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Special Committee to Study Proposed Changes at UHS
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December 21, 2011
Dear Campus Community:
In recent weeks, you may have heard about proposed changes at University Health Services (UHS). To respond to concerns raised by some staff, students, faculty and the community, I am creating a special committee that will undertake a comprehensive review of the proposed changes at UHS.
Chaired by Associate Chancellor Susan Pearson, the 15-member committee's charge is to identify cost savings that will enable UHS to develop a financial plan to build a new health services facility for patients that meets 21st century needs while maintaining a sustainable operating budget.
We have no choice but to move ahead and construct a new facility so we can deliver the best health care possible to students. Currently, health services are located in three separate buildings, all outdated, inefficient and in disrepair. The changes announced by UHS, following extensive study and data gathering, cut expenses to improve the financial picture and enable the development of a new facility. The committee will work to reach the same bottom line, but if savings can be achieved in different ways while sustaining the integrity of the operations, then they should be explored. This committee will expand the discussion to ensure that our process is open and inclusive as we implement changes.
The proposed changes announced by UHS, which will be reviewed by the committee, include a reduction in holiday, night and weekend hours; elimination of the pharmacy, and reduction of in-house laboratory work with more tests performed by an external lab. The changes would cut 21.5 full-time equivalent positions, or about 10 percent of the UHS workforce.
In addition to Susan Pearson, the special committee will include:
- Bernette Daly, executive director of Health Services
- Donna Yezierski, associate director, UHS
- Three physicians from UHS
- Two UHS staff members
- Three undergraduates named by the Student Government Association
- One graduate student named by the Graduate Student Senate
- One representative from Administration and Finance
- One representative from Human Resources
- Nancy Buffone, executive director of External Relations and University Events
The appointments to the committee will be completed soon, and the first meeting is expected to be held in January. I look forward to receiving the committee's recommendations during the spring semester.
Robert C. Holub
Chancellor
