UMass Memorial has decided to change who provides Employees Assistance to employees. In the past, the Medical School EAP also served hospital employees. Now, the hospital will be contracting with an outside company to provide the service.
The hospital did not ask for SHARE’s input before this change. SHARE organizers have worked closely with the counselors at the Medical School EAP to make sure that SHARE members who were having a tough time got the help that they needed, and we trust them.
The EASE fund will continue to be available for SHARE members to apply for financial help, though it will no longer be administered by the Medical School EAP.
What Do You Think about the Change?
Did you ever use the services at EAP? If so, we’d love to know what you thought of the help you got. All answers are anonymous.
[Really Quick SHARE Survey about EAP]
We would also be very interested to hear about your experiences with the new EAP service. We recognize and respect that staff sometimes work through very personal and private issues with EAP counselors, and, at the same time, want to be sure that SHARE members are well-supported. If you’re willing to share, we would appreciate your help understanding how the new system is working.
The New EAP
Optum is the new company – they are a national company, serving employers all over. We are told they have local counselors available. You can scroll down to the hospital’s announcement for a summary of their services, and find all of the services they offer on their website. Here’s their contact information:
Online: www.LiveandWorkWell.com, Company Code: umassmemorial
Mobile device: Visit the above website for instructions on downloading the app.
By telephone: 866-263-3525
UMass Memorial’s Announcement
In case you missed it, here’s the memo from the hospital to staff announcing the new Employee Assistance Program:
TO: All Caregivers at UMass Memorial Health Care
FROM: Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care
DATE: September 16, 2020
SUBJECT: Introducing Our New Employee Assistance Program, Powered by Optum
Now more than ever, it is a top priority at UMass Memorial Health Care to have resources in place to care for our caregivers. From the residual stress of the COVID-19 crisis, to heavy workloads caused by our recovery efforts, from dramatic changes to our home lives caused by the pandemic, to general uncertainty about what the future might hold, we all are dealing with a most unusually challenging time. Fortunately, we have the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place to offer a wide variety of services to support all of our caregivers in their times of need.
Starting October 1, we will be partnering with a new EAP provider that will be delivered by Optum and will take the place of our existing EAP providers for all UMass Memorial entities, bringing all EAP services under one partner for consistency across the system. Remember that EAP services are provided free to all UMass Memorial caregivers and their family members, with complete confidentiality, just as you’ve experienced with our other EAP services.
Through the EAP, employees can easily connect with benefits, which include:
One-on-One Counseling. You’ll have access to up to five face-to-face sessions per incident per year with a counselor within the Optum network of over 215,000 providers nationwide — in person, over the phone or via virtual visits. Optum also provides free access to Talkspace, which allows you to video chat with one of over 5,000 providers. With Talkspace, you can access therapy within hours of choosing your provider and receive support via messages 24/7.Support in Times of Need. Contact the Optum EAP for assistance in finding legal and financial support or resources and information to help you care for a child or adult dependent. They can also help with parenting advice or assist with getting you a discount on your night on the town to unwind.Helpful Resources at Your Fingertips. Unlimited access to online information, articles and other tools through the Optum Live and Work Well website or app.
Below are more details about how you and your family members can access all the great resources from the EAP. I hope you will take advantage of all that Optum EAP has to offer, especially if you find yourself navigating a personal or health crisis. We all need help sometimes. Together, we can take care of ourselves so we can better care for the people who depend on us.
Access the EAP Today
Online: www.LiveandWorkWell.com, Company Code: umassmemorial
Mobile device: Visit the above website for instructions on downloading the app.
By telephone: 866-263-3525
TDD: 866-216-9926
Questions? For questions or more information about the EAP, email myhealthmatters@umassmemorial.org.