXTRA Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com UPMC CHILD DAY CARE AVAILABLE The New Year may mean a new schedule for you and your family. If you are in need of child day care, consider a Bright Horizons center. UPMC has partnered with Bright Horizons Family Solutions to offer you quality day care at an employee rate at three convenient locations. EXTRA Bright Horizons at Southside Works accepts infants through preschool-age children. Located on East Carson Street, the facility is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The full-time monthly fee for UPMC employees is: EXTRA • $1,171 for infants EXTRA • $1,068 for toddlers • $934 for preschool ages This location also offers part-time care at community rates. More information is available online at http://centers.brighthorizons.com/southside. If you work in Oakland, consider Small Wonders at UPMC. Accepting infants through preschool-age children, this location is open from 6:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The monthly fees are: • $1,171 for infants • $1,068 for toddlers • $934 for preschool ages More information is available online at http://centers.brighthorizons.com/upmc. Located in Monroeville, Bright Horizons on the Golden Mile accepts infants through preschool-age children. Open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday through Friday, this location offers part-time care as well as full-time. The monthly fees for UPMC employees are: • $977 for infants • $977 for toddlers • $857 for two-year-olds • $785 for preschool ages More information is available online at http://centers.brighthorizons.com/goldenmile. To learn more about these facilities, contact the Southside location at [email protected], the Oakland location at [email protected], or the Monroeville location at [email protected]. FICA Reduction With your paycheck of Jan. 7, 2011, you will see a reduction in your Social Security (FICA) tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent on the disability portion of FICA. This reduction is capped at the first $106,800 of wages. The Medicare portion of FICA remains at 1.45 percent. This one-year reduction is the result of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which was signed by President Obama in December. EVENTS UPMC Sports Medicine Marathon Seminar Series Saturday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. LHAS Auditorium, UPMC Montefiore In the first seminar in this series, explore healthy tips for getting started in marathon training and preparation, including presentations on eating and the right fuel for the body, cross-training, and injury prevention. Sixth International Symposium on Regional Cancer Therapies Saturday, Feb. 19, to Monday, Feb. 21 Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Casino, and Spa Incline Village, Nev. This course is designed to cover the most recent advances in cancer therapy that are primarily of a regional focus, such as gastrointestinal, intraperitoneal, hepatic, ovarian, and thoracic. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Course: Radiofrequency Ablation to VATS Lobectomy Thursday, Feb. 24, and Friday, Feb. 25 Charles G. Watson Surgical Education Center, UPMC Presbyterian The two-day program will consist of a series of lectures as well as live case demonstrations. Experts will present technical aspects of these operations along with risks, benefits, and outcomes. Discussions on options for staging and treatment of lung cancer, focusing on early-stage disease, also will take place. Register online at https://ccehs.upmc.com/formalCourses.jsp#2923 by Feb. 14. Contact Geneva Pacheco at 412-648-6342 with questions. 14th Annual Meeting of the Translational Research Cancer Centers Consortium Thursday, Feb. 24, to Saturday, Feb. 26 Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, Pa. This conference will explore the interactions of the immune system and cancer in the setting of biologic therapy of cancer. Third Annual Diabetes Care Conference Friday, March 4 UPMC Shadyside This conference will explore the vascular connection: the link between diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. 11th Annual John M. Templeton Jr. Pediatric Trauma Symposium Friday, March 4, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 5, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pittsburgh Marriott City Center This national conference is a collaboration among Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Contact Krystal Moore at 412-647-8232 or Chris McKenna at 412-692-6503 for more information. 9 EXTRA EXTRA RESEARCH STUDIES University of Pittsburgh researchers are conducting a new research study in patients with diabetes. This study will test a new device that measures blood sugar values on the skin and compares it to traditional methods like glucose monitors. The study includes three visits at UPMC Montefiore in the morning. Compensation of up to $200 and parking are provided. To participate, call the study coordinator at 412-647-6799. EXTRA EXTRA Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are currently recruiting participants for a study about depression in mothers and how it affects their children. The study will test the effectiveness of an experimental talk therapy intervention for mothers who suffer from depression. To be eligible, you must be a mother, age 18 or older, who is currently experiencing distress and hopelessness, which are symptoms of depression. You also must have a child, age 7 to 17, who is currently being treated for a psychiatric disorder. The study includes nine sessions of experimental talk therapy over the course of three months. Follow-up assessments will occur every three months over the course of one year. The total time of participation for this study is one year. All psychological assessments and experimental talk therapy sessions will be provided at no cost. You and your child will be compensated for completing assessments. For more information, contact the Depression and Manic Depression Prevention Program at 412-2465588. EXTRA Is your child sad, tearful, grumpy, or cranky? We are recruiting children ages 7 to 12 with a depressive disorder. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of two talk therapies that treat childhood depression. Psychotherapy is free of charge and offered for six months. At the conclusion of treatment, parents and children will be asked to participate in additional interviews over the span of one year. Compensation will be provided for all completed interviews. Call Patrick McElfresh at 412-246-5714 for more information. Researchers at UPMC are looking for healthy men and women ages 35 to 60 to participate in a research study of how the brain changes with changes in blood pressure. Participants must not have hypertension, heart or blood vessel disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, or a chronic medical, physical, or psychiatric disease requiring medication. Participants will attend three sessions in one month’s time. Each sessions lasts approximately two hours. One session will include an MRI. Payment at the completion of the study will be $150. Some participants will be asked to 10 Jan. 7, 2011 | http://extra.upmc.com repeat these sessions in approximately two years. For more information, call Kim Novak at 412-2466200. The Center for Family Planning Research is conducting a research study to better understand how birth control affects the immune system of the uterus. You may be eligible to participate if you want to use an IUD for contraception and you are 18 to 40 years of age with regular periods, healthy, not currently pregnant or breastfeeding, and not currently using hormones for birth control. Participants will receive up to $300 upon completion of the study. The study involves two visits to Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC over two months. For more information, contact the Center for Family Planning Research at 412-6415496 and ask for the CHIC study. UPMC seeks healthy adolescents, ages 12 to 17, to participate in a study of physical illness and mood. To be eligible, your child must have no history of medical or psychiatric problems. Your child will be asked to complete an interview, a blood draw, and an fMRI, which is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic waves to take pictures of the brain. These procedures will be conducted twice, once at enrollment and again three months later. Your child will be compensated for participation. Call 412692-8635 for more information. Want to lose weight? Having hot flashes? A new University of Pittsburgh study is recruiting women with hot flashes for a research study using weight loss interventions to manage menopausal hot flashes. If you are 40 to 65 years old, have not had a menstrual period in the past three months, are having daily hot flashes, are interested in losing weight, and are not taking medications or supplements for hot flashes, you may qualify. Study procedures include a telephone and in-person interview and a six-month weight loss program. Laboratory procedures take place at UPMC in Oakland, and home monitoring occurs at your home or workplace. Participants receive $50 for completing study procedures and reimbursement for parking. For more information, call 412-6489186. Have you had a baby recently? Feeling sad, down, or overwhelmed? Researchers at UPMC are studying whether depression after childbirth can be treated with the hormone estrogen. One in seven women experiences depression in the three months following the birth of a baby. Women 18 to 45 years old, who have had a baby in the past three months, and are experiencing depression or lasting sadness, can participate. As part of the study, the participants will have contact with study staff in person or by telephone for eight weeks. Also, they will be randomly assigned to take one of three study medications: estradiol patch, Zoloft®, or placebo. Participants may receive up to $315 for completing the study. Child care is offered during visits and parking or bus fare is provided. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-436-2461 or visit www.womensbehavioralhealth.org. Volume 22, No. 1 — Jan. 7, 2011 www.upmc.com Extra is published every Friday for staff of UPMC by UPMC Internal Communications, U.S. Steel Tower, Floor 57, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. E-mail story suggestions or comments to [email protected]. EDITOR: Aubrey Mondi CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Amy Ashbridge Nikki Coffee Rachel Cunningham Alan Gintzler Martin Kinnunen Marilyn Pfaff Christine Stanesic Wendy Zellner UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations. © 2011 UPMC