Department of Emergency Medicine: Policy on Faculty Computer Replacement and Allocation

Summary

To ensure that faculty have necessary computer equipment to effectively perform their work. To ensure that computers purchased by Emergency Medicine are replaced on an equitable and regularly scheduled basis.

Body

Unit Policy

Title

Department of Emergency Medicine: Policy on Faculty Computer Replacement and Allocation

Introduction

Purpose

  • To ensure that faculty have necessary computer equipment to effectively perform their work.

  • To ensure that computers purchased by Emergency Medicine are replaced on an equitable and regularly scheduled basis.

Scope

This policy pertains to all Emergency Medicine computers purchased with clinical funds for use by faculty. Unless a computer is specifically listed in the fellowship budget, computers for use by fellows (GME and non-GME) are excluded from this policy. Computers that have been purchased from research funds for specific research functions are not eligible to be replaced under this policy but must follow the appropriate UNC IT security protocols.

Policy

Policy Statement

  1. Permanent faculty physicians with primary appointments in Emergency Medicine are eligible to receive allocated computers under this policy. 
  2. Eligible faculty will be furnished with one computer, either a desktop or a laptop based on need and job function. Faculty/staff currently using multiple computers will be phased into a replacement plan resulting in the assignment of one individual desktop or laptop per person. Exceptions will be reviewed and approved by the Chair. Faculty may select a laptop rather than a desktop computer with the following criteria:
    1. The laptop is considered a replacement of the desktop computer, not a supplement.
    2. The laptop must meet minimum system security requirements as identified by the UNC IT offices to include password protection and encryption 
  3. The intent of this policy is to replace 25% of the computers in the program annually. The actual number of computers replaced annually will depend on the availability of funds allocated for computer replacement. Computers in use that do not meet the minimum specifications for support by the UNC IT offices will be priority candidates for replacement.
  4. The maximum cost per computer (system) will be $2,400 and will be adjusted periodically through the update of this policy.  If computers used for specific job functions, such as advanced analytics and reporting, require funds in excess of $2,400, such requests must be approved by the Chair.  Faculty may also utilize unused annual CME funds to subsidize computer costs.
  5. When a faculty member assigned an  Emergency Medicine-purchased computer leaves the Department or no longer uses the allocated computer, the computer must be returned to Emergency Medicine for reassignment.  Computers must be returned by faculty members at the time of termination.  By UNC policy University computers remain the property of the University.
  6. Emergency Medicine will maintain a list of Emergency Medicine-purchased computers and will identify computers for annual replacement.
  7. Computers that are identified has having no useful value to Emergency Medicine will be disposed of by following UNC computer disposal procedures.
  8. Computers lost, stolen, or broken will be replaced only one time per faculty member during each four-year cycle.  Replacement cost within this timeframe will be shared equally by the department and the faculty member.  Subsequent instances of computers lost or stolen within this timeframe will be replaced solely at the expense of the faculty member assigned the computer.
  9. Faculty members are responsible for the security and the condition of computers at all times on and off campus. Failure to properly secure a computer containing PHI may expose the faculty member to considerable personal liability in accordance with University policy.

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Name: Franklin Farmer, DBA, MBA – Associate Chair for Administration

Telephone: 919-937-3757

Email: Franklin.Farmer@unchealth.unc.edu

Other Contact

Name: Jane H. Brice, MD, MPH – Professor and Department Chair

Email: Jane_Brice@med.unc.edu

Details

Details

Article ID: 159663
Created
Tue 12/16/25 4:42 PM
Modified
Fri 12/19/25 11:08 AM
Responsible Unit
School, Department, or other organizational unit issuing this document.
School of Medicine - Department of Emergency Medicine
Issuing Officer
Name of the document Issuing Officer. This is the individual whose organizational authority covers the policy scope and who is primarily responsible for the policy.
Issuing Officer Title
Title of the person who is primarily responsible for issuing this policy.
Associate Chair for Administration
Next Review
Date on which the next document review is due.
12/04/2027 12:00 AM
Last Review
Date on which the most recent document review was completed.
12/04/2025 12:00 AM
Last Revised
Date on which the most recent changes to this document were approved.
12/04/2025 12:00 AM
Effective Date
If the date on which this document became/becomes enforceable differs from the Origination or Last Revision, this attribute reflects the date on which it is/was enforcable.
12/04/2025 12:00 AM
Origination
Date on which the original version of this document was first made official.
12/19/2025 12:00 AM