Adornato looks to the future

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Stanford plan shared nationwide as a model for response to bioterrorism threatsl

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Vice president of human resources named

'Advanced Access' program at two primary-care clinics cut waiting out of doctor visits

Patient Representative Associates play key role in Emergency Department

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SHC, LPCH employees donate PTO to Sept. 11 charity

Employees from Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital donated 459 hours of paid time off, or PTO, totaling $6,589 to the American Red Cross Liberty Fund. The money will be used to help the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The idea came from our employees. They heard a story on the radio about a company that allowed its employees to cash out their PTO and give the money to a Sept. 11 charity," said Lynn Boland, director of employee relations. "Due to tax reasons, IRS regulations normally restrict employees from cashing out their PTO unless they leave a company. The government made an exception in this situation, however, to allow cash donations of PTO."

PTO donations took place between Oct. 26 and Nov. 15, and monetary values were calculated based on an employee's hourly pay rate. Under current Stanford policy, employees may donate PTO hours to fellow employees who have a serious health condition or need to care for a family member with a serious health condition and who have exhausted all of their PTO accrual, noted Boland.

"Our employees demonstrate a compassion and willingness to help others in the community every day in their work," said Boland. "The fact that they would give up their precious time off is further evidence of their caring and generous nature."