The University of Michigan and the HOA recognize the increasing need for information technology in the provision of patient care. Additionally, in the setting of changing work hour requirements, both parties appreciate the importance of accessing IT resources outside the hospital. To this end, the Employer is committed to assuring appropriate internal and external access to and training for all necessary IT resources including, but not limited to the hardware, software, clinical information systems, pagers (and/or other appropriate communication device), e-mail and other applications and networking capabilities necessary to perform House Officer responsibilities. When the Employer intends to make significant changes to these IT resources or how they are provided to Employees, the Employer shall provide the HOA with advance notice and the opportunity to discuss the impact of those changes on House Officers. The Labor-Management Committee will be one mechanism by which technology issues will be addressed on an on-going basis.

The Employer will continue to provide an institutional site license available to House Officers for Up-to-Date, or equivalent and mutually acceptable on-site, on-line data service. The HOA may submit alternative on-line consult services for consideration, via the Hospital's Administrative Liaison to the House Officers Association.

There will be House Officer participation in the design, testing, implementation and training of information systems, which affect House Officers. To facilitate this effort, the HOA shall appoint an Information Technology Liaison. This individual shall be recognized by the Employer as the primary House Officer spokesperson for information technology. They may either sit on or appoint representatives to serve on committees and will coordinate House Officer participation within the Medical Center.

The Employer recognizes that the work performed by House Officers is facilitated by the ability to respond via phone for patient care and to remotely access sensitive institutional and confidential patient data establishes a demonstrable need for those House Officers to use their personal cell phones in service to the Employer.

In recognition of this need, the Employer agrees to pay a monthly cell phone stipend, in accordance with University policy, in the amount of sixty dollars ($60.00) per month for all House Officers. In accordance with this policy, the House Officer is responsible for purchasing the cell phone and related service contract with their personal funds.

In order for the stipend to be payable, the House Officer will be required to complete a Verification Statement for Stipend Form and provide it to their Program Administrator. The form will be e-mailed directly to every incoming House Officer, and will be available for download online. The Verification Statement for Stipend Form shall be submitted only after employment has commenced, to ensure that the required security applications have been installed. If the completed form is received on or before the 15th of the month, the stipend shall be payable in the same month the form was submitted. If the form is received after the 15th, the stipend shall be payable starting with the next full month of employment.

In order to qualify for and maintain receipt of the monthly stipend, the House Officer will ensure that their cell phone remains in compliance with University policy regarding the security of personally owned devices that access or maintain sensitive institutional and/or patient data including, but not limited to, the installation of any required security software on their cell phone, and will install any applications as required by the University for the performance of the House Officer's responsibilities. The House Officer will notify their Program Administrator if, at any time, their cell phone ceases to comply with University Policies regarding the security of personally owned devices. So long as the phone remains in compliance, and there is no break in employment, the original Verification for Stipend Form will remain valid for all years of continuous employment as a House Officer.