INSIDE: MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA LEAVER» SUSANNA R Norwood LIBRARY to Visit AB 225A 4400 Student Workshop Thursday, October 5, 2000 Volume 10 I Number 20 Restructured Student Services Maximize Synergy Editor's note: The changes that have taken place at the Medical College of Georgia lately including the early-retirement program and the autonomy of MCG Health, Inc. have significantly altered the composition and functions of several service divisions on cam­ pus. This is the fourth in a series of Beeper articles exploring the restructured operation of those service divisions. Luke Miller and "Mom Margo" embrace as they meet for the first time and (see photo Deborah G. Steele Dr. Mike Miller on page two) smile for the camera, demonstrating their uncanny resemblance. Proactive. Collaborative. Mission- pie to early retirement, has been reor­ focused. Service-oriented. ganized to better meet students' needs. Son Reunites with These keywords are the focus of AT mi, "We've rethought how we were the future for the Division of Af YOUR ll going to staff the office," said David Birth Mother During Academic and Student Affairs at the Tucker, director of Enrollment Medical College of Georgia. The Management. "We restructured the Family Vacation division includes continuing educa­ office and hired individuals we tion, health communications, the thought were best for the positions we Editor's note: Luke Miller, management systems specialist in networking operations Student Health Center, student had." for the Information Technology Division, and his wife, Davida, administrative specialist affairs, student financial aid, the registrar's office Of the seven areas in this division, five will have in the School of Nursing Office of Academic Programs, spent their summer vacation and academic admissions. new leadership, said Dr. Miller. Directors for con­ with family. A pretty conventional way to spend a vacation, you say? Not quite.... "Our goals are relatively short-range at this tinuing education, health communications, student Here's their story: point," said Dr. Mike Miller, associate vice presi­ financial aid, registrar's office and academic admis­ dent of the Division Davida: of Academic and Student sions all took advantage of early retirement, forcing Affairs and registrar. "We've taken a group of func­ the division to assess ways Our summer vacation this year is one we will never forget. Luke, his it does business. tions and brought them together for the first time." "The retirements of the registrar, 14-year-old son, Jason, and I went to Tampa, Fla., to meet Luke's birth director of The division, which lost approximately 15 peo- mother for the very first time. We had been searching for his birth family for a couple of years, with­ out much success. We had hoped to find his birth mother, or any other family members, before our May 7 wedding. fee VACATION oage2 Health Benefit Options Unveiled for University System Employees -~m MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORG. U.S. Postage PAI D I Employees must put choice in writing during open enrollment Oct. 16-Nov. 16. Permit No. 210 beeper Augusta, GA The Board of Regents will approved seven items formaliz­ materials on each option. offer University Division of Institutional Relations Non-Profit Org. System of ing relationships with the com­ Employees also can view a Medical College of Georgia Georgia active and* retired panies that will offer these plans video describing the PPO Augusta, Georgia 30912 employees an entirely reshaped and establishing the premiums option. slate of health benefit plans dur­ that will be charged. The In a departure from previous ing this fall's open-enrollment regents' priority was to stabilize years, all university system period Oct. 16-Nov. 16, includ­ employee premiums. employees and retirees with ing a preferred provider organi­ In addition to the new PPO, coverage must make a written, zation that will provide access the university system also will formal election of a health-care to more than 9,300 physicians continue to offer the traditional plan (or choose "no coverage") and 90 percent of Georgia hospi­ self-insured indemnity plan. during open enrollment, even tals beginning Jan. 1. During open enrollment, the employees who wish to main­ At its September meeting in MCG Division of Human tain their current coverage. Atlanta, the Board of Regents Resources will provide detailed See INSURANCE pa*e 3 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA beeper VACATION ... from page 1 MILLER... from page 1 Soon after our hon­ financial aid and director of academic admissions biggest goals over the next "few months will be eymoon, I checked have been a considerable loss to the enrollment learning how each office functions in an effort to one of the Internet services offices," said Mr. Tucker, who also will understand how each can assist the other. adoption search retire in May. "These people had nearly 100 years "We need to look at ways students deal with agencies where we of cumulative service." MCG and simplify the processes for others across had been registered "Losing those people takes away a very valu­ campus," said Dr. Miller, adding that existing tech­ for several months, able component of the institution that networks nology will help his division meet that goal. "Let's and saw a new list­ with others on campus," said Dr. Miller. "Suddenly let the technology do the work it is capable of ing of a birth moth­ we had new players that people across campus had doing and use that to allow our staff to deal with er searching for her to interact with. students and not so much data." son born on the "Continuing education was one of the harder- Dr. Miller is encouraged that the division's same day and city hit areas," said Dr. Miller. "We lost personnel [and] offices will soon fit together like a puzzle. "At our as Luke was. we lost funding from the hospital." Dr. Kathy first department head meeting, people started We contacted the site fwww.findme.org'). a social worker was Bradley, who also serves as chairman of the addressing concerns on how they could do their assigned, and on May 29, we talked with "Mom Margo" on the Department of Occupational Therapy, has been job better and work for each other," he said. "I phone for the first time! She, like us, was convinced it-was a dis­ named director of continuing education and two think that shows a commitment to the organiza­ tinct possibility that we had made a "match" and soon we all other vacated positions have been filled. tion and what we are trying to do here. These are began exchanging e-mails and photographs over the Internet for Though changes throughout the division were high-energy, bright and competent people and I the next several weeks. We noted Luke's uncanny physical resem­ sudden, reorganization has been a gradual process think we have put together an outstanding collec­ blance to "Mom Margo" and her two other children. with administrators exploring every avenue to tion of folks to work for this division." Luke: determine the best way to restructure. One of its The laws on adoption are slowly changing. It is much easier now for adoptees to get their original birth certificate than it was even five years ago. After some red tape, the Florida Bureau of Dr. Norwood to Discuss Managed-Care Act Oct. 18 Vital Statistics released to us the original document that proved U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood will Dr. Norwood, co-author of the act His visit is sponsored by the conclusively we were indeed mother and son. discuss his Bipartisan Consensus intended to put health care decisions MCG Medical Student Section of In early July, I hugged and kissed my mom for the first time at Managed Care Improvement Act of back into the hands of patients and the American Medical Association; her home in Florida. Many family members and friends were there 2000 with medical students and physicians, will talk in the first-floor the AMA supports the bipartisan act. for the occasion. The meeting was followed by four fabulous days physicians from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. classroom 1101 of the Hamilton Medical students, MCG faculty of laughter and memories as we all got better acquainted. Davida, 18 at the Medical College of Wing of the Carl T. Sanders and area physicians are invited. Jason and I will always remember those once-in-a-lifetime emo­ Georgia. Research and Education Building. tions and the love we felt during that special vacation. We anx­ iously await the upcoming holidays when we expect to visit again with our newly found family in Florida. "Christianity in the MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA Workplace — What's a beeper Christian to do?" Medical College of Georgia m Augusta, Georgia 30912 A daylong seminar in MCG's large auditorium Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher Christine Hurley Deriso, Editor Saturday, October 14 9:00 a.m. Deborah G. Steele, Assistant Editor Beeper is published biweekly by Graphic Advertising, a private firm in Come expecting to enter into His Presence with no way connected with the Medical College of Georgia. Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and are not considered Praise and Thanksgiving. an official expression by the Medical College of Georgia. The Come expecting to appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include inserts, go boldly before His Throne does not constitute an endorsement by the Medical College of Georgia to make your needs known. of the products or services advertised. Come expecting to fellowship with other News and photos are provided by the Division of Institutional Relations. Direct correspondence about news to MCG Beeper, FI-1048.