UTMB Professionalism Resources

The following professionalism-related resources are available to help faculty, staff and students succeed in conducting daily activities with honesty and integrity.

GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES
Human Resources Consulting Services
HR Consulting Services provide subject matter expertise on a variety of HR issues including assistance with job evaluations, qualifications assessment, recruitment, management counseling, policy development and staffing metrics. For more information, contact HR Administration at (409) 772-8699, and they will direct you to the appropriate contact.

Office of Continuing Education (OCE)
OCE is dedicated to helping physicians and other health care providers fulfill their continuing medical education requirements. For information on CME courses over the Internet or other upcoming OCE events, visit its web site at http://www.utmb.edu/oce/. Interested parties can also email the office at continuing.ed@utmb.edu or call (409) 772-9300.

Organizational Development, Training and Recognition (ODT&R)
A division of Human Resources, ODT&R provides professional developmental opportunities through educational and consultative services to all levels of UTMB staff. ODT&R offers three levels of Leadership Development, General Employee Training Courses, Emotional Intelligence Courses/Assessments, Values in Professionalism, New Employee Orientation and other developmental assessments such as Birkman. Those interested should contact their supervisor about these programs. ODT&R can also be contacted about these programs or other facilitation, consultation and coaching services at (409) 747-6700 or hr.odtr@utmb.edu.

COMPLIANCE, ETHICS, MEDICAL ERRORS REPORTING
Ask the HIPPAA Team
A member of the HIPAA Team can respond to your questions or concerns about HIPAA, in general, or as it relates to your department. For assistance, fill out a HIPAA request form at http://www.utmb.edu/compliance/hipaa/hipaa-askhipaateam.htm#top. For other HIPAA information, contact (409) 747-8708 or mcponce@utmb.edu.

Clinical Ethics Consultation Service
Available to physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and administrators, this service helps facilitate discussion, analysis and understanding of ethical issues in patient care and research involving human subjects. The service also provides recommendations for solving ethical problems that arise in health care practice and research.

Every effort is made to preserve confidentiality and the service is provided at no charge to the patient or department. Ethics consultations can be initiated at (409) 747-1230.

Clinical Risk Management (CRM)
Services A department of the Hospitals and Clinics, CRM works to reduce and control loss to patients, employees and visitors with a focus primarily on loss resulting from the delivery of health care. Reports of hazardous situations and adverse events may be made by completing an Occurrence Report, or by calling CRM directly 24 hours a day at (409) 772-4775.

Conflict of Interest Committee
Questions regarding conflict of interest issues/questions can be addressed at http://www.utmb.edu/compliance/coi_additional_pages/coi-faq.htm#que2. If you still have questions, contact UTMB Conflict of Interest Committee's administrative support at (409) 772-3023.

Fraud and Abuse Hotline
This toll-free hotline enables staff and faculty to anonymously report suspected wrongdoing, including waste, fraud, abuse and violations of any federal or state laws and UTMB or U.T. System policies. The Hotline number is (800) 898-7679.

Office of Institutional Compliance
This office provides a broad range of assistance for compliance-related issues including medical billing coding, standards of conduct guidelines, teaching physician guidelines, compliance training issues, and many other compliance issues. For more information call (409) 747-8700 or visit http://www.utmb.edu/compliance/.

Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD)
OEOD works to assure compliance with all UTMB, UT System, federal and state laws, and other regulations regarding equal opportunity, sexual harassment and affirmative action. It also works to promote cultural tolerance and competency by fostering a culturally diverse environment. For more information, contact (409) 747-8823.

UTMB Diversity Council
New president-appointed working group committed to fostering an environment in which everyone—regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, physical capability, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or cultural background—can be a productive member of the UTMB community. Visit http://www.utmb.edu/diversitycouncil/default.htm for additional information on the group.

UTMB Professionalism Board
This president-appointed steering committee meets bi-monthly to provide direction for the University on professionalism initiatives. For more information about becoming involved in institutional initiatives around professionalism, contact Jennifer Raeke at (409) 772-9867.

The John P. McGovern, M.D. Academy of Oslerian Medicine
This School of Medicine organization is dedicated to the application of Oslerian principles of compassion and humanism to contemporary health care and health care education. The Academy is led by William Osler Scholars, practicing physicians in the School of Medicine faculty selected for their history of giving highly competent, humane, compassionate care who serve as outstanding teachers and role models for these qualities.

The McGovern Academy meets twice a month to study Osler and to develop ways to integrate his ideals into the UTMB curriculum and culture. Every six weeks, the meeting is open to everyone at UTMB and the public as the UTMB Osler Club. For more information, watch for upcoming events in the UTMB Daily Announcement listings, contact America Hayward at (409) 772-9327 or visit http://www.utmb.edu/osler/.

UTMB Professionalism Charter Subcommittee
This working group of UTMB faculty, staff and students meets weekly as part of a medical professionalism pilot project sponsored by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation. For information on how to get involved with the subcommittee’s professionalism activities, contact Jennifer Raeke at (409) 772-9867.

Student Honor Pledge Committee
A student-run committee that works to promote the UTMB Honor Pledge and academic integrity in general. For information, contact the Student Life office at (409) 772-1996.

ACADEMIC RESOURCES
Early Concern Notes
Faculty who have concerns about the professional behavior of School of Medicine students may include such concerns in the student’s formal academic evaluation. When they believe the concerns do not warrant such an inclusion, completion of an Early Concern Note allows confidential referral of students for counseling and less formal intervention. For more information, contact Dr. Michael Ainsworth at (409) 772-6928.

Honor Education Council
This School of Medicine student-advisory organization works to promote honor and ethical principles by sponsoring various activities including the annual White Coat Ceremony and special guest lectures that address professional behavior and ethical issues. The Council also investigates academic dishonesty cases and formulates strategies to reduce academic dishonesty incidence rates. For additional information, contact the Student Life office at (4-9) 772-1996.

Student Ombudsman
A neutral third party designated to hear University-related grievances brought forth by students. The ombudsman listens to and discusses student concerns, questions, or complaints, explains University policies. The ombudsman also provides information and referrals to help resolve the student's problem in an objective, non-threatening manner.

The ombudsman can handle various academic and non-academic concerns, such as fee payment, housing, financial aid, grades, academic issues, and other university-related issues. Confidentiality is assured. Calls should be directed to (409) 747-4820.

OTHER RESOURCES
The Goals Institute
The Goals Institute offers facilitation tools and resources for their four most popular programs so you can bring them into your organization and teach them yourself.  Visit their website or call and ask about these programs: 
1) Professionalism is for Everyone; 2) The Leader's Toolbox; 3) It's About TIME!; and 4) Soar...If You Dare!  Visit the Goals Institute at http://www.goalpower.com or call 703-264-2000.

VitalSmarts
VitalSmarts is a full-service organizational development firm that specializes in 1) Training of personal, interpersonal, and organizational skills; 2) Diagnostic and measurement tools and services; 3) Management and culture-change consulting; and 4) Research and development.  VitalSmarts applies multidisciplinary theory and practical experience to complex organizational challenges to achieve its mission of helping organizations improve their individual, team, and organizational vitality.  They partner with corporate and organizational leaders in diagnosing, designing, implementing, and measuring positive change.  More than three hundred Fortune 500 companies and numerous organizations large and small have successfully used products and services produced by VitalSmarts.  Visit VitalSmarts at http://www.vitalsmarts.com.

The National Board of Medical Examiners is pleased to introduce a new website for the Assessment of Professional Behaviors Program:

http://professionalbehaviors.nbme.org

We invite medical educators, clinicians, students, residents, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and healthcare consumers to learn more about this developmental program.

The Assessment of Professional Behaviors (APB) Program is a multisource feedback/360 evaluation program designed to provide participants with feedback on specific, observable professional behaviors as exhibited in medical education and work settings. The program is currently in development, with a large-scale pilot planned for 2007-08. Our goal is to have the program available for wide use in 2008.

The new APB website offers background information about the program and documentation of our current work, including the behaviors found on our survey instrument and program implementation guidelines. In the discussion forum, visitors have the opportunity to provide feedback and engage in discussions about our current set of behaviors. We welcome your input!

AAMC Professionalism Site

ABIM Foundation Professionalism Site

ABIM Foundation Physician Charter (PDF)

Center for Academic Integrity

Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

American College of Physicians (ACP) Center for Ethics & Professionalism

American Medical Association Professionalism Site

Arnold P. Gold Foundation

UTMB School of Nursing Center for Nursing Ethics, Law & Policy

Would you like to let us know about another professionalism program or group within your school or department? If so, please contact Jennifer Raeke at jeraeke@utmb.edu.