Graduate Medical Education
MSC11 6093
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-5156
Phone: (505) 272-6225
Fax: (505) 272-5184
email
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.
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 fees 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 contact the Health Sciences Center Computer Services Help Desk, 272-1694. The office is located 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:
- Program Director
- GME Office - 272-6225
Resident Council Ombudsperson - 272-6225 - CARS - 272-6868 Counseling, Assistance and Referral Service functions directly or through a referral system for counseling and support.
- Department of Psychiatry faculty is available for Houseofficers counseling at 272-2223.
- OMBUDSPERSON - The Ombudsperson is a confidential forum for expressing concerns and for exploring options that might be available for addressing those concerns. The Ombudsperson is a professional colleague who provides neutral, impartial, and independent support, education and dispute resolution to the SOM community. The Ombudsperson can be reached through the GME Office at 272-6225 or Student Affairs at 272-3414.
- EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - Educational achievement issues around learning disabilities, board preparation, or test taking may be addressed by services available through the University as requested by Program Directors or Houseofficer through Student Learning Support (272-8028).
- CAPS - 277-7208 The Center for Academic Progress Support is available to help assess
difficulties in test-taking, time management and study skills.
Compliance Issues can confidentially be reported via the UNM HSC Compliance line at 1-888-899-6092
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.
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. The Associate Dean for GME on behalf of the institution delegates the responsibility for all verification of training dates, as well as other verification of resident data, to the Administrative Director of GME. (See back cover for mailing address).
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, Mental Health Center, and at the Veterans Administration Hospital as a benefit. Food is available in refrigerators near callrooms at University Hospital. 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.
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.
Calculation
Meal vouchers should be calculated by the number of days and nights a
Houseofficer is on call for greater than twelve(12) hours per week day or weekend day.
Three (3) meals will be allocated for each call, two (2) meals for
each night float shift, and each meal will equal $4.50. In instances
where the formula does not provide for a minimum of $200 per
resident per year, affected residents shall receive a minimum of
$200 (two hundred) per year in meal voucher funding. Funds will be
allocated in a yearly lump sum that may roll over into the following
year. These funds will cease to be available when the Houseofficer
terminates their employment with UNM.
Graduate Medical Education and Program Coordinators are not responsible for lost or stolen identification badges once they have been distributed to Housestaff.
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 third floor of the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion outside of the mother and baby unit. The telephone number is 272 0480.
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.
LIVING QUARTERS
Although living quarters, routine meals, and laundry are not provided, the following services are provided:
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.
All Houseofficers are provided safe and secure parking by University Hospital at the Lomas Parking Structure. House officers are allowed to park on the 2nd level ramp and levels above of the designated parking structure in parking spaces for "employee and SOM parking". 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 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.
New Mexico state law prohibits the University of New Mexico from making payroll advances.
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.
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 services are available through the UNM HSC by contacting Janell Valdez at 272-8008. Additional information is available through the AAMC online at www.aamc.org/students/financing/debt/help.
Regular full-time Houseofficers shall be eligible for reimbursement of tuition for upto 8 credit hours per semester(4 credit hours in summer). To be eligible for reimbursement, the course must be taken for academic credit toward a terminal or advanced degree in a health related field, or courses which are offered for credit and are related to professional career development and successfully completed. Houseofficers dependents are not eligible for tuition waivers at the University of New Mexico.
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.
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.