--Elective Surgery May Be Scheduled through UMMG
--Information Technology Must Receive Hardware Requests by May 10 Deadline
--Self Magazine Looks to the School of Medicine for Advice on Sleep During Pregnancy
--Web Development Group Updates Web Sites for Epidemiology and Ob/Gyn
--Reduce Your Prescription Expenses with Mail Order Benefit from UnitedHealthcare
--Upcoming Calendar Events

UM EMPLOYEES MAY SCHEDULE ELECTIVE SURGERY
THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MEDICAL GROUP
Last week, Benefits Administration announced that HealthSouth Doctors Hospital, located at 5000 University Drive in Coral Gables, will no longer be a UnitedHealthcare HMO provider. Individuals who had scheduled elective (non-emergency) care at Doctors Hospital will need to make alternative plans. As of May 1, those seeking care from UnitedHealthcare participating physicians who utilize Doctors Hospital need to consider the financial ramifications if hospitalization or diagnostic tests at the hospital are required. Any services scheduled to occur on May 1 or later are now considered as out-of-network. Please note that many of those services are offered through physicians at the University of Miami Medical Group. To schedule an appointment with a UM physician, please call 305-243-5757.

SUBMIT COMPUTER HARDWARE
PROCUREMENT REQUESTS BY MAY 10
Medical Information Technology (formerly Medical Network Services) has set May 10 as the cutoff date for Information Technology hardware procurement orders to ensure that all requests are processed, invoiced, and billed in a timely manner prior to the upcoming end of the fiscal year. Every effort will be made to procure all requested products and process the associated IDRs before May 31. For more information, contact Medical Information Technology at 305-243-6475.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OBSTETRICIAN
LENDS EXPERTISE TO SELF MAGAZINE
Expectant mothers across the country will benefit from the advice of one of the School of Medicine’s own ob/gyn experts this month when they pick up the May 2002 issue of Self magazine. In the “Health Hotline” department of the magazine, Paul Norris, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, offers his perspective on sleeping positions during pregnancy.

GO ON-LINE TO VIEW NEW WEB SITES
FOR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OB/GYN
The Web Development Group has launched a new Web site for the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, along with a new site for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. View the revamped web pages of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at http://epidemiology.med.miami.edu. You can find the ob/gyn site at http://OB-GYN.med.miami.edu. Each site's visual enhancements are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, and they have been tested on both MAC and PC browsers, including Netscape 4 and 6, Internet Explorer 4 and 5 and Opera 5.

BENEFITS OFFERS PROGRAM FOR CONVENIENT
PRESCRIPTION ORDERS THROUGH U.S. MAIL
The Mail Service Pharmacy Program from UnitedHealthcare is the most convenient and cost-effective way to obtain medication for ongoing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, or diabetes. The program offers the convenience of home or office delivery and will save you money. When ordering medication by mail, your co-payment for a three month supply is reduced to the cost of two months’ co-payments. All necessary safety precautions are utilized with packaging. Delivery is through the U.S. Postal Service, and no signature is required. To begin receiving this benefit, call the customer service number on the back of your UnitedHealthcare membership card or log on to http://www.myuhc.com, and click on “365 Well St.” Your physician also can call 888-EASY-RX-1. Prescriptions must be written with a 90-day quantity in order to be filled. For example, if the drug is to be taken twice per day, the doctor must designate a quantity of 180 on the prescription.

QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPLIANCE?
TWO UM HELPLINES CAN ASSIST YOU
Medicare and billing concerns? Address questions to Third Party Reimbursement/Office of Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP. For information about this helpline or training programs offered by the compliance office, contact Gemma Romillo at 305-243-5842. Research integrity concerns? Report concerns regarding research integrity and adherence to federal or University regulations directly to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at 305-243-6415, or you can call the University's toll-free compliance hotline at 866-YOURCALL.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

HUMAN RESEARCH SUBJECTS
ARE TOPIC OF WEEKLY SEMINARS
A program of weekly small-group seminars on topics that pertain to the protection of human subjects in research continues May 7, with “Genetic Considerations in IRB Protocols,” presented by Lisa Baumbach, research associate professor of pediatrics, noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center, Room 3023. Future seminars continue through December, featuring such topics as “Gene Therapy.” The full calendar of seminars may be viewed at http://www.miami.edu/research/lectureseries. For more information or to register for any of these weekly seminars, call Katherine Morales at 305-243-2311 or e-mail kmorales@med.miami.edu. RSVP is required.

LINCOLN FINANCIAL VISITS CAMPUS TO
ANSWER YOUR FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will be at the medical campus Professional Development and Training Office, Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155, on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., conducting individual financial counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, call Aimee Hugdahl toll-free at 866-524-2443 or e-mail ahugdahl@LNC.com.

JOIN IN TO CELEBRATE LIFE WITH
PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY SURVIVORS
Volunteers are needed for the Annual Lubb Dubb Club Picnic. This event is presented each year for children who have had heart surgery at the University of Miami. The picnic will be held May 18, at the MetroZoo. Entrance to the park and parking will be complementary for volunteers. If you are interested in lending your time and talents, call 305-355-5096.