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Friday, April 5, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Med Center suffers from fewer patients
Shortfall forces cuts in support services and administration
By Teresa Veazey Kansan staff writer
KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Fewer patients means less work. And less work combined with a budget shortfall has prompted the University of Kansas Medical Center to eliminate 160 vacant hospital positions and not renew 48 annual employee contracts.
"Back in February, we recognized that we would be below budget about $10 million to $12 million," said Irene Cumming, the newly appointed chief executive officer of the KU Hospital at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. "We concluded that we could manage that shortfall by not filling vacant positions."
Twenty of the employees whose contracts were not renewed have been offered positions in the Kansas University Physicians Inc., a physicians group operating independently of the Med Center, said Randy Atwood, director of University Relations for the Med Center. The career development center in the human resources department is working with the other 28 employees to help them with job searches.
Most of the 160 vacant positions are in administrative offices and support services.
Contract cancellations occur every year and aren't considered layoffs because contract renewals are decided on a yearly basis, Cumming said.
Canceling the employee contracts will save the Med Center about $1.5 million in salary expenses, Cummings said.
"When you come in,you know it's for an annual appointment for one year," she said.
Changes in the work force were made because the Med Center had to adjust to a reduced volume of activity, Cumming said. Hospital
"This is something that is happening all over the country."
Kelly Humphreys student body president, Med Center
stays have shortened, and many people have used outpatient services, which don't require hospitalization.
"Fewer patients means less people and less work to do," she said.
The hospital saw a decline of about 5 percent in the number of inpatient admissions, which accounted for the shortfall. To prevent this from happening next year, Cumming said the Med Center would have to be very conservative as it is now going through the budget process.
Because the number of patients has gone down, students have been concentrating on the reason behind the cuts, said Kelly Humphreys, president of the student body at the Med Center.
"Students are particularly concerned about the root problem," Humphreys said. "The Med Center needs to work on increasing patients—that's the root of the problem."
Seeing patients is part of a student's education, and less time with patients has meant less experience, Humphreys said.
But fewer patients, contract cancellations and revenue shortfalls haven't been unique to the Med Center.
"This is something that is happening all over the country," Humphreys said. "The question right now is, how are medical centers going to survive? I'm worried about it."
ON CAMPUS
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center is celebrating mass at 12:30 today at Danforth Chapel. Call the center for more information at 843-0357.
The Center for East Asian Studies and the department of economics are sponsoring a talk by Barbara Sands, a professor at the University of Arizona, entitled China's Great Lean Forward at 3:30 today at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union. Call Bertha Jackson at 864-3849 for more information.
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center is celebrating mass at 4:30 at the center. Call the center for more information at 843-0357.
St. Lawrence Catholic Center is having Good Friday Service at 7 tonight at the center. Call the center at 843-0357 for more information.
KU Ki-Aldko is having a meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow at 207
KU Cultural India Club is sponsoring Ka-Tap at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Lied Center. Call Rina Bansal at 865-3708 for more information.
Robinson Center. Call Matt Stumpe at 864-6592 for more information.
KU Dance Club is having a dance lesson at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union. Call Sonia Ratzlaff at 864-1581 for more information.
Student Senate is sponsoring Malaysian Cultural Night at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Kansas Union Ballroom. Call Allen Lau at 841-2370 for more information. The theme is Spectrum of Traditions.
Art and Design Gallery is sponsoring KU MFA Thesis Show: Kelly Glentz and Billie Giese-Vella April 7-12 at the Art and Design Gallery. Call Chris Fasano at 864-5501 for more information.
Taiwan Day celebrates both culture and change
By Heather Kirkwood Kansan staff writer
KU students from Taiwan shared a piece of their culture yesterday as they watched Taiwanese movies, manned an informational table about Taiwan in the Kansas Union and played host to a speech by Kuang-Ming Cheng, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City, Mo.
Hua-Lun Huang, president of the association, said the purpose of the day also was to protest Chinese military actions in the Strait of Taiwan.
About 40 people listened to Cheng explain Taiwan's position on the Chinese military actions.
"Since we are a free and democratic society where our people enjoy full freedom of speech, there
The events were a part of Taiwan Day, organized by the Taiwanese Student Association to celebrate Taiwan's elections in March, the first democratic elections to take place on Taiwan or mainland China in 5,000 years.
are people who have been advocating different political viewpoints through the media," Cheng said. "Leaders of the Chinese communist regime, who are accustomed to political control of the media, misinterpret our government's tolerance of such political viewpoints as approval of or support for Taiwan independence."
Cheng said the government of Taiwan was not advocating independence and still hoped that one day Taiwan and mainland China could be united.
But he said peaceful unification was not enough.
"Only unification under a free and democratic system will give the Chinese people happiness."Cheng said.
yi-ching Wu, Tiachung, Taiwan, freshman, said she hoped Taiwan Day helped students learn more about Taiwan.
"The purpose was to introduce Taiwan in many different ways—in culture and in history and in some type of geographical means," she said.
Weather
Source: Mike Rohleder/KU Weather Service
ON THE RECORD
A KU student reported a radar detector, compact discs and car-stereo speakers stolen between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:45 a.m. Wednesday from the 2400 block of Redbud Lane. The items were valued at $215, Lawrence police reported.
A KU student reported an amplifier and two stereo speakers stolen between 7 p.m. Tuesday and 3 p.m.
Wednesday from the 1000 block of Emery Road. The items were valued at $600, Lawrence police reported
A KU student reported a television, compact-disc player and microwave stolen between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday from the 900 block of North 750 Road. The items were valued at $1,140, Douglas County Sheriff's Department reported.
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The time Is Now!
Once again it is time for The Kansan business staff to decide on the next generation of staff members who will continue the legacy! Join one of the finest college newspapers in the nation for the 1996 summer or fall semester.
Come see us and apply today at 119 Stauffer-Flint Advertising Management applications are due at 5:00 April 12, and all other advertising positions are due at 5:00 April 15. All applicants must sign up for an interview. Questions? Call Heather Niehaus...864-4358
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN