Graduate Medical Education

Resident Handbook
Miscellaneous Benefits

ANNUAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION

Houseofficers are strongly encouraged to receive the influenza vaccination yearly. Beginning in October, influenza vaccinations are available at Employee Occupation Health Services and locations to be announced in University Hospital and at the VAMC.

CALLROOMS

Monitored and secured call rooms are available in University Hospitals and in the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion. Callrooms will be located near bathroom and shower facilities and readily accessible to patient care areas. Callrooms will be equipped with computers with intranet and internet access or intranet terminals and telephones.
Callrooms will be cleaned and provided with adequate linens by housekeeping staff seven days per week. Houseoffices must recognize they share responsibility for living and working conditions in the on-call rooms and will cooperate in keeping the environment clean, free of unnecessary clutter, and otherwise attractive for themselves and their colleagues. Houseofficers who have disabilities, as defined by EEO (and University Policy 3110), can obtain access to the handicapped callroom by contacting the Office of GME in person. The callroom is located at 3- Middle of University Hospital.

CHILD CARE

A list of child care providers in the area which offers discounts who use their services are provided upon request. Discounts currently range from a 15% reduction in feeds to free registration.

COMPUTER SERVICES

A variety of computer services are offered to the university community through Computer and Information Resources and Technology (CIRT). Services include on campus facilities with access to shared-system computers, international computer networks and microcomputers. Houseofficer are expected to comply with UNM Computer Use Policy #2500. Computer training and services are available through University Hospital. You can contact 272-3282 or Educational and Consulting Services at 272-3356.

E-Mail accounts (GroupWise) are established as part of orientation for those who start at a scheduled orientation date. Others who start on a date which is not a scheduled orientation time will be required to obtain an E-Mail account through their program coordinator. GroupWise is the primary means of electronic institutional communications with Houseofficers, including communications from the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Houseofficers are expected to regularly check their GroupWise E-Mail accounts for such institutional communications.

To establish an E-Mail account or information on services available on the medical campus contacts the Health Sciences Center Computer Services Help Desk, 272-1694. The office is located in the in the Lobby of the HSC Library.

CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

The University recognizes that residency may be an increasingly stressful time. Support is available through the following resources:

CREDIT UNION

Houseofficers are eligible for membership in the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union, which has a branch not far from University Hospital. Your UNM check may be automatically deposited in most Albuquerque checking or savings accounts.

D.H. LAWRENCE RANCH

Houseofficers may use the facilities at D.H. Lawrence Ranch on a space available basis. It is located 15 miles north of Taos and 5 miles off NM State Road 3. Single and double cottages are available. Obtain information from UNM Physical Plant, 277-2421.

MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

Each clinical department has educations funds for Houseofficers. Houseofficers will receive a minimum of $450 for the use of books, journals, CD ROMS, state mandated medical licenses, audio visual tapes, DVD's, compact disks, cassettes, personal data assistance, educational/professional software, board review programs, conference registration and travel, and work related medical equipment. Unused funds may be carried forward from one year to the next. Program Directors must approve the specific utilization of educational funds.

EMERGENCY LOANS

Emergency loans are available to Houseofficers under signed contracts for up to $500 through the Alumni Association. Contact GME for additional information 272-6225.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION

All requests for verification related to credit applications and mortgage loans should be directed to the Office of Graduate Medical Education to expedite their return.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Houseofficers may participate in UNM's Flexible Spending Account by setting aside part of their pay on a before-tax basis to set up: a) a medical reimbursement account to pay certain qualified medical, dental, prescription, vision, and hearing care expenses for eligible employees or their eligible dependents that are not covered by insurance plans, or b) a dependent's care spending account to reimburse the Houseofficer for dependent care at a licensed facility, services from unrelated individuals, care at dependent care centers, and other qualified dependent care expenses thus reducing taxable income.
The FSA program is a fringe benefit authorized by the IRS. The FSA program year begins January 1st.

FOOD SERVICE (MEALS) ON CALL/IN HOUSE

Meals for Houseofficers on call/in house will be provided at the University Hospital and at the Veterans Administration Hospital as a benefit. Meal ticket vouchers are electronically distributed using the UNM HSC ID badge magnetic strip and are for use by Houseofficers only and not other allied workers.

Program Coordinators are responsible for maintenance of the electronic accounts. The credit can be redeemable at the cafeteria located on the 2nd floor of University Hospital. Vending machines located in the cafeteria lobby are available for after hours.

Meal vouchers should be distributed equally among Houseofficers both on and off service regardless of the rotation or service on which a Houseofficer serves. Off service rotators will receive their meal tickets from the Program Coordinator of the service to which they are rotating. Graduate Medical Education and Program Coordinators are not responsible for lost or stolen identification badges once they have been distributed to Housestaff.

Cafeteria

Funds will be allotted in annual sums and may roll over from one year to the next. Vending machines located in the cafeteria lobby are available for after hours. Refrigerators in the resident lounge on the 6th Floor of University Hospital shall be stocked with adequate frozen meals seven days per week for those on call overnight who were not able to access food in the cafeteria.
Meal vouchers should be distributed equally among Houseofficers both on and off service regardless of the rotation or service on which a Houseofficer serves. Off service rotators will receive their meal tickets from the Program Coordinator of the service to which they are rotating.

Calculation

Meal vouchers should be calculated by the number of days and nights a fficer is on call for greater than twelve hours per week day or weekend day. For example, Monday - Friday twelve hours or more of service = 2 vouchers per day, Saturday & Sunday = 3 vouchers per day.

LACTATION STATION

UNMH offers a lactation station for Houseofficers, as well as UH employees, to continue breast feeding children after their return to work. The lactation station is on the fourth floor of UH outside of the mother and baby unit.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Houseofficers have access to health and fitness facilities through UNM’s Johnson Gym, exercise equipment in the UH Callroom, and the Workout Room in the basement of the Biomedical Research Facility.

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LIVING QUARTERS

Although living quarters, routine meals, and laundry are not provided, the following services are provided:

LOANS

Loans from various sources are available to Houseofficers: UNM Khatali Alumni Association (505) 272-4129 American Medical Student Association/Foundation (800) 767-2266 National Association of Residents and Interns (800) 221-2168 New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union (505) 889-7755 Physician Services Association (800) 241-6905

MILEAGE

Houseofficers who are required to use their personal vehicles for rotations outside of the Albuquerque area shall be reimbursed at the rate of 0.32 per mile when driving to and from their training sites for business purposes, but not for other incidental travel within the location of their training site. Mileage will be determined using the UNM standard travel distance between cities. Program Directors will approval travel reimbursement.

PAGERS

Each Houseofficer will be provided with a long range text messaging pager during employee orientation or within the first week of employment by their department. All pagers shall be returned to UNM at the end of training with UNM.

PARKING

All Houseofficers parking is in the West Parking Structure located at 2326 Camino de Salud. Houseofficers are allowed to park on any level except reserved parking spaces. University Hospital parking permits are available from University Hospital Parking, Second Floor (above UH Security Office). Payment is made by lump sum at a discounted rate of $40 per year. The UH parking area is equipped with security cameras as you enter and exit the facility. Emergency response/panic kiosks are located on each floor near the stairwells. If you need an escort to your vehicle after-hours please call UH Security at 272-2160.

The University of New Mexico and University Hospital closely monitor parking. You are strongly encouraged to park in the designated areas. Failure to do so will result in parking tickets and possible towing. Parking tickets should be handled at once in a professional and responsible manner before the situation escalates to booting and/or towing. University parking lots are paid parking only. Individuals parked in lots without an appropriate visible permit may be fined and towed. Applications for University of New Mexico parking lots are available in the GME Office or at Parking Services, 1621 Central Avenue NE.

Parking at the Veteran Administration Medical Center is administered by the VA facility.

When a Houseofficer works an outside or away rotation that does not provide free parking to employees, UNM shall, upon presentation of a receipt(s) from the parking garage of the medical facility, reimburse the Houseofficer for all parking expenses accrued during the rotation. Receipts and the rotation schedule must be submitted in a timely manner in order to receive parking reimbursement.

PAYROLL ADVANCES

New Mexico state law prohibits the University of New Mexico from making payroll advances.

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SAFETY/SECURITY

UNM HSC and the affiliated hospitals will make efforts to provide a safe and secure work environment. Callrooms at the VAMC and UH are equipped with panic buttons in each sleeping room. The Callrooms on the 6th floor of UH are accessible by the swipe bar on the back of your UNM HSC ID badge. The hallways are monitored and the Callrooms are located away from patient and visitor areas. Escorts to your automobile are available after hours by calling UH Security at 272-2160. Suspicious activities at UH should be reported to security at 272-2160, campus police (designated as part of the city police department) at 277-2241, or by dialing 911 if appropriate. UH Security is located on the ground floor of UH behind the Welcome Desk.

UNM shall make safety training available to all Houseofficers who work at a UNM facility, and/or web based on-line safety training. Houseofficers who staff the Emergency Rooms and Psychiatric Emergency Room shall receive training on how to de-escalate violent patients.

Personal protection equipment including masks, gloves, gowns, goggles, safety leads, and other appropriate equipment shall be available to each Houseofficer, to use as needed. Houseofficers shall be integrated into UNM's infection control program. The literature, seminars, and other educational tools prepared by this program, when appropriate, shall be made available to the Houseofficers. The protocols for blood borne pathogens, developed by the infections control program, shall be given to the Houseofficers.

STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENTS

Many loans which Houseofficers received as students may be deferred for periods of time while in an accredited training program. Contact your lender to request the appropriate forms. All forms requesting deferment should be directed through the Office of Graduate Medical Education for authorized signatures.

STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION

Student Loan Consolidation services are available through the UNM HSC by contacting Edward Wycoff at 272-8008. Additional information is available through the AAMC online at www.aamc.org/students/financing/debt/help.

TUITION WAIVERS

Houseofficers or their dependents are not eligible for tuition waivers at the University of New Mexico.

UNIFORMS

White coats and laundry of these coats will be provided. The linen room is on the second floor of the University Hospital. Scrubs are available to all Houseofficers at the Central Distribution Unit, 2nd floor of UNMH.

The alternative site for Houseofficers working in the OR is the OR, Obstetrics is OB.

VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Application forms for benefits under the GI Bill are available in the Office of Graduate Medical Education. The certifying official is also in this office.

403(b) PLAN

In order for Houseofficers to begin developing their personal retirement funds, the University has a number of tax deferred plans, which include IRA and IRA Roth accounts, available.

For information regarding participating plans and enrollment instructions, please contact the Office of Graduate Medical Education or the UNM Payroll Department at 277-2353.

Funds are not matched by employer.

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