Boeing, BECU working on account number conversion

The Boeing Employees' Credit Union is converting its Social Security-based account numbers into new 10-digit account numbers, randomly generated to ensure privacy.

The 85,000 Boeing employees and retirees who have direct-deposit services to their BECU accounts from Boeing Payroll or Retirement should not make any changes, officials said — in fact, delays could arise if they seek any changes on their own. Boeing Shared Services organizations handling direct-deposit services are working with BECU to convert accounts automatically.

Boeing Travel Accounting, for example, is working on an automatic conversion for employees who use Travel Manager, Boeing's Web-based system for submitting travel authorizations and filing expense reports for travel, business and local-mileage expenses. All users of Travel Manager have reimbursements deposited to designated bank accounts. BECU will notify employees when it has made the updates, and employees do not need to phone the help line with revised BECU account numbers.

BECU sent the new account numbers to each member in September. The new account numbers become effective on Oct.15.

Patient safety is everyone's business

Medical mistakes affect thousands of people each year, including Boeing employees and retirees. But new data show something can be done.

Boeing data and a methodology the Dartmouth Medical School developed show that urban hospitals in the regions where Boeing has covered populations could avoid an estimated 2,500 medication errors and save more than 280 lives among Boeing employees, retirees and their dependents, each year — if they adopted three Leapfrog patient safety standards (featured in the August issue of Frontiers).

Preventing medical mistakes could save an estimated 98,000 lives across the United States every year.

"Boeing, along with more than 100 of the country's largest employers and organizations, is working with The Leapfrog Group to address key patient safety issues," said Greg Marchand, Senior Manager, Health and Welfare Operations and Boeing Leapfrog representative. "Just as we insist on producing the highest quality products for our customers, so too must we work with hospitals, physicians and other health care providers to ensure that our families receive the highest quality care available ... especially when our lives and health are at stake."

You can learn more about Leapfrog at www.leapfroggroup.org.

A list of Questions and Answers is available on the Boeing intranet at http://active.boeing.com/companyoffices/empinfo/benefits/news/news.cfm?goto=company&page=news6

Now online: Boeing Travel deals

Boeing employees, retirees and external customers now have access online to the latest travel deals. Boeing Travel Management Co. recently rolled out VacationTRIPS — a leisure version of the online Boeing travel reservation system. It features Boeing airfare, hotel and rental-car discounts and a host of other deals. VacationTRIPS — at www.boeingtravel.com/leisure.html — offers "more value than other online agencies," said Jim Johnson, leisure manager.

Airline listings include Boeing discounts on United, American, Delta and Northwest. Also shown are Southwest Airlines flights — not available on major travel sites.

"We have a Fare Messenger feature that allows you to specify flight and price requirements," Johnson said. "When a fare manager meets your price, an e-mail notifies you it's time to book."

VacationTRIPS also lists 50 rental-car options. In addition to the National/Alamo discounts offered exclusively to Boeing, there are deals from other car companies. VacationTRIPS also includes Boeing preferred-supplier hotel rates.

"There's a fee of $15 for all reservations made at one time," Johnson said. Other online agencies charge up to $25 per ticket or have hidden, fluctuating fees. "When you push the button, your reservation is made — but your coworkers at Boeing Travel are there to confirm your desires are met. They want your vacation to be the best it can be."

Use of VacationTRIPS lowers costs for Boeing Travel by increasing volume with preferred suppliers, Johnson said. Profits are returned to Boeing. While VacationTRIPS is designed for quick trips and visits to relatives, Travel also offers cruise packages and vacation tours. Phone 1-800-243-8292 or see www.boeingtravel.com for more information.