A needs assessment is underway to gauge staff and faculty preferences in health- and wellness-related activities.

The data collection is for the UC Davis Staff and Faculty Health and Wellness Committee, coordinated by Staff Assembly. The committee is working on recommendations to present to the university administration, about what should be included in a comprehensive UC Davis employee health and wellness program.

“Comprehensive health and wellness programs are a proven ‘win-win’ that result in cost savings for the employer and a healthier, happier work force,” said Stacey Brezing, committee chair and Staff Assembly board member. “We have received a great response and many positive, helpful comments since the assessment was emailed last week, and we look forward to hearing from even more staff and faculty at all UC Davis locations.“

The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. Here's the link to the needs assessment. Questions? Send them by email to the committee.

More information about the assessment and the committee.

Timeline for hiring new athletic director announced

In a meeting with the campus’s Athletics Advisory Committee on May 14, Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi announced a preliminary timeline for hiring a new athletic director:

Beginning in October of this year, the chancellor will formally announce a search committee consisting of faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders to manage the search. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the chancellor is expected to select a new director by the end of winter, with the goal of bringing the new director onboard by the end of spring 2016.

Hospital ratings and Pediatric Early Mobility

News from the UC Davis Health System:

• Hospital ratings — The UC Davis Medical Center is a “high performer” in heart bypass surgery, hip replacement, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to Best Hospitals for Common Care from U.S. News & World Report.

The medical center met expected standards of care for knee replacements.

The program, covering five common procedures and conditions, took in more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide, rating them as high performing, average or below average. Only about 10 percent of the hospitals were rated as high performers for any category or procedure.

“UC Davis is a leader in treating rare diseases and conditions,” said Ann Madden Rice, the medical center’s chief executive officer. “I am extremely pleased that these new ratings also demonstrate our high performance in caring for those with the chronic lung, heart and orthopaedic conditions that affect thousands in our region.”

Read the complete news release.

• Pediatric Early Mobility — The UC Davis Children’s Hospital launched this program last week to help improve recovery times, shorten patient stays, and reduce pain and delirium among patients in pediatric intensive care.

Delirium is a state in which a child may be confused, irritable or withdrawn, and may be caused by illness or infection and certain medications. It is frequently associated with perceptual motor and behavioral problems, and delusional memories, which can trigger the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The program follows pediatric intensive care standard procedures known as the “ABCDEF” bundle, which includes protocol to combat the effects of potential effects of delirium. Early mobility and exercise is the “E” in the ABCDEF bundle.

Read the complete news release.

Windows Server 2003 on its way out

Information and Educational Technology has launched an effort to remove another outdated operating system from machines that connect to the campus network.

This time the target is Windows Server 2003, for which Microsoft will stop providing updates and security patches, effective July 14.

According to IET, Windows Server 2003 is still in use in about 400 machines that might support research and run equipment or applications. Upgrading to new software before July 14 is the best response, although other options exist. IET has emailed more information to campus technologists and business managers.

Last year, IET led a major project to remove all remaining uses of Windows XP software from UC Davis computers. Because many of those users were individuals, IET aimed XP communications at a large audience. Windows Server 2003 machines are typically overseen by administrators and technologists, so this time IET is sending most of the messages to them.

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