The Open Enrollment Period is the designated time period when employees may change their benefits plans for the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1. The Evidence of
Insurability form provides the insurance company with information and proof of the medical condition of an employee or dependent.
Highlights of Open Enrollment include the addition of two new HMO health plans, changes in the Delta dental plan, and new life insurance coverage options.
Employees will also have the ability to make changes through the U. T. Touch system
using a touch-tone phone or personal computer. Personal identification numbers
for employees to use the U.T. Touch system will be mailed to the employees' home addresses in June. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available.
Employees who need to update mailing addresses may do so in writing to the Office of Human Resources' records
section or by e-mail to
<Collins@uthscsa.edu>.
1998 was a year of celebration for the Health Science Center, with a
host of activities and publications honoring the university's 25th anniversary. The public
relations campaign surrounding the anniversary, "25 Years of Miracles," was recently honored with two first-place awards, including the International Association of Business
Communicators of San Antonio's Bronze Quill Award of Excellence.
The yearlong celebration included special anniversary materials, a 25th anniversary
newsletter, a public service announcement shown on Fox Sports Network, a
"Health Science Center Night at the Spurs," a commemorative Mass at San
Fernando Cathedral, a special edition of The Mission magazine, special displays at area malls, faculty
book readings at Barnes & Noble Bookstores, the launching of the first
Mini-Medical School, numerous congratulatory messages from area businesses in local advertisements and
a special appearance by Gov. George W. Bush at a celebratory luncheon.
The San Antonio Professional Association for Women in Communications also recognized
the Health Science Center's 25th anniversary campaign with a first-place
Award of Excellence in the public relations/PR campaign category.
Dr. John P. Howe, III, president, said credit for the honors goes to the many faculty
and staff volunteers who participated in campaign events with such enthusiasm.
"Our 25th Anniversary was a yearlong celebration and recognition of how much
the Health Science Center means to this community. We are so pleased that this great
event was recognized with such high honors. I am very grateful for our faculty and staff
who participated with such enthusiasm all year long," Dr. Howe said.
He also recognized the distinguished 25th anniversary campaign co-chairs, including
former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, Jr., Frank Bryant, M.D., Charles Butt, Tom Frost,
Robert Herres, Ed Whitacre, Bartell Zachry and Senator Judith Zaffirini, for their
leadership and continued support of the Health Science Center.
The funding will allow Dr. Brackley to continue working on the Safe Family Project for victims of domestic violence. The program was established last year by Dr.
Joe Thornton, psychiatry, and patterned after the Project Hope model developed by Evelyn Swenson-Britt,
clinical nurse specialist in adult psychiatry with the University
Health System. Project Hope was established to help identify individuals with drug and alcohol problems.
Dr. Brackley, along with Thornton and Swenson-Britt, is working toward improving identification and referral for victims of domestic violence at the emergency center
and GYN Services at University Hospital.
"The infrastructure is already in place," says Brackley. Hospital staff can
now access resources for patients on computers in the emergency center.
The Safe Family Web site, sponsored by the University Health System and the San Antonio Police Department, provides information on domestic violence, phone
numbers of shelters and links to other helpful sites. The site has been operational since March and is being translated into Spanish.
Many victims of abuse refuse to admit it, so hospital staff must often draw them out. "If we can identify people, we can help them stay safe," says Dr. Brackley. "We
give staff the tools they need to ask questions and develop an appropriate response to the person in need."
For example, emergency center staff members are trained to take Polaroid pictures of injuries for the patient's file, in case of future legal action, Dr. Brackley explains.
They also learn how to be suspicious, how to question and how to interview a probable victim.
"If there isn't an obvious injury, then abuse is harder to detect. We need to look for people who are fearful, have gastro-intestinal problems, or chronic pelvic pain," she
says. Dr. Brackley would like to see universal screening, but privacy issues have to be considered. Sometimes questioning a victim in front of the abuser can put the victim at
even more risk. "You have to ask when the patient is alone, and even then it usually takes more than one person to ask before a victim will admit that there is a problem."
Training the staff in interviewing techniques is particularly important because abused women often are ashamed and believe the abuse is their fault. What's worse, health
care providers often ask, "What did you do?" or "Why don't you leave?"
Questions like that, Dr. Brackley says, make it even harder for a woman to admit to being abused and put her immediately on the defensive. "Leaving
is not always something a woman can do," Dr. Brackley says. "When she does
decide to leave is a moment of increased danger."
On average, says Dr. Brackley, women try to leave six times before they are successful." One woman Dr. Brackley knew was embarrassed and didn't want anyone to know
she was abused. "People would ask her why she was letting this happen. It was a very shaming experience."
After one emergency room visit, a police officer who had been at the hospital came to her home and gave her a pamphlet from the women's shelter. The words she
read gave her the strength to seek help. "You don't know who is the one who is
going to make a difference," says Dr. Brackley.
"We want health care providers to recognize the problem. With an alcoholic, at some point you have to say, 'This is related to your drinking.' It's the same thing
with violence," she says. "We would like to see the abuser get
treatment to help them learn different ways of coping. Abuse is really about control. We need to identify relationships
in which control is an issue, before it gets to the point of abuse."
Brackley has taught at all levels and worked in psychiatric mental health. In April she received the 1999 Psychiatric Nursing Education Award from the Society for
Education and Research in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (SERPN), a division of the newly formed International Society of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN).
Picnic organizer Joe Ocampo, instrument services, said the annual picnic will honor
Health Science Center employees who spend their free time volunteering and
giving back to the San Antonio community.
The "You Make a Difference" picnic will feature special tributes to employees who volunteer their time to everything from coaching children's sports teams to working
with the homeless.
"We want to thank them for their contribution," Ocampo said. "But we
don't want to miss the people who are here every day." So the event also
will highlight the contributions made each day by the many staff and faculty members at the Health Science Center.
Ocampo is looking for the names of employees who give back to the
community and photos of the activities and people they serve through
volunteerism. To
provide information about an employee's volunteer contributions or a
photo of those activities, contact Ocampo by e-mail at
<ocampo@uthscsa.edu> or call ext. 2980.
Picnic organizers also are looking for people to help with the picnic in various capacities. For information on volunteer opportunities at the picnic, contact Mary Yanes
at ext. 2205 or send e-mail to
<Yanes@uthscsa.edu>.
After 5 p.m. and on weekends, calls will be transferred automatically to the University Health System's NurseLink for triage and referral.
The changes were implemented after clinic staff consulted with a cross-section of patients, including Health Science Center employees, to assess their needs.
In addition, the clinic is interviewing candidates for on-site nursing support to further expedite phone service.
Questions or comments can be directed to Sherrie Knecht, clinic manager, at ext. 2726.
for Open Enrollment period
two awards for excellence
to continue efforts
Evidence of Insurability form needed
June 30 is the deadline for filling out the Evidence of Insurability
form, which is required if an employee wants to add a dependent or
make other changes during the annual employee benefits Open Enrollment Period July
1-31.
for Open Enrollment period
25th anniversary campaign receives
two awards for excellence
Safe Family Project receives funding
Dr. Margaret Brackley, family nursing care, wants to create an environment of concern for victims of domestic violence. A recent grant from HETCAT and the
San Antonio Area Foundation will bring her one step closer to that objective.
to continue efforts
HSC picnic honors volunteerism
Volunteerism is the theme of this year's Health Science Center picnic,
which will be held July 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard
adjacent to the Medical School and auditorium.
Clinic simplifies phone system
The University Clinic has simplified its phone service. Patients will now have
to call only one number to make appointments, refill medications and get any
health-related questions answered. The new number to call is 358-9815.