--Review UMMG Definitions to Record Proper Patient Conditions during Scheduling
--Dr. Bruce Nolan Crosses Disciplines with Election to Internal Medicine Society
--Watch for UM/Jackson and UM/Sylvester Promos during Olympic Games Coverage
--Reimbursement Claim Forms for Flexible Spending Accounts Due by March 31
--Division of Transplant Has Your Ticket to Ride at the Miami-Dade County Fair
--Wellness Department Brings Innovative Seminars to Your Department
--Discover the Benefits of Yoga at Daily Classes Offered on Medical Campus
--Upcoming Calendar Events

UMMG PROVIDES PATIENT CONDITION DEFINITIONS
TO ENSURE PROPER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING
In this installment of its continuing e-Update series on Professional Practice and Patient Access Standards, the University of Miami Medical Group (UMMG) provides the following definitions of patient conditions in scheduling ambulatory care appointments. Emergent: Condition requires that the patient be seen by his/her UMMG physician or appropriate UMMG consultant within one hour. Urgent: A condition that is not life-threatening, but requires that the patient be seen by a UMMG physician within 24 hours. Routine: Condition requires that the patient be seen by a UMMG physician or UMMG physician extender within three days of initial contact. For questions on physician compliance with these standards, contact Dr. Alan Livingstone at 305-585-1284. For staff compliance issues, contact Minor Anderson at 305-243-7100. If you have any questions for the UMMG committee, contact the chairman, Dr. Leo Twiggs, at 305-243-2576. Further definitions involved with appointment scheduling will be addressed in upcoming installments of this series.

NATIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE SOCIETY HONORS
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEUROLOGIST DR. BRUCE NOLAN
Bruce Nolan, M.D., associate professor and director of the Sleep Disorders Center in the Department of Neurology, has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM). The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine, the specialty of adult medical care. Although Dr. Nolan primarily works as a neurologist, his contributions to internal medicine are so significant that the organization chose to recognize them with this distinguished appointment. Dr. Nolan was elected upon the recommendation of his peers and the review of the ACP-ASIM's credentials subcommittee.

UM/SYLVESTER AND UM/JACKSON
SHARE IN OLYMPIC PRIDE AND SPIRIT
Now through February 24, UM/Sylvester and UM/Jackson are running 30-second commercials on WTVJ/NBC Channel 6 at various times throughout the coverage of the Olympic winter games in Salt Lake City, Utah. UM/Jackson will air its commercial offering "a team of physicians working for you." UM/Sylvester's two spots feature patients conveying the message, "I could have gone anywhere, and I chose UM/Sylvester." Keep your eyes glued to NBC 6 to check out the coverage, and go USA!

REMINDER: 2001 FLEXIBLE SPENDING CLAIM
REIMBURSEMENT FORMS DUE BY MARCH 31
Flexible Spending reimbursement claim forms for calendar year 2001 must be submitted to CoreSource for reimbursement and postmarked no later than March 31. You can obtain calendar year 2001 claim forms at http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2340-1;2335-2,00.html. For questions on 2001 Flexible Spending claims, contact CoreSource at 1-800-327-5462, ext. 7494.

DIVISION OF TRANSPLANT PUTS THE "FUN" IN
FUNDRAISING WITH TICKETS TO THE COUNTY FAIR
Lend your support to the Minority Transplant Program and treat your family and friends to a day of fun at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition. The Division of Transplant within the School of Medicine's Department of Surgery is offering special deals on advance tickets to the fair, with all proceeds benefiting the Minority Transplant Program. You can purchase a book of 36 ride coupons for only $11, general admission tickets for adults are $6, and youth tickets (6 ñ 12 years) are on sale for $4 (tickets are not redeemable for school field trips). "POP" tickets, which grant unlimited admission to rides on Monday through Thursday, are available for only $13. To buy your advance tickets and support a good cause, visit Ishmael Sharpe or Anita Edwards at the Professional Arts Center, Suite 202A. These deals will be available through March 13.

ADD SOME PIZZAZZ TO YOUR STAFF MEETINGS WITH
WELLNESS DEPARTMENT'S CREATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Are you interested in scheduling a dynamic presentation for an upcoming staff development meeting or to jazz up your office environment with a change of pace? The Department of Wellness and Recreation can visit your workplace to present special workshops, addressing topics such as stress management, creative journaling, time management, therapeutic art activities, on the job training for the soul, and more. For a complete list of presentations available to you and your colleagues, as well as a short description of each, contact Jennifer Pinto at 305-243-3209.

STRETCH YOUR BODY AND YOUR
MIND AT DAILY YOGA SESSIONS
Relieve stress, treat depression, or simply improve your posture with mental and physical therapy through yoga. Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 1 p.m., in the Ortho Rehab Building, third floor. You can purchase a ten-session pass for $50. Other issues addressed will include pregnancy and increasing stamina. For more information or to sign up, contact Sue Radcliffe at 305-243-3663 or e-mail Vilma Robles at vrobles@med.miami.edu.

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
The program of weekly small-group seminars on topics that pertain to the protection of human subjects will continue through the next five weeks with a series of lectures about how to navigate IRB protocol submission. The series begins February 12, with "IRB: Responsibilities of the Principal Investigator," presented by Roberto Domingues, M.D., chair of Medical Sciences Subcommittee "B," noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center, Room 3023. This lecture is designed specifically for study coordinators and principal investigators. A 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.

SHAPE UP FOR SPRING WITH WEIGHT
WATCHERS ON MEDICAL CAMPUS
Are you ready to shed those extra holiday pounds? Weight Watchers begins its spring session this week at the medical center. An informational meeting will be held February 12, noon, in ACC West, Room 128. The session lasts 12 weeks, and the cost for new members is $118; returning members pay $105. For more information or to sign up, contact Frances Kaniewski at fkaniews@miami.edu.

ENJOY HURRICANES HOOPS FOR FREE ON
EMPLOYEE DAY; ADDITIONAL TICKETS ONLY $1
Come see your Big East Conference leaders, the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team, as they try to extend their run for a spot in this year's conference and national tournaments. The Canes will take on Notre Dame at the Miami Arena on February 23, tip-off at 7:30 p.m. This is the Employee Day game of the season, and University faculty and staff can obtain a free ticket and can purchase up to five additional tickets at $1 each. Representatives will be on the medical campus February 12, 13, and 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in front of Au Bon Pain, to distribute tickets. You will need to bring your employee ID in order to obtain tickets. An order form is available on-line at http://hurricanesports.fansonly.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012202aac.html. Tickets also can be purchased at the Hecht Athletic Center on the Coral Gables campus. For more information, call 800-GO-CANES.

FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVES VISIT CAMPUS
TO OFFER INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS
A representative from Fidelity Investments will be on the medical campus to conduct individual interviews and address your financial and investment questions on February 19 at the Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. To schedule an appointment with a Fidelity representative, call 800-642-7131. TIAA-CREF also will be at the medical center to provide individual counseling interviews and address financial issues. These sessions will be held on February 21, at the same location. To schedule an appointment, call 877-267-4510 or visit http://www.tiaa-cref.org/moc.

MAGEC OFFERS SEMINAR ON DELIVERING
MEDICAL CARE TO THE HOMEBOUND PATIENT
Home care clinicians can familiarize themselves with medical care issues that surround homebound patients at the Miami Area Geriatric Education Center's (MAGEC) seminar "Medical Care in the Home: State of the Art," February 20 - 22 at the Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott. Other goals of the conference will be to help participants learn standards of home assessment and design for homebound patients and to recognize the principles of palliative care and hospice for dying patients in the home, among others. Continuing education units will be available. For more information or to register, call the MAGEC office at 305-243-6270 or visit http://www.miami.edu/magec.

COME SEE STUDENTS SHINE AT ANNUAL
EASTERN-ATLANTIC RESEARCH FORUM
The University of Miami will present the 28th annual Eastern-Atlantic Student Research Forum on February 21 - 22, with displays stationed throughout the medical center at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, Jackson's Diagnostic Treatment Center, and the Rosenstiel Building. Students from the United States and Canada will present their research in the clinical and basic sciences, in addition to offering oral and poster presentations. Bruce Kraut, M.D., Ph.D, pediatrician and professor of classics at the University of Florida, will present the keynote speech, entitled "Hippocratic Deontology." Lawrence Fishman, M.D., associate chief of staff for research at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, is the invited speaker for the Awards Banquet to be held on February 22 at the Doubletree Grand Hotel on Biscayne Bay. If you would like to attend any of the ESRF events or for more information about the forum, please contact Isabel Perez, ESRF administrative assistant, at IPerez4@med.miami.edu or Amanda Marder, ESRF co-director, at AMarder1@aol.com.

BASCOM PALMER SCIENTIFIC MEETING TO ADDRESS
MULTIPLE TOPICS WITHIN OPHTHALMOLOGY
Register now for the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute 40th Anniversary Scientific Meeting, February 21 - 23, at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Topics addressed will include general ophthalmology, cornea and external diseases, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology, and retina. UM President Donna E. Shalala will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony. Twenty hours of AMA CME credits are available. For more information or to register, call 305-326-6110.

TOPICS SUCH AS WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND
CLINICAL ETHICS ARE FOCUS AT MASTERS OF PSYCHIATRY
Join the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Florida Psychiatric Society for the fourth annual Masters of Psychiatry. This three-day conference will feature presentations on various topics, including psychiatric illness across the woman's life cycle, mood and anxiety disorders stemming from early abuse and neglect, and the future of psychotherapy, among others. The event will be held February 22 - 24 at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort, Miami Beach. You can take advantage of special rates on hotel rooms during the event, and the Fontainebleau also offers children's facilities for your convenience. Registration for the conference is $275, and psychiatry residents are eligible for reduced rates. For more information or to register, contact the Florida Psychiatric Society at 800-521-7465 or visit http://www.mastersofpsychiatry.com.

ETHICS PROGRAM ADDRESSES END-OF-LIFE CARE,
HEALTH LAW AND MORE AT ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE
The University of Miami Ethics Programs mark their 10th anniversary with a special version of the annual conference "Clinical Ethics: Debates, Decisions, Solutions," on March 1 at the Sheraton Hotel at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. UM President Donna E. Shalala will present the keynote address, discussing the new federal privacy and data protection law, which was crafted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during President Shalala's tenure as HHS Secretary. Additional topics presented at the conference will include end-of-life care, access to care, and issues in health law. A Spanish language session also will be presented. Continuing education credits will be available, and University faculty and staff may be eligible for tuition remission. Registration is required. To obtain a registration form, contact the Ethics Programs at 305-243-5723 or visit http://www.miami.edu/ethics.