Early in the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, the practice appointed a group of clinical chairs and medical directors to form the Resumption of Clinical Activity (RCA) Task Force. They've been meeting regularly and will soon release their final recommendations for resuming clinical activity in the setting of continued social distancing and enhanced infection control.

The focus of these recommendations is not only to provide our practices a framework for recovery from COVID-19 but an opportunity to flourish in the new environment created by this pandemic. We have many unique strengths here at UT Health which gives us many avenues to respond to this crisis.

We have already seen incredible creativity from a number of our practices including:

• Remote Refraction Testing and Drive Up Pressure Checks in Ophthalmology
• On-Demand Virtual Urgent Care in the Primary Care Center
• E-check in and phone-texting upon arrival for Urology
• More efficient work flows in Radiology - minimizing or even eliminating the need to change clothes.
• Standardized COVID infection control protocol for all in-office procedures to streamline workflows in ENT

Critical to balancing the need for clinical growth in the face of continued social distancing will be the creative use of video visits and ultimately, extended hours. In addition, we look forward to even more creative ideas and workflow designs from each practice!

So get a jump start on your plan by bringing your ideas to your Medical Director or Practice Manager. They will then submit final plans to the chair of the RCA Task Force, Dr Rosende, by close of business day May 29, 2020.

Clinical Operations is on standby to fully support practices in this transformation. For assistance, please contact Casey Peterson, Jeanette Hernandez, Mary Lou Jew, or Johnna Nerios.

National Nurses’ Month kicks off this year in the midst of a pandemic that has us marveling at the courage, dedication and sacrifice of our nurses.

Read this message from our Chief Medical Officer and learn how you can help celebrate all of our nursing heroes.

To all our Wonderful Nurses at UT Health San Antonio:

Now more than ever, I so greatly appreciate the care you all provide. If one good thing has come from this pandemic, it’s the reminder of what’s important in life.

Not only are you highly skilled and competent, but most importantly you lead with the heart – I see your kind gestures in the hall, I hear your calm voices on the phone, and I appreciate your cheerful smiles in clinic.

As nurses, you’ve entered a sacred profession in caring for others, but now more than ever, you do it sacrificially. Speaking for all our providers as well as our patients, I have no other words than, Thank You.

Then again, words could never express the depth of our gratitude.

B

Help us celebrate our amazing nurses all month long!

Visit the UT Health Physicians Facebook page and share your personal definition of what it means to be a nurse.

UT Health San Antonio is doing everything possible to preserve the workforce and will continue to do so to emerge out of this crisis financially healthy. Everyone's hope is that a robust return of clinical revenues along with cost avoidance measures will prevent the need for further action. Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor finances closely.

I thought it important to provide a brief overview of the "Reduced personal leave" order and how it impacts you:

• All UT Health San Antonio employees with 2+ years of tenure are strongly encouraged to take five days (40 hours) of Personal Leave by July 15, 2020.
• If you don’t have sufficient Personal Leave, then use Vacation.
• This is in addition to any leave you have already requested.
• For Providers, cancel clinic sessions only as a last resort, but you may if needed. The 30-day cancelation policy is suspended for the next two months.
• Alternatively, if during the past two months you came to work late, went home early, or simply stayed home because there were no duties to perform, these hours can count toward the 40 hours.

Watch Dr. Henrich's 5/13/20 Message from the President here.

More detailed information, including a Q&A, can be found on the Mission Rx website.

For questions, please speak to your supervisor. Questions may also be submitted to AskHR@uthscsa.edu or the AskHR phone number at 210-567-UTHR (8847).

Thank you,

Robert Leverence, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Chief Medical Officer, UT Health Physicians