BIDMC HR News You Can Use
March 17, 2010
For Employees of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Included in this newsletter:
Organizational Development
 Medical Terminology I
Workforce Development
 General Education Diploma
 U.S. Citizenship Classes
Benefits, Pension and Retirement
 Do You Need Another Copy of Your 1099-HC?
 2010 IRS Limits for 401(k) and 403(b) Plans
 Individual Fidelity Consultations
 Fidelity Workshop: Getting Started in your 401k Savings Plan
 Tanger Be Well Center
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The Weight is Over
Healthy Eating to Prevent Diabetes
Balancing Work and Family
Volunteer Services
 Managers: Volunteer Workshop Meets Your Needs
 Recycle Your Magazines
 Tours of BIDMC for Staff
 Summer Health Corps Volunteer Program
Friendshops
 Discounted Tickets at the FriendShops
Other Helpful Tips and Offerings
 Office of the Work and Family: Special Needs Financial Planning
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Demystified
IS Help Desk Offers…
MAFCU Credit Union
Special Session of Longwood Toastmasters
Questions About This Newsletter
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Medical Terminology I
Medical Terminology I will be offered to BIDMC employees starting in April. It
is held every Tuesday, 4 – 6 p.m. in the Trustman Boardroom, East Campus.
Below are the class dates:
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April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 8
June 15
June 22
This eight-session course, taught by Diane Lolli, presents a study of basic
medical terminology, including prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining
forms, special endings, plural forms, abbreviations and symbols. This wordbuilding system provides the opportunity to decipher familiar and unfamiliar
words and emphasizes speaking, definition, usage and pronunciation. The
class is interactive and uses flashcards, pronunciation anatomical charts, and
graphs to make learning fun and word retention easy. In addition to attending
classes, students must make a commitment to read assigned material outside
of class, memorize abbreviations and complete written assignments. The
informal atmosphere helps to make this experience exciting and effective.
Remember to consult with your supervisor or manager to ensure that this
course is pertinent for you to perform current or future job responsibilities here
at BIDMC. There is a $35 fee when you pick up your books in Human
Resources.
Please submit your request by noon on Friday, April 5.
To register, e-mail your name, department, position, hospital extension
and manager’s name to htieu@bidmc.harvard.edu.
General Education Diploma
BIDMC is offering employees an opportunity to take a course to prepare for
the General Education Diploma (GED) exam. The GED is acquired by
passing a set of tests in the areas of writing, reading, social studies, science
and mathematics. The GED gives people the opportunity to earn a high
school credential and to progress to college level studies. The course meets
Mondays and Wednesdays on-site, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Interested employees
will be assessed to determine their abilities in each subject.
To register for an assessment or to get more information on the
program, please contact Laurie Fitzpatrick at (63)2-9410 or
lkfitzpa@bidmc.harvard.edu
U.S. Citizenship Classes
This spring, BIDMC is offering its employees the opportunity to take free U.S.
Citizenship classes provided by JVS, a local community based
organization.
Instruction will include:
 U.S. history and civics lessons;
 Assistance with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)
naturalization process, including completing the N-400 citizenship
application;
 Preparation for the citizenship interview; and
 Referral to support services needed to successfully complete the
program and move toward citizenship.
Who is eligible?
BIDMC employees are eligible for this opportunity if they:
 have been permanent residents for a minimum of five years (or three
years if married to a U.S. citizen);
 are moderately proficient in English (employees’ English proficiency will
be assessed prior to class); and
 are committed to attending all classes.
If the class is not full, family members of BIDMC employees who meet
the criteria above may also attend.
When and where will the classes be held?
Next session: April 20 – June 8
Tuesdays, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Healthcare Training Institute classrooms on floor P1 in the Center for Life
Sciences building, 3 Blackfan Circle
How do I sign up?
Interested employees must attend an orientation session in the classroom
location at 3 Blackfan Circle:
 Every Tuesday, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Representatives from JVS will be available to answer questions and to
register individuals for the class.
Contact Laurie Fitzpatrick at (63)2-9410 or lkfitzpa@bidmc.harvard.edu for
more information.
Do You Need Another Copy of Your 1099-HC?
If you need another copy of your 1099-HC and if you have the CareGroup
Value, CareGroup Plus or the PPO plan please visit the Harvard Pilgrim
1099-HC info center at:
https://www.harvardpilgrim.org/portal/page?_pageid=213,262398&_dad=port
al&_schema=PORTAL
2010 IRS Limits for 401(k) and 403(b) Plans
There are no changes to the Internal Revenue Service limits on 401(k)/403(b)
plans for tax year 2010:
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The elective deferral limit will remain at $16,500. If you maximize your
contributions each year, your weekly contribution will be $317.31.
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The catch-up limit will remain at $5,500 for employees who are or will
become age 50 during 2010. Your total contribution will be $22,000. If you
maximize your contributions each year, your weekly contribution will be
$423.08
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The Highly Compensated Employee (HCE) limit remains at $110,000. An
employee is considered highly compensated by the Internal Revenue
Code (IRC) if she or he earned more than $110,000 in gross
compensation on Dec. 31, 2009. We will continue to have a cap on the
HCE’s 401(k) contributions of 4 percent of 2010 compensation. And you
can still save up to the IRS limits by contributing the remainder into the
403(b) Plan.
You do not need to re-enroll in the plans. If you are currently participating,
your current contribution(s) will continue into the 2010 plan year.
If you wish to change your contribution please contact Fidelity
Investments at 1-800 343-0860 or log onto NetBenefits at
http://www.fidelity.com/atwork.
Note: The IRS limit applies to your combined 401(k) and 403(b) contributions.
Individual Fidelity Consultations
Do you know about the free-of-charge, individual consultation that is offered
to our employees by our 401(k) and 403(b) vendor – Fidelity Investments?
Some things you might discuss are long-term investment strategies, the
importance of protecting your assets against inflation, or how to find the right
investment allocation for you.
Please note that these sessions only cover the investments offered under
BIDMC's 401(k) and 403(b) plans. If you are interested in an overview of
Fidelity offerings, please call 1-800-343-0860 and ask to be connected to a
Fidelity Investment Center. Individual consultations with Fidelity are available
by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the dates/locations listed
below.
March 31
Gryzmish 618 - East Campus
April 16
Deaconess 205A – West Campus
April 29
Shapiro 247A – East Campus
Please contact Fidelity at 1-800-642-7131 or
www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations to schedule your 30-minute
appointment.
Fidelity Workshop
Join Fidelity Investment for this upcoming workshop – Getting Started in
Your 401(k) Savings Plan – where you’ll get the guidance you need to:
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Understand the many advantages of saving at the workplace
Find money in your paycheck to save for the future
Create a budget and manage your debt
Simplify your finances for easier account management
Set goals and develop a plan to reach them
This workshop is a great opportunity to learn about the benefits of saving in
your 401(k) Savings Plan, how to save more to reach your goals, and the
services that are available to help you manage your account.
Please make a date to join Fidelity Investments on:
Date: Wednesday, March 31
Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
Place: Sherman Auditorium – East Campus
In addition to attending this valuable workshop, you can also access Fidelity
e-Learning® workshops at http://e-learning.fidelity.com any time to learn at
your own pace.
Tanger Be Well Center
Weight is Over Series
Back by popular demand! This eight-week weight management program
from the Tanger Be Well Center follows the philosophy of the four pillars of
weight loss – exercise, nutrition, stress reduction and motivation. The goal of
this program is for participants to make permanent lifestyle changes. The
program consists of weekly lectures on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
and two personal training sessions. The cost is $100 for BIDMC employees,
$150 for non-employees, which includes a personalized nutrition plan and
reference manual. Please contact Rick DiScipio if you are interested at
rdiscipi@bidmc.harvard.edu or call (66)7- 4695. The program begins on
March 18 and concludes on May 6.
Healthy Eating to Prevent Diabetes
Healthy eating and an active lifestyle are important for everyone. Changes to
your eating habits and physical activity level can reduce your risk of
developing type II Diabetes. This seminar will focus on how proper nutrition
can help prevent or delay the on-set of Diabetes. You will learn about risk
factors; the Glycemic Index, meal planning, and blood glucose levels. This
seminar will be presented by Michelle Davis, Dietetic Intern, on Thursday,
March 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Trustman Boardroom, Stoneman
2. If you are interested in attending, please call the Tanger Be Well
Center at (66)7-4695.
Balancing Work and Family
Juggling the demands of children, home, a partner, work and community can
be overwhelming. This seminar focuses on how to manage these many
important responsibilities. By reducing our stress level, learning how to set
priorities, delegating, and managing time more efficiently, we are able to
achieve a better balance. Topics covered include examining our expectations,
personality dynamics that interfere with reducing our stress and managing our
time. Sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, this seminar will be held on
Tuesday, March 30, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Rabkin Boardroom,
SCC10. If you are interested in attending please call the Tanger Be Well
Center at (66)7-4695.
Managers: Volunteer Workshop Meets Your Needs
Dear Department Managers,
Do you have an on going or special project where you could use an extra
hand? The Volunteer Workshop may be able to help you. They do mailings,
labeling, collating and sorting for a number of departments and would like to
help you.
The Volunteer Workshop meets every Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the
east campus. If you would like to utilize their efforts and energy, please call
Volunteer Services Program Coordinator Terry Morgan at (66)7-3026 to
arrange for scheduling and pick up of supplies for your project.
Recycle your Magazines with Volunteer Services
We are looking for magazine donations for our patients.
 The magazines must be current (less than three months old) and in
good condition.
 We also accept paperback novels in good condition.
 Literature in languages other than English is most welcome.
 Newsweek and Time magazines must be less than three weeks
old.
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Smithsonian and National Geographic magazines may be up to
one year old.
Please do not cut out your mailing label. Volunteer Services will
take care of removing it.
Magazine and Novel Drop-off Locations:
1. East Campus in the Volunteer Office, GZ-210
2. West Campus at the Farr Lobby Information Desk. Please bring
donations in a bag and tell the Ambassador on duty that they are
for Volunteer Services.
Tours of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Tours of BIDMC are now offered to staff members and the general public on
the second and fourth Monday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. Tours start on
the 10th floor of the Shapiro Clinical Center on the east campus located on
the corner of Brookline and Longwood Avenues. Making a reservation is
necessary. You may sign up for a tour by sending an e-mail to: Volunteer
Services Program Coordinator, Terry Morgan at tmorgan2@
bidmc.harvard.edu or by calling the Volunteer Services Department
Reservation Line at (66)7-2491.
*Upon request, special tours for visitors to the medical center can be arranged
through the Volunteer Services Department. If an outside group contacts your office
with such a request, please refer them to Volunteer Services at (66)7-3026. Although
we will make every attempt to accommodate specific requests, we cannot guarantee
that every department is available for a tour because of the busy professional
schedules of our staff, high patient volume and confidentiality.
Summer Health Corps Volunteer Program
Do you have a young person between the ages of 14 and 17 who would like
to volunteer at the medical center this summer? The program runs for six
weeks from July 12 through Aug. 19, Mon through Thurs, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Please call Terry Morgan in the Volunteer Office at (66)7-3026 for more
information.
Discounted Tickets and Ski Passes at the FriendShops
The east and west campus FriendShops are selling discounted tickets to
AMC, Regal and Showcase Theatres. We are also now selling discounted lift
tickets to Loon Mountain at $64.00, a discount of $10 off the regular lift ticket.
We are also selling Cranmore any day lift tickets at $44.00, Cranmore
Mountain tubing tickets at $15.00 and Waterville Valley any day lift tickets at
$51.00.
Please call the FriendShops on the east or west campus for more
information:
East campus: (66)7-3639 and West campus: (63)2-8168
The Office of Work and Family presents:
Special Needs Financial Planning Demystified
Cynthia Haddad, CPF, Bay Financial Associates
Co-author of “The Special Needs Planning Guide: How to Prepare for Every
Stage of Your Child’s Life”
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Ballard Room, 5th Floor, Countway Library, 10 Shattuck Street
Do you have a child with special needs? Are you prepared for your child's
financial future? What is a special needs trust? Should you obtain
guardianship for your child? What do you need to know about Social
Security? Certified Financial Planner, Cynthia Haddad, will guide us through a
timeline and the unique planning needs and pressure points parents should
be aware of when they are making these important decisions for their child or
dependent with special needs.
Feel free to bring your own lunch. To register, please e-mail Barbara Wolf:
Barbara_Wolf@hms.harvard.edu or call (617) 432-1615
The IS Help Desk offers
MicroSoft Productivity Classes:
March 16 Excel - Intermediate to Advanced
March 23 Access - Intermediate to Advanced
April 13
Excel - Advanced
April 20
Access - Advanced
April 29
Excel - Intermediate to Advanced
May 6
Access - Intermediate to Advanced
Outlook classes are free to employees. The content of all but the Outlook
classes are tailored to the levels and interests of the students.*
The classes are limited to 13 students and held in the Deaconess 300 IS
Training Room.
All other classes will be charged back to a Department account or a grant
(The cost per student will be as low as $69). Ask your manager to supply an
Accounting Code (Cost Center plus Department Account) for non-Outlook
classes. Grants are also accepted.
Registration closes six business days prior to the class. Notification will be
sent via e-mail immediately after registration closes.
Click on the online registration link below to sign up.
On-Line Registration
*Additional information is available by sending an email to IS Help Desk
with the subject line: “More Information on ” or contacting the IS
Support HelpDesk directly at (75)4-8080.
MAFCU Credit Union
Get $500 off Closing Costs on Mortgages at MAFCU Credit Union Through
April 15, MAFCU Credit Union is offering $500 off closing costs for members
who get a mortgage with us. Contact the MAFCU Lending Center toll-free
at 888-MAFCU10 (888-623-2810) for more information.
Our Lending Center in Dorchester Lower Mills specializes in mortgages, small
business loans, and car loans, and sponsors free financial information
seminars. "What You Need to Know About Credit Reports and Credit Scores"
will be held on Wednesday, March 24, from noon to 1 p.m., and pizza will be
served. To sign up, call the Lending Center 888-MAFCU10 (888-623-2810)
or email pkerwin@mafcucreditunion.org.
Longwood Toastmasters
Special Session of Longwood Toastmasters! Our guest speaker Dr. Janet
Porter, COO at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will talk about giving
effective and impactful speeches. The guest speech will be followed by the
regular Toastmasters session lance with prepared speeches, table topics and
lots of fun. The special session is scheduled on Monday, March 22, at the
Tosteson Medical Education Center, Rm 209 on 260 Longwood Avenue.
Come join us for the special session. For more information please visit:
www.longwoodtoastmasters.com
Questions About This Newsletter
Please use the contact information provided with each item for information
about those specific items. For all other questions suggestions, or
comments, please contact Diana Palmisano at
dpalmisa@bidmc.harvard.edu or (66)7-2800