Residency Handbook
Leave from Practice
When the house officer is on night team, the practice session may be canceled. You may cancel your practice session when you are post-call, on night team or on vacation only. When residents are in the NICU and PICU, they may cancel one of the afternoon sessions. A cancel practice form needs to be completed at least 4 weeks in advance for these sessions. This can be in the form of an e-mail to Dr. Kerr and Sabrina LeBlanc stating the reason for cancelation.
Family Medical Leave
Family Medical leave is available for qualified individuals. Please refer to the House Staff Handbook or the Graduate Medical Education Office for details.
Dress Code
See House Staff Handbook
Evaluations
Evaluations are done at the end of each rotation. Feedback should be provided on an ongoing basis, with open lines of communication. All attendings have access to the evaluations forms. The rotation specific forms are included in the Pediatric and Medicine curriculum. At the end of the rotation, the attending should review the evaluation forms with the resident. The resident should then sign the forms and return them to the Med/Peds house staff coordinator. These forms are kept in your files and used to track your progress. It is important to make sure your evaluation forms are returned to the house staff coordinator as they are used to help evaluate you on a quarterly basis. These quarterly reviews will be set up by the coordinator and held on one of clinic days.
You will be responsible for evaluating your attendings as well. Evaluation forms will be in your mailbox at the end of the month. Please complete and return to the house staff coordinator.
Mentor
Each resident will work with a faculty mentor (your preceptor) to oversee the resident's progress throughout the four years of training. Unless otherwise requested, your mentor will be your assigned preceptor for the year. Additionally, the mentor should be available to provide support and guidance, should any professional or personal need arise. The faculty mentor should meet with the resident at least two to three times each year. The mentor will receive copies of the resident's evaluations, and should review these with the resident. If a resident is having difficulty and receiving poor evaluations, the faculty mentor should help the resident sort out why such difficulties are being experienced and perhaps make suggestions so that improvement in performance can occur. The mentor will also facilitate career counseling and job placement.
Photocopying
Photocopying cards are available at the Main Housestaff Office and can be used at the library during the designated hours. Please take advantage of this opportunity. The Latham office may also be used at your convenience.
Recruiting
Recruiting, as we all know, is a vital part of the continued success of our residency program. We start interviewing November through January. During these three months, we ask your support by attending breakfast, lunch, and participating in guided tours. The prospective students really enjoy meeting the interns and residents, as they will ask many questions. This is the most important part of the recruiting process. Housestaff is encouraged to attend evening functions, which occur prior to interview day, to help welcome the candidates.
Sick Leave
Sick leave occurs when a resident is physically ill and cannot perform the duties assigned for that day(s). The housestaff member may report to employee health, their own physician, or the ambulatory clinic for treatment. Notification of the chief resident(s) must occur as soon as possible.
Vacations and Holidays
Med/Peds receive 2 weeks of vacation during their months on Pediatrics and 2 weeks while on Medicine.
Vacations are scheduled during elective months. You are responsible for notifying your attending at least two weeks prior to the start of your vacation. Any changes in your vacation schedule should be approved through the chief residents.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CANCEL YOUR CLINICS AT LEAST 4 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR VACATION. OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND COVERAGE FOR YOUR PATIENTS. Cancel clinic forms are available in the clinic and must be signed by Dr. Higgins and the house staff coordinator.
Email
It is extremely important that we have your accurate email address as this is the main form of communication. All announcements will be distributed via email. You will be given a groupwise account that is the last five letters of your name and your first initial followed by mail.amc.edu. You can have mail forwarded from that account (ask us how if you can't figure it out )
House Staff on Committees
There are many institutional committees that house staff may serve on. You are encouraged to join any committee that interests you. As you know, the RRC expects house staff participation and it's a way to have your interests heard. If you are interested in joining, please call the GME office at 518-262-6013.
