Current Initiatives

Current Initiatives

Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Sleepy - Taxi Service

As an effort to improve resident safety, the GMEC and Housestaff Council are promoting a new
program to reduce motor vehicle accidents caused by post-call sleepiness.  If you or a colleague
are too sleepy to drive home safely, please DON'T RISK IT!  Take a taxi home and back. Save your
receipts. Your department is now obligated to reimburse you.

Call Rooms

We asked for better cleanliness and maintenance of our call rooms.  Now, call room cleanliness is
monitored by monthly Walk Rounds.  Departmental administrators and resident representatives survey
call rooms regularly to ensure that they are clean and well-maintained with a regular supply of fresh
linens.  Any problems? Send us an email.

Patient Transport

We continue to advocate for more "purple people" (critical care transport) availability.  Next year the
hospital will increase funding for patient transport by an addition half million dollars with the goal that
non-housestaff will be responsible for at least 95% of all patient transport.

Health Insurance

In the past we have negotiated on behalf of the residents for improvements in coverage and services 
for mental health, infertility and well as expediting the Employee Health Plan claims and services process.

Safety & Security

We continue to work with the hospital to improve the safety and working conditions of students,
residents, faculty and fellows.

The HSC has initiated an effort to ensure that all residents have access to the medical supplies they
need to provide effective and timely patient care. 

Meal Tickets & Food Availability

We have previously fought for and won an increase in the resident on-call meal allowance to $5 to $6
per meal.  We also persuaded the administration to extend the cafeteria to 24 hour coverage.  

Over the most recent fiscal year we played a key role in ensuring that resident meal coverage continued 
and negotiated a policy whereby meal coverage will be distributed to residents based on the number of 
in-house call that their program requires.   

We are also working toward a cardswipe system so you don't lose those 50 cents at each meal or feel
obligated to buy cookies you won't eat. 

 Child Care

We are investigating funding sources to help cover resident child care costs.