====================== JeffNEWS, June 1, 1995 ====================== NewsBRIEFS JEFFERSON TO CELEBRATE OUR LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES - PEOPLE YOU CAN COUNT ON ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The University places great value upon our long-term employees - people you can count on, year after year. They're always there when needed and continue to bring enthusiasm and skill to their work. In honor of these 459 people, the human resources department will host a celebration on Wednesday, June 14, at 5 p.m. in Jefferson Alumni Hall. The honorees will have observed five-year employment anniversaries for 10 through 35 years of service in this fiscal year. The program will start with a reception on the mezzanine, followed by dinner and the recognition program. Honorees will receive service award certificates and gifts demonstrating the University's appreciation for their decades of loyalty and dedication. For information, call Fran Smith at 6785. JEFFERSON HOSTS SYMPOSIUM ON DNA FOR AREA ATTORNEYS --------------------------------------------------- With the topic of DNA so prominent in public and professional consciousness today, the Philadelphia Bar Education Center and the Graduate Center for Education and Training of Thomas Jefferson University will sponsor a symposium designed to enhance Philadelphia area attorneys' understanding of the science behind DNA evidence. The symposium will be held Friday, June 2, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Solis-Cohen Auditorium. An internationally heralded authority in molecular biology and biochemistry, and an expert in DNA sequence analysis, Darwin J. Prockop, MD, PhD, chairman, biochemistry and molecular biology, and director of the Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, will lead a three-member panel of scientists and attorneys highly qualified to discuss the timely and pertinent topic. Mark Stolorow, director of operations for Cellmark Diagnostics, will discuss the role of the forensic DNA laboratory in criminal casework. Two lead prosecutors from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Charles Ehrlich, Esq., and Christopher Diviny, Esq., assistant district attorneys, will present how DNA evidence can be used to convict or exonerate defendants. Robert Middleberg, PhD, director, expert services and forensic toxicology, National Medical Services, Willow Grove, PA, and a 1990 CGS graduate, will moderate the program. PENNY WISE THRIFT SHOP RECESSES FOR SUMMER AFTER JUNE 21 -------------------------------------------------------- The Penny Wise Thrift Shop of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 57-59 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, will recess for the summer at the close of business on Wednesday, June 21, and reopen for consignment only on Wednesday, August 30, and for the season on Tuesday, September 5. For further information, call the Penny Wise Thrift Shop at 610-642-7239. 1-800-JEFF-NOW MEANS BUSINESS ----------------------------- When it comes to accessing Jefferson's services, there's only one number people need to know: 1-800-JEFF-NOW. That's the number for JEFF NOW (R), Jefferson's free physician referral service. It's also a number that's catching on in the Philadelphia area, as the following figures reflect. * An average 9,200 calls are made to JEFF NOW (R) each month. That's more than twice the national average of calls to physician referral lines and more than three times the amount of calls placed to other Delaware Valley hospital physician referral lines. More callers mean more people make appointments with Jefferson primary-care doctors and specialists, have tests performed or are hospitalized, which translates into increased business for Jefferson. * Promoting the JEFF NOW (R) number pays off. The majority of callers say they heard about the service through television, print or outdoor advertising. In addition, ninety-two percent would recommend the service to others. * JEFF NOW (R) gives callers a doctor . . . and more. Callers can request free health information, register for health screenings and seminars, get information about clinical trials, or speak to a registered nurse about a particular health concern. RIDDLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO JOIN THE HEALTHSHARE GROUP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Riddle Memorial Hospital president Donald L. Laughlin has announced that the hospital, which is located in Media, is negotiating a formal agreement to join the Healthshare Group. The Healthshare Group is being developed to be a regional, integrated healthcare partnership designed to promote the development of high quality, cost-effective and community-focused health services. It includes Jefferson, Main Line Health System and West Jersey Health System. JMC PRESENTS TWO SEMINARS FOR RESIDENTS --------------------------------------- Jefferson Medical College residents benefitted from two seminars presented by the Office for Residency and Affiliated Hospital Programs. The first dealt with enhancing leadership skills for our senior residents in their transition from residency to practice. The second seminar, opened to all residents, dealt with issues which better prepare them for "Life After Residency." Jefferson faculty included: Joseph F. Rodgers, MD, associate dean, Timothy P. Brigham, PhD, assistant dean, and David B. Nash, MD, MBA, director, health policy and clinical outcomes office. Outside faculty included Evelyn Eskin, MBA, of Health Power Associates of Philadelphia, and Patricia A. Hoffmeir from Gilbert Tweed Associates. TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE TO END JUNE 30 --------------------------------------- For many years, Jefferson has paid a $1-per shift transportation allowance to employees working full evening or night shifts. The allowance will be discontinued as of July 1, 1995, and the eligible fulltime employees now receiving it will be given a special one-time gross payment of $250 as a transition to this change. Eligible parttime or rotating shift employees will receive a pro-rated amount. John P. Sullivan, associate vice president for human resources, explained that the transportation allowance originated many years ago as an additional incentive for employees to work on the second or third shift. The allowance also recognized certain commuting challenges experienced by those who worked other than daytime hours. "Today, this concept is obsolete," Mr. Sullivan said, noting that the present level of shift differential recognizes fully the inconveniences that may affect those working evening or night hours. Mr. Sullivan also said that the allowance may be a source of dissatisfaction since first-shift employees who don't receive it find no difference between their situation and that of second- and third-shift employees. "At the same time, eligible employees realize that the amount is not comparable to today's commuting costs. Those accustomed to receiving the allowance will be fairly compensated, and we can go forward to retire this outdated and somewhat controversial policy," said Mr. Sullivan. Employees eligible for the special one-time payment can expect it in their first June paycheck; and, as will be explained in individual letters to these employees, the allowance will continue to be paid until June 30. Help Oklahoma City Children --------------------------- Tax deductible checks payable to APM Disaster Relief Fund, may be sent to the department of respiratory care at 6200 Gibbon, to raise funds for a special education account for children of the victims of the recent disaster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------