The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the University
of Nebraska at Omaha (UNOmaha) are embarking upon a new comprehensive look
at collaboration that will take their past partnering efforts to new levels.
The idea for increased cooperation between the two Omaha campuses is
the result of past successes, said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.
For example, UNMC and UNOmaha currently have joint programs in biotechnology
and share the same telephone system. “It’s the outgrowth of successful
collaboration that’s been under way in selected areas for some time,” he
said. UNOmaha Chancellor Nancy Belck, Ph.D., added that coordinated international
programs at UNOmaha and UNMC have been a successful venture for many years.
Several teams of staff from both universities are exploring joint opportunities
in five targeted areas – academic programs, support services, financial
services, facilities and human resources. These areas were selected because
they have the greatest potential for success and immediate implementation.
“This heightened look at collaboration reflects the positive desire of
both institutions to strengthen scholarly activity, reduce costs and improve
services,” Dr. Belck said.
The new plans allow each university to capitalize on its own areas of
expertise. “By taking an intense look at these five areas, UNMC and UNOmaha
can use services and equipment in a more cost-effective manner, thus avoiding
duplication,” Dr. Maurer said.
The collaboration teams have organized their work in the targeted areas
around these “task” functions: academics, accounting and financial
services, purchasing and accounts payable, printing and duplicating, biomedical
communications, graphics and photography, the bookstores, paging, auto
pool, risk management, travel, identification cards, facilities, and human
resources.
For example, under printing and duplicating, team members will investigate
the potential to pool standard stock/paper orders, jointly buy copier paper
off state contracts and combine maintenance contracts.
The two systems also will share equipment. For example, UNOmaha has
a machine used to paint stripes in parking lots. Rather than purchase an
additional piece of equipment, UNMC will use UNOmaha’s machine.
In the academic arena, a team from UNOmaha and UNMC is exploring the
potential for offering a joint master’s degree program in public health
administration. Another UNMC/UNOmaha working group is looking at developing
joint education and research programs in computational biology. Yet another
working group is investigating the topic of telemedicine and how
health care is delivered to rural Nebraskans.
The timeframe for proposed recommendations regarding the action steps
within the “task” areas ranges from three months to one year. Dr. Belck
stressed that all recommendations will be evaluated over time according
to four criteria:
– Will it result in improved customer service?
– Will it result in a more efficient process?
– Will it result in a cost reduction or the avoidance of duplication?
– Will it better utilize the expertise of each campus?
“If these objectives are not achievable, then the recommendation will
be dropped,” Dr. Belck added.
“It is estimated that some savings will result from the collaboration;
however, it’s difficult to predict how much,” Dr. Maurer said. The partnerships
and collaborative efforts will enable both organizations to achieve economies
of scale by making purchases of goods and equipment together and negotiating
a better price.
“The proposed collaborations support both institutions’ strategic plans
and will result in a ‘win-win’ situation benefiting all Nebraskans,” Dr.
Maurer emphasized.