Archive for: April, 2009
From Savannah: Day 2 at AHME
The conference really kicked in to high gear this morning, so I decided to whip up a quick post before we go back to more sessions after the afternoon break.
I attended a very informative and helpful session on institutional orientation this morning, presented by Carrie Eckart, MBA, director of GME at Albany Medical Center. Here are a few tidbits I picked up:
- As you know, both programs and institutions send new residents an overwhelming amount of paperwork prior to orientation. In addition to including a checklist of documents residents must return to them, Eckart’s institution also posts a spreadsheet online that tracks what documents the GME office has received. Residents can log on and see the spreadsheet too. She said this has cut back on the number of phone calls the GME office receives from residents wondering if their materials made it to them.
- Create a master orientation schedule for each specialty and include it in the orientation packets for residents. The GME office collaborates with each specialty and creates a calendar specific to each program that shows when orientation is and other related activities. This makes it easier for residents as they only have to refer to one sheet of paper to find out where they need to be.
- Invite spouses to hear the talk on benefits information. The spouses are the other stakeholder when it comes to choosing benefit plans, so it’s not a bad idea to invite them to hear your HR person explain the plans.
- Enlist the new chief residents to be Incoming Resident Advisors, and ask them to be available to new residings via e-mail during April, May, and June.
- Don’t distribute an agenda; otherwise, attendees may just look for the sessions they think are interesting/most relevant and skip out on the rest. Eckart also saves benefits information as the last program of the day because that’s something most feel they need to stick around for.
That’s a summary of the tips Eckart gave. . . What tips do you have for ensuring residents don’t leave or skip out on important sessions during orientation? Leave them in the comment box below!
Also of note: I heard an excellent presentation this morning by the ACGME’s Timothy Brigham, MDiv, PhD comparing the challenges graduate medical educators face in teaching residents and dealing with faculty and hospital administration to the book Beowulf. Now, remembering Beowulf from my high school English class, I was skeptical this was going to be any good, but it was wonderful, and I recommend that if Brigham is speaking at a conference you’re attending to definitely sit in on his session.
From Savannah: Day 1 at AHME
I arrived in Savannah at about 12:15pm this afternoon and rushed over to the hotel to check in, grab lunch, and make it downstairs for the 3:30 session.
The AAMC’s Karen Fisher, JD gave a presentation entitled, “Updates on Medicare DGME and IME Payments.” Fisher discussed how health care reform may impact GME, and quoted MedPAC’s March 2009 report, which recommended (this has not been passed, it’s only a recommendation) that Congress reduce IME education adjustment and put the money saved toward a fund for a quality incentive payment program. (on pg. 69)
Fisher also quoted Senator Max Baucus, who said that there needs to be increased accountability of IME funding in a Nov. 12 2008 paper, Call to Action, Health Reform 2009.
So, what does all of this mean for you? Fisher says that there is an increased emphasis on health care quality in Washington, and she expects that Congress/CMS and other entities will want more proof that teaching hospitals are not only graduating competent physicians, but are making strides in health care quality, innovation, and medical technology. Fisher urged residency program leaders who have innovative, new, projects going on to ‘tell someone about it’. . . whether you publish it in a scholarly work, or inform the ACGME. . . help others see the value of GME.
I checked out the AAMC’s Government Affairs page, and it is full of more information about what’s happening in Washington. It’s definitely worth a look, and of course, stay tuned if any major changes to GME payments occur. You can also find the AAMC’s response to the MedPAC report there.
Shadowing opportunity for new residents
While we’re on the topic of orientation. . .
We offer a morning of optional “shadowing” for all of our incoming residents. I think a lot of places may do this, but it’s new for us in the last few years.
They are generally quite nervous before they start, and they get really antsy during orientation because all they can think is “what is it going to be like?”
We let them come in one morning and round with an inpatient team. Because they are just observers, they aren’t affecting the teacher/learner ratio. We have them fill out the requisite releases ahead of time, and then they just hover and watch. They can also stay for lunch if they want to.
I find those who take advantage of this opportunity focus better during the actual orientation as it creates a mental context. It also helps them to feel more comfortable, and it generates some questions that they would not otherwise have had.
About 30% take advantage of this opportunity.
Do you offer something similar in your programs? Tell us about it in the comment box below.
Soundbooth Friday: In-person orientation packet pick up
It’s common for coordinators to send their incoming residents a packet of papers, which they must complete and send or bring with them to orientation. However, this is often easier said than done, leaving coordinators look for new ways to get a slew of pre-orientation activities taken care of before residents arrive.
Fellowship Forum: Tips to make it through all the documentation
Hectic? Did you say, “Hectic?” Yes, for fellowship programs, it is THE busy time for securing documentation of every description. Although our inclination is to address all these immediate issues at the same time, it’s wise to prioritize. Set aside a block of time each day to keep yourself updated on each to-do list.
Begin by keeping stacks of stuff in separate stations around your office pod. It would be too easy to misfile an important document in the wrong pile, and then spend hours looking for it. Here are a few tips for your overloaded desk right now:
1) Interviews. Yep, for some of our fellowships, they are still going on, long after the residency programs have finished. Keep those schedules in plain sight. Here’s a quick tip: Stay in close touch with your visiting applicants as they are the future of the program.
2) Credentialing for incoming fellows. This can be a tedious process, as it seems GME offices are requiring more and more documentation. Quick tip: If you have foreign medical graduates coming in, get going early on those J-1 and H-1B visas. With more of these folks entering US programs, rules are becoming tighter.
3) Reappointing current fellows. No doubt they will have annual updates due. Quick tip: If you’re having trouble getting fellows to complete paperwork, including online training modules, find a carrot. The barter system still works!
4) Fellows moving to faculty. This can require documentation for your HR person, division administrator, or whoever handles such records. Quick tip: Even though faculty appointments might not be in your bailiwick, you should search out who needs what from your fellow, so there will be no gaps in the transition.
5) Departing fellows. These folks have known for some time their next career step. Quick tip: Be sure to get a completely updated CV from them before they go, including publications and presentations (you might need these for your next PIF). Get forwarding addresses, if only for their professional locations for now; keep their personal e-mails, just in case.
Spring has surely sprung for fellowships. Stay calm, keep chugging away, and soon there will be a fresh start to a new academic year!
A look at who didn’t Match
There’s been so much talk over who did Match, that now it’s time to look at who did Match.
Check out the following stats reported in the AMA’s GME e-letter:
- 1,087 unfilled PGY1 positions were up for grabs in the Scramble
- More than 8,000 candidates did not Match and vied for those positions
Of those more than 8,000 candidates:
- 1,072 were seniors of US allopathic medical schools
- 677 were previous graduates of allopathic medical schools
- 607 were students or graduates of osteopathic medical schools
- 1,771 were U.S. citizen students/graduates of international medical schools
- 4,372 were non- U.S. citizen students/graduates of international medical school
Read the GMe e-letter for information about how many positions in your specialty were available and filled.
-
-
Categories
-
Archives
-
Feeds
