Health Care Advisory Committee - 15 March 2010

Budget Update

It looks like that the 6.1% increase will be approved. Final word will be given in late may. There is some on how segregated fees will be handles.

The new prevention director Tom Sieger is very seasoned public health experience. High hopes for him, served as state-wide instant adviser during h1n1. Starts on april 12.

Mental Health Models:

There are 5 finalists, committee will be invited to interviews.Mental health issues need to be connected to physical health problems. VA (being able to meet with someone anytime) program is most successful modal to deal with mental health.Not serious counseling, just lighter counseling is in demand.Drinking behavior is another mental issue that needs to be slid back a bit. UHS screens for high-risk alcohol use and possible depression; also relationship/domestic violence. It is in the form of a green slip. A lot of negative feedback from students about screening for alcohol. Depression has better feedback.

Student Health Survey:

They want to do a survey of students to find how UHS is doing. The survey is almost done, but some two new questions were proposed for adding, and one question would be rearranged.

Health Care Advisory Committee, 2/26/08

The HCAC advises University Health Services in budgetary and administrative areas.

The new University Tower at U-Square is coming along well, and UHS staff got to walk through the building in anticipation of the December move. We spent some time talking about parking issues and also handicapped accessibility. Parking, like everywhere else in Madison, will be tight but may be alleviated because most students will be walking to the new location.

The current satellite clinic in Sellery will be closing, and UHS had discussed moving it to Lakeshore but the Lakeshore redevelopment funds were not included in the latest state budget.
Question: Is U-Square too far for Lakeshore students to travel? Would a satellite clinic in the future in the Lakeshore neighborhood be adequately utilized? Part of the reason why the Sellery clinic was needed was because the University Avenue location was just so far away. Having U-Square in the center of campus will change traffic/usage patterns. Thoughts?

In other news, electronic health records are coming along well. There was discussion about integrating the publicizing and familiarization (and also taking health histories of incoming students) of the "new" UHS at SOAR.
Question: Would more information about the location/services/appointment processes of UHS have been helpful at SOAR?

1/29 Health Care Advisory Committee

The HCAC is the entity that reviews and voices approval for the UHS budget before UHS presents to SSFC. This afternoon's meeting covered only the review of that budget.

The budget's major changes reflect the U-Square building project and operational/supply costs associated with that, including hiring new custodial staff, installing additional telephone lines, upgrading antiquated technology, etc. Thus, there will be a significant operating deficit for this 08-09 budget that will dissipate over the next 4 years. The decision was made to run a deficit rather than increase student segregated fees.

Physical Therapy programs will be expanded and moved into a contract with the Dept of Physical Therapy at the UW Hospital and Clinics. The cost of the expansion will be recouped by patient (student) billings, but the overall costs for students will decrease because administrative costs will be subsidized by the seg fee budget. Currently, a student who utilizes UWHC physical therapy does incur those administrative costs.

As UHS moves into the new U-Square development this coming winter (Dec 2008, Jan 2009), they expect that the utilization of services will go up because of proximity. This will also unpredictably increase the operating expenses.

UHS will present to SSFC on February 14.

Question: Would you be more likely to use University Health Services after it has moved into its new location at University Square?

Health Care Advisory Committee - 11/27/07

The Health Care Advisory Committee (HCAC) is a non-voting group of students, University Health Services administrators, healthcare providers, and faculty. HCAC serves in a discussion/advisory role for UHS, particularly its budget.

Today's meeting covered a series of updates on UHS projects.

1. Budget update.
The budget will be discussed at the next meeting (1/29) for HCAC input before being presented at SSFC in February. The segregated fee threshold this year for UHS is 3.7%; a greater change than that needs to provide additional justification. Most of the changes from last year to this year involve the physical building move and one-time costs associated with that, including IT needs, equipment purchases, personnel additions, etc.

2. UHS Director search update.
The University is close to finalizing a Search-and-Screen committee to find a new Director of UHS. The committee, containing student representation, will be announced in the next few weeks.

3. Administrative Services Manager search.
An official Search-and-Screen will be postponed until after a Director is announced so the new Director has input. Until then, newly-retired former Director Kathleen Poi will serve in this role in an interim part-time capacity.

4. Electronic Health Records.
UHS has bought software to transfer medical records from a paper form into electronic versions, in addition to bringing various services online. It will be going live in part in January 2008 for scheduling, registration, insurance information, billing, and ordering for labwork, radiology, etc. Patient communication and web-based appointments will be coming in the spring, with the full paperless system in place by June (targeted).

5. Construction update.
UHS will be relocating from the west end of campus to the University Square development in winter 2008/2009 (targeted December/January). Currently, staff are planning for the move, selecting furniture, equipment, etc. Many pieces of older equipment and furniture will not be moved to the new building. Those will go to UW SWAP; it was also suggested that medical equipment be donated to programs like Engineering World Health. Questions about parking arose, especially in terms of handicap accessibility nearby to USquare. The University is not purchasing any parking spots in USquare so choices would be the city lot at USquare or other nearby parking ramps. However, the central location should alleviate some of the parking concerns because more people can walk to the facility.