Use of UT Physicians Clinics in University Projects

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

UT Physicians is the clinical practice of McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“University”).  University faculty provide patient care at UT Physicians clinics located throughout the Houston metropolitan area and southeast Texas.  From time to time, University employees propose grants, contracts and other projects involving research, education and/or quality initiatives (collectively, “Projects”) that involve use of UT Physicians Clinics and/or participation of UT Physicians patients.  Projects may be internally or externally funded.

Research and other similar projects are critically important to the University’s mission to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences, and model the best practices in clinical care and public health.  UT Physicians plays an integral role in such projects, which ultimately serve to improve health care for both UT Physicians patients and the larger community.

The purpose of this policy is to describe the process for obtaining approval from UT Physicians for Projects that involve use of its facilities and/or participation of its patients to ensure that appropriate budget allocations are made to cover the cost to UT Physicians. This policy is not intended to address fundraising, development or other activities in which UT Physicians patients may be involved that do not impact UT Physicians operations.

II. PROCEDURE

Projects involving UT Physicians clinics and/or patients, regardless of funding source, may be processed through Sponsored Projects Administration, the Office of Development, the Office of Governmental Relations and/or other University department, depending upon the scope and nature of the project.  All proposed Projects should be processed in accordance with applicable University policies, including but not limited to, HOOP 64, Applications or Proposals for Sponsored Project Funds, HOOP 94, Research Conflicts of Interest, HOOP 200, Review of Research, HOOP 145, Communication with Government Officials and HOOP 203, Gifts: Solicitation, Acceptance, Processing, Acknowledgement and Stewardship.

If any proposed Project involves the use of a UT Physicians clinic facility and/or participation of UT Physicians patients, the principal investigator (PI) or other employee responsible for the Project must obtain permission from the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, UT Physicians or designee prior to submitting the proposal for internal or external funding.  To begin the UT Physicians approval process, the PI or other employee responsible for the Project must submit a request form.   Upon receipt, the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, UT Physicians or designee will review the request and approve, deny or ask for additional information. 

All Projects that involve the use of UT Physicians clinics and/or participation of UT Physicians patients must contain sufficient internal budget allocations to cover the cost to UT Physicians for providing operational support, staffing and use of its clinic space.  In addition, such activities should be arranged in a way that does not interfere normal clinical operations of UT Physicians clinics, as determined by the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, UT Physicians or designee. 

III. CONTACTS

• • UT Physicians, Healthcare Transformation Initiatives
  • (713) 486-3860
  • https://www.utphysicians.com/

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