Newsletter No. 96

CUHK Newsletter No. 96 4th November 1996 3 1997. Designed by Leigh and Orange Architects, the ten-storey complex comprises six lecture theatres, classrooms and research facilities, Chung Chi administration offices, and a car park. It also houses a music hall which boasts the finest acoustics in Southeast Asia. The key design objectives are to make the most of the slope, the shape of the site, and the view of Tolo Harbour. These are achieved by locating the lecture theatres and the music hall in the podium which forms a solid base on the slope. Rising above the podium is the main teaching block which commands a full view of the sea to the east. To the north of the teaching block is an administration block with its own entrance but also accessible from the teaching block via the podium deck. Certain levels of the complex are tentatively assigned for use by the Nursing Department, the Economics Department, and Chung Chi College. The use of the rest has yet to be determined. Other ongoing construction projects on campus are the Shanghai Fraternity Association Research Services Centre (which houses a new animal house), Phases V I I and V I I I Redevelopment of Chung Chi Teaching Blocks, two blocks of staff quarters (Phase X ), and a postgraduate student hostel complex. The first two are designed by the University's architects while the latter are designed respectively by WCWP International Ltd., and Dominic Kwan and Associates. The projects should all be completed by the end of 1998, which is slightly later than scheduled. As with the other two projects, the biggest challenge lies in the slopes. Mr. Kan explains, 'Over 80 per cent of the University's natural landscape is slopes. This makes foundation-laying a very testing job. Our problems in construction have consistently arisen from the foundation and almost never the superstructure.' Piera Chen The Shanghai Fraternity Association Research Services Centre nearing completion UHS Outpatient Service Given A Shot to Boost Convenience For the times that you are unwell, there is now some good news. This news will be especially welcomed by those who live far away from the campus and find it inconvenient to travel all the way to the University Health Centre to see a doctor and get some basic medication. UHS Not Easily Accessible to All The University Health Service (UHS) has been serving staff members and their dependants since its inception in the early 1970s. The number of staff has since grown manifold. They live in different parts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. (SeeBox J.) Box 1 Potential Users of Outpatient Services* Area ofResidence Number of Eligible Staff % Hong Kong Island 428 10.46 Kowloon 976 23.85 New Territories (non-Sha Tin and non-campus) 1,048 25.60 Sha Tin 914 22.33 University Campus 697 17.03 Unclassified 30 0.73 Total 4,093 100.00 * Figures as at 29th February 1996 What has also grown over the years is the number of complaints and dissatisfaction expressed by staff living away from the campus of their inability to avail themselves of the UHS by virtue of the distance involved. A Task Force to Study Options To review the present medical scheme and address the issue of accessibility, the University appointed Prof. S. H. Lee, chairman of the Department of Community and Family Medicine, to head a task force to explore alternative arrangements for the delivery of outpatient services. This was in September 1995, and after studying various possibilities, the task force submitted a proposal in June 1996. This was vetted by different levels of the University administration, and finally approved by the University Council at its meeting on 15th October. Three Additional Outpatient Clinics to Provide Extra Convenience From 1st November 1996, the contents of this proposal 一 the new Extra Outpatient Consultation Services Scheme —a r e being offered on a pilot basis. In addition to the University Health Centre, all eligible staff members and their dependants (including spouses, unmarried children below the age of 19, and unmarried children between 19 and 21 who are undergoing full-time formal education up to the level of a first degree) can, during the pilot stage, visit three more specified clinics under contract with the University. (See Box 2.) They can enjoy the benefit of subsidized general outpatient consultations, including up to three days of commonly prescribed medication. The number of clinics under contract may subsequently be increased if staff response so merits. Financial Implications Most good news is often peppered in varying degrees with qualifications. In this case, the standard charge at the three clinics for outpatient consultation is HK$150, of which the staff member has to pay one third (i.e. HK$50) at the clinic concerned, in addition to any payment required for medication or services not covered by the scheme. The University will pay the remaining HK$100. In cases where services not covered by the scheme, such as specialist consultations, dental care, diagnostic tests and investigations, surgical operations, routine physical examinations, vaccinations, are medically indicated, the doctors in these clinics will refer the patient to the UHS for further treatment as appropriate. Feedback Key to Continuation and Expansion According to Prof. Lee, 'additional convenience' and 'quality medical service' have been the keywords in the conception, incubation, and now trial existence of the new scheme. In its conceptualization, members from CUTA and CUSA were consulted, and a Steering Committee on the Extra Outpatient Services has been constituted specifically to monitor the operation, evaluate the feedback, and recommend follow-up action to the vice-chancellor. (See Box 3. ) It is on these grounds that Prof. Lee calls the scheme one 'with the staff and for the staff, and he is very keen that it succeeds, and benefits those it is intended to. He hopes that the staff will give feedback through their CUTA and CUSA representatives for this will be invaluable to the steering committee in executing its terms of reference. For Any Further Information ... This pilot scheme will be offered for a year (i.e. until 31st October 1997 ), or upon exhaustion of University- approved funds that can cover up to 25,000 visits (which Prof. Lee considers should be adequate, based on statistics of visits made to the Health Centre), whichever is earlier. Eligible users can continue to use the services of the Health Centre on campus, regardless of whether or not they visit the clinics under the pilot scheme. Further inquiries about the scheme can be directed as follows: Medical issues—the University Health Service (Ext. 6416); Payment — Accounts Section (Ext. 7259); and Eligibility — Personnel Office (Ext. 7266). Shalini Bahadur Box 2 Three New Clinics for Outpatient Consultation New Territories Union Clinic (in Union Hospital) 18 Fu Kin Street, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, New Territories Tel: 2608 3388 Consultation hours: Monday to Sunday (24 hours) Hong Kong Dr. Wu Ming Wai, Thomas Rm 909, Lane Crawford House, 70 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel: 2523 8285 Consultation hours: Monday to Friday (9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.) Saturday (9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.) Sunday & Public Holidays (closed) Kowloon Parkes Medical Centre 2nd floor, Parkes Commercial Centre, 2-8 Parkes Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tel: 2377 1228 Consultation hours: Monday to Friday (10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 3.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.) Saturday (10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.) Sunday & Public Holidays (closed) Box 3 Steering Committee on the Extra Outpatient Services Composition Convener: Prof. Lee Shiu-hung Department of Community and Family Medicine Members: University Secretary or his representative Bursar or his representative Director of Personnel or her representative Director, University Health Service or his representative Prof. Kan Wing-kay CUTA representative Mr. Winston Y.S.Kan Mr. Man Yiu-mo CUSA representatives Secretary: Mr. S. S. Tam Senior Assistant Secretary, Personnel Office (Where necessary, the committee may co-opt such other persons to the committee as may be appropriate) Terms ofReference 1. To monitor the operation of the pilot scheme, to identify if the objectives are well served and the funds therefor are appropriately utilized and contained. 2. To identify problems and to receive comments concerning the running of the pilot scheme for necessary follow-up. 3. To make recommendations to the vice-chancellor, where appropriate, on ways and means of improving the operation of the pilot scheme.