August 28, 2007

Dear UCSF Housestaff:

I am pleased to announce the 2007-2008 housestaff incentive goals for clinical housestaff who practice at UCSF Medical Center sites. The goals were developed in consultation with a number of individuals, including Dr. Ernie Ring, Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Bobby Baron, Associate Dean for GME.

The details of eligibility, timetable, payment and goals are specified in the attachment. My hope is that this program will better align the educational and clinical goals of the interns, residents and fellows practicing at UCSF with the goals of the medical center staff, and simultaneously intensify everyone’s focus on improving patient satisfaction and the quality and safety of the medical care we provide. We will provide regular reports to you on how we are doing on each of these goals.

As I believe all of you know, we are at the dawn of a new era in healthcare – an era marked by much greater transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight than ever before. Many elements of the traditional models of teaching and care delivery in academic medical centers must change in order to ensure the delivery of higher quality, safer and more patient-centered (versus physician or trainee centered) care. As housestaff, you are both most affected by these changes and the best positioned to design the new models. This incentive program is one step in encouraging your ownership of these most important issues.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Laret
CEO
UCSF Medical Center
Mark.laret@ucsfmedctr.org