SAN DIEGO: OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
October 31, 1996
ALL AT UCSD
SUBJECT: Open Enrollment
Dear Colleagues:
University of California employees have an opportunity through November 24 to make choices regarding health plans and providers.
UCSD Healthcare, the comprehensive system of patient services provided by UCSD's renowned faculty physicians and top quality staff, is available as a provider option through all of the health plans offered to UCSD employees except Kaiser. I encourage you to consider UCSD Healthcare as a provider when you review your health coverage options.
UCSD Healthcare provides convenient access to a full range of primary care services, including pediatrics and adolescent medicine, family practice, internal medicine, ob-gyn and health care for seniors. The UCSD Center for Women's Health provides primary care by women physicians. UCSD physician offices are located in La Jolla, Hillcrest, Mira Mesa, Tierrasanta and Encinitas, and UCSD Healthcare Network further expands access for patients who want to choose UCSD.
UCSD's excellent primary care doctors work closely with our internationally respected faculty specialists, whose patients come from around the world for diagnosis and treatment. The 1996 U.S. News and World Report ranked UCSD Medical Center as one of the nation's best hospitals in nine specialties: cancer, cardiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, orthopedics, otolaryngology, rheumatology, urology and AIDS. Creating a bridge between research and patient care, UCSD physicians are the first to bring innovative medicine to the patient. Patients can access the latest advances in diagnostic technologies and treatments through the Clinical Research Center, the region's only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, and through nearly a thousand clinical studies currently under way. You can learn more about these through UCSD's unique online service http://health.ucsd.edu/
You may be aware of discussions under way regarding possible affiliation between the UCSD hospitals and other local systems. I want to emphasize that these exploratory talks are focused on strengthening our academic medical centers in the changing San Diego market.
The superb patient care provided by our physicians will continue to be a fundamental component of UCSD Healthcare, no matter what decisions are made regarding the hospitals. Education, research and community service round out our core mission as the region's only academic health care system, and any new affiliations that develop will be forged to support and enhance these endeavors.
As Chancellor and as a consumer of UCSD Healthcare's services, I can assure you that selecting a UCSD physician as your primary care provider is a sound investment in your health now and into the future.
Sincerely,
Robert C. Dynes
Chancellor