|
Request for Mailed Copy of
Newsletter:
If you would like to receive a
paper newsletter in the mail, please contact Laura
Recchi at 323-223-4091 or send an email to info@health-research.org.
Send a physical address, and please include the
reason for your preference so that we may better
understand your needs. |
There is a listing
of HRA Administrative personnel with links to email
addresses
at the bottom of every newsletter for your
convenience.
All HRA Employees and Independent
Contractors:
Please note that
HIPAA testing is mandatory for all HRA Employees and
Independent Contractors. April 14 is the deadline for
HIPAA patient confidentiality compliance.
If you
are an HRA employee or independent contractor who works
at USC, you may take the USC test online. If you have
already taken the test, please fax the certificate to
HRA at (323) 342-0947. Attn: HR Department. Click here for login
instructions.
If you work at a Los Angeles
County site, you may take the LA County test. If you
have already taken the test, you must call HRA’s HR
Department at (323) 223-409 and provide the following
information: your name, date of test, and test
location.
HRA employees and Independent
Contractors also have the option of taking the test at
HRA’s offices. If you are interested in this option, the
times and dates are listed below. You must RSVP for the
class of your choice by calling 323-223-4091.
| Thursday, April 3
|
10-12 or 2-4 |
| Wednesday, April
9 |
10-12 or 2-4 |
| Thursday, April 10
|
10-12 or
2-4 |
If you
have any additional questions about new HIPAA
regulations, please contact Jackie Battle at
323-223-4091, ext. 113.
Grants & Contracts
News
Opening a Consolidated Various
Account:
Last month we discussed the steps to
successfully closing a study. Typically, when the
project is at a zero balance, your Grants &
Contracts Administrators at HRA can formally close the
study. In some cases, there will be funds remaining in
the study account even after all expenses have been
paid. In these circumstances, HRA can still formally
close the study and open a Consolidated Various Account
(CVA) for the remaining funds.
Why is it important to close a
study?
There are two main reasons why
it’s important to formally close studies:
1. We
have found that in several cases, there are remaining
funds that need to be invoiced on the study, even when
all contract items have been completed. Since the PI has
completed all requirements, he/she may not be aware of
this money that is legitimately due his/her account. By
conducting an investigation into the original contracted
budget, HRA can determine if there is billing to be
done…but first, the project must be prepared to be
closed. Advantage: funds added to your research
account!
2. Streamlining operations: many
PI’s have several open study accounts, when in reality,
these studies have been inactive or completed for
months. HRA continues to generate and mail/email Project
Status Reports (PSRs) for these studies, thus adding
bulk to everyone’s accounting systems. Advantage: by
closing studies and depositing remaining funds in one
CVA, efficiency prevails!
In the coming
months, you will be receiving communications from HRA
staff members seeking to research inactive projects.
Currently, we are working on a revised policy and
procedure regarding the handling of inactive studies.
Our current consideration is to close all studies that
have had no activity for over one year. Every attempt
will be made to contact investigators before mandatory
closing of these projects. Take advantage of this great
opportunity to reduce paperwork and potentially increase
your funds!
A few notes from
Accounts Payable:
1) Please
remember to Remember to send A/P any change of
mailing address.
2) Make sure to choose
whether you would like each check to be held for
pick-up or mailed. If you do not mark a choice,
the check will be mailed.
3) Please specify
the exact date required on the requisition.
"ASAP" is not clear. If the check should be
rushed, please specify the date required and add
the word "RUSH" to the top of the requsition. This
will enable us to process checks more efficiently
for everyone.
Please contact Jane Walker
with any questions.
Phone: 323-223-4091 ext.
130 or Email:
jwalker@health-research.org |
HRA's Human Resources
Department would like to thank all
Administrative and Project Employees for their
cooperation in the open enrollment for benefits.
We were happy to be able to implement another increase
in the monthly amount paid by HRA. In September the
amount was increased by $21, and this last increase was
$30. That makes a $51 monthly increase for each employee
in the past year! For those of you who switched plans,
we hope you will be happy with them. Don't forget there
will be another open enrollment in July for dental
plans, Kaiser Medical, and life insurance. Please
contact the HR department if you have any questions,
comments, or concerns.
HRA employee
termination paperwork process
If
a Full or Part Time Employee terminates for any
reason, the following procedure must be followed:
Click here for
procedure |
Employment
Opportunities:
Position: HIV/HCV
Research Medical Staff/Vaccine
Provider
Description: Work with professional
staff to conduct HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
prevention study, including administration of combined
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine (“Twinrix” vaccine)
to high risk population.
Qualifications: Must
be a currently certified medical professional
(preferably LVN or RN) that may provide vaccine without
direct supervision from a physician. Must possess valid
California Class "3" driver's license, working vehicle
and auto insurance.
Part-time positions available
immediately. Some evening and weekend hours may be
required. Starting salary: $16-$20/hour, depending on
training and experience.
For a more detailed
description and contact information, please visit the
HRA Website Employment page at http://www.health-research.org/employment.html
| HRA Payroll Dates |
| Time
Period |
Timesheet
Due |
Payday |
| 3/16-3/31 |
4/7 |
4/15 |
| 4/1-4/15 |
4/21 |
4/30 |
| 4/16-4/30 |
5/7 |
5/15 |
HRA Research Pharmacy: Take Another Look
The
HRA Research Pharmacy has been undergoing several
important changes over the last six months. These
changes began with the hiring of John Sang as a
consultant for HRA. Sang immediately got busy evaluating
all aspects of the pharmacy, from facilities to systems
and personnel. His main objective for the pharmacy has
been to improve operations so that it will be able to
support more research.
Some of the most
significant changes have been in operations and
personnel. Three new pharmacists have been hired since
October, which addresses concerns over legal issues and
significantly raises the level of expertise at the
facility. Part of this process involved restructuring
the compensation system so that the pharmacy could be a
more competitive employer. Click here
for continuation of story...
Spotlight on Project Employees: Kathy Yutchisen, “The Heart of
Corazon”
Contributed by Kimberley
Mooney
One of Kathy Yutchisen’s favorite
pastimes is watching old movies. Her favorite of these
is “Auntie Mame,” starring Rosalind Russell. Kathy
shares and reflects Auntie Mame’s outlook on life, and
motto, “Live, live, live!”
While earning her
Master’s Degree at Cal State Fullerton, Kathy took a
position with the prominent Karen Finello, MD, PhD.,
Program Director in the now-named Corazon de La Familia
Infant-Child Intervention Program - the topic of which
makes Kathy come alive. Click here for
continuation of story...
| Clinical Trial Opportunities
from
HRA |
If you would like help finding studies
or have questions about the listings below, please
contact the Business Development Dept. at 323-223-4091
for assistance.
USC HIPAA Test Login
Instructions:
Go to -
www.usc.edu/compliance
Click
on - HIPAA Privacy Rule
Click on - HIPAA Online
Education Program
Review System Specifications
-
The following Plug-ins are required:
Macromedia
Flash Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator. The program will
prompt you to download any required
plug-ins.
Click on - Continue to HIPAA Education
Program
Click on - USC Office of Compliance Education
Program
Click on - New User
Click on - Guest
Self-Registration
Follow instructions for
Self-Registration.
Click on - Complete Self
Registration
Click on - Proceed to Compliance
Education Program Now!
Enter - PIN or ID and
Password
Click on - Login to Compliance
Education
Click on - Click to Continue
You are
now ready to complete the USC HIPAA Privacy Education
Course. Follow the instructions and remember to fax a
copy of your certificate to Human Resources at
323-342-0947.
Employee Termination
Procedure:
Voluntary Termination
When
employees voluntarily quit, they must provide their
supervisors with a written resignation letter. The
written notice of resignation should indicate the reason
for leaving and the employee’s last day of work.
Supervisors should forward this letter to HRA upon
receipt.
Involuntarily Termination
All
involuntary terminations require the supervisor to fill
out a termination notice. This form indicates when and
why an employee was terminated.
Termination
Notice
A Termination Notice needs to be filled out
for any employee who is leaving HRA for any reason. Be
sure to check the "reason for terminating" box. The
comments section is for the employee to fill out with
any additional information. Once the employee and
supervisor sign the form, it should be sent to HRA.
Final Timesheets & Paycheck
To calculate
an employee’s final paycheck, we must have the
employee’s last two timesheets. This way we can make
sure the employee is correctly paid at time of
termination. Final paychecks will be mailed to the
employee’s home unless they request to pick it up at
HRA.
Questions and Comments: Human Resources at
323-223-4091 x103 or email dheinsberg@Health-Research.org
(HRA Pharmacy continued)
Another improvement
was the communications equipment. The on-call paging
system has been updated to a call-forwarding system.
Since the system has been put into place, there have
been no missed calls, even during the transition. The
computer systems have been upgraded to improve both
security and access for employees. The billing process
has been streamlined to run more smoothly and
efficiently.
The facility and equipment have been
cleaned, organized and inspected. Both the LAF airflow
hood system and the main refrigerator have been
serviced, and a back-up refrigeration system has been
designed. The locks to the building have been changed
because of too much traffic in the past; now only a
small group of people is authorized to possess keys to
the facility.
A few very good reasons to use the
HRA Pharmacy would be if the study is double-blind,
involves a difficult mixture, or if study activities
require on-call services. The pharmacy is available for
its studies 24 hours a day/7 days a week. A majority of
work done in the pharmacy relates to documentation and
compliance, and studies with strict protocols requiring
extensive documentation would be well served here. A
community marker board notes numerous daily activities –
frequent audits, inventory checks, and visitors from
sponsors and investigators.
The HRA Pharmacy is
in excellent shape and ready to take on new challenges.
If you have questions about the pharmacy’s services or
fees, please contact them directly at
323-222-9923 or email: jsang@health-research.org.
(Kathy Yutchisen
continued)
Corazon De
La Familia is an early intervention program designed to
work with premature, low birth weight infants, toddlers
and preschoolers, and their families. The goal of the
program is to assist families in becoming more competent
in their role as parents and in advocating for their
children. Referrals for program services come from the
NICUs under USC Neonatology Division, as well as the
Small Premature Clinic at LAC+USC. Home visitors work
with families in their homes from birth until 5 years of
age. They provide education and support in all areas of
the child’s development, advocacy, and linkages to
special services. Annually, the program serves 80-100
families. Kathy manages the office, does research and
evaluation, performs reporting, and writes grants needed
to locate and procure the means necessary to continue
working with the children and their families. One of
Kathy’s current goals is to secure funding for next
year. In the future, she would like to provide follow-up
beyond five years, to include progress education,
behavior and social growth.
Kathy was born a
traveler. Her parents took her on numerous camping trips
in the south and southwestern parts of the United States
when she was growing up. She’s also traveled to the
Caribbean with friends, and to Mexico for the Rosarita
Ensenada bike race, where she met her husband George.
Other stops include Tahiti, Hawaii, Europe, and Canada.
She hopes her next trip will be to Ireland. She commutes
everyday from Irvine and believes the support of her
family and husband is integral to her achievements and
the confidence to follow her dreams. As a child, Kathy
was hospitalized and remembers the kind volunteers that
brought games and smiles to her bedside. Perhaps part of
the inspiration to give so much of herself is simply:
Kathy giving back.
Kathy credits much of her
success to Dr. Finello’s tutelage, and the strong
support within the team. She claims their “family-like”
atmosphere creates an environment that encourages
strong, dimensional growth, and this is echoed by Dr.
Finello herself: “I cannot say enough good things about
Kathy. She is such an important part of keeping the
program running smoothly and efficiently. We are facing
the possibility of losing funds, and I am able to rely
on Kathy to spearhead obtaining the monies needed. She
has been such a strong advocate for children and
families. Her legislative advocacy work with Martin
Gallego’s office helped us better reach the communities
we serve. Kathy is bright and articulate, a beautiful
blend of someone who is good at both action and
cognitive thinking and planning.”
| Albert Yellin, MD,
Chairman |
Thomas Buchanan,
MD |
Daniel Mishell,
MD |
| Julian Haywood, MD,
Vice Chair |
Timothy Chan,
PhD |
John Nicoloff,
MD |
| Lawrence Opas, MD,
Treasurer |
Ronald Kaufman,
MD |
Darcy Spicer,
MD |
| Sol Bernstein, MD,
Medical Director |
Andrea Kovacs,
MD |
Cynthia Stotts,
MD |
| David Altman, MD,
Medical Director |
Karen Lindsay,
MD |
Joseph Van der
Meulen, MD |
| The HRA Administrative Team -
Click names for email
links |
|
