Orientation. The Orientation Program is required for all residents. In 2007, the PGY-1 Orientation is Friday, June 22, 2007 and the PGY2+ is Monday, July 2, 2007.  Your mailings will have additional information.

Professional Liability Insurance. The Medical College of Virginia Hospitals is self-insured for medical malpractice and provides professional liability (medical malpractice) coverage for each member of the MCV housestaff.  Coverage is available for any claim arising out of health care or professional services provided to a patient by a member of the MCV housestaff while on duty as assigned in one of MCV’s affiliated hospitals or programs.  Coverage is not provided for any other health care or professional services, e.g., moonlighting activities at outside facilities or institutions.  Coverage is not provided for intentional misconduct, including acts committed while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or narcotics, criminal acts, sexual misconduct, or illegal activity.   Coverage is available up to the limitation on recovery in the Virginia Tort Claims Act (if applicable); for claims to which the Virginia Tort Claims Act does not apply, coverage is available up to the amount of the medical malpractice cap on recovery contained in the Virginia Medical Malpractice Act.  This coverage covers all costs associated with alleged medical negligence claims, including indemnity payments, attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and other expenses and defense costs.  Coverage is provided for all alleged medical negligence claims that arise out of health care or professional services provided while the resident is enrolled in his/her training program, even if the claim is not asserted until after the resident completed or ceased participation in the training program (also known as “tail coverage”).

Other Insurance. Health Insurance is available for each member of the VCUHS housestaff and their immediate family members through payroll deduction. Group Life and Disability Insurance is provided at no cost to the housestaff member. Supplemental Group Life Insurance is available at the housestaff member's expense. Webpage Link

Direct Deposit.  Direct deposit is a condition of employment for all VCUHS employees paid by the VCUHS Payroll Operations Department.  Direct deposit promotes automation and streamlining efficiencies by offering employees faster access to their pay and the additional security, convenience, and flexibility of electronic banking.

Vacation. All members of the housestaff are entitled to a vacation of three (3) weeks. Additional compensation is not provided in lieu of vacation.

Sick Leave. Sick leave is provided to housestaff members in the amount of thirty (30) calendar days within a year's contract period. It does not carry forward.

Family and Medical Leave. Family and Medical leave for members of the MCV housestaff complies with the family and medical leave policy established by Virginia Commonwealth University/VCUHS. Please see your program director for further information.
Effects of Leave Satisfying Completion of The Program. All leave in excess of vacation may have an effect upon completion of training pending or the individual program requirements.

Additional Time for Completing Board Requirements:  In certain cases, authorized absence of housestaff members may jeopardize Board certification.  In the event that the time missed needs to be made up to satisfy educational requirements (e.g., at the end of the normal term of appointment), the institution will be requested to continue to pay all salary and fringe benefits during the extended appointment.

Personal Appearance/Attire. Housestaff members, as physicians and dentists in Graduate Medical Education, are required to observe the professional dress standards established by the institution.  Webpage Link

Parking. Parking is available through payroll deduction. Parking is subsidized by MCVH as a benefit to housestaff.

Assessment of Performance Policy. Residents are evaluated for their performance on at least a semi-annual basis. The complete policy is in the Housestaff Manual.

Discipline. A member of the housestaff may be disciplined for infraction of institutional rules, for unsatisfactory service, and/or for conduct unethical or unbecoming of a physician. Disciplinary matters are handled by the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and the Dean of the School of Medicine. An appeal procedure is available and is set forth in the Housestaff Handbook.

Grievance Procedures. Residents are provided with fair and reasonable written institutional policies and procedures for grievance and due process.

     Assessment of Performance Policy

     Grievance Policy

Moonlighting. Institution policy regarding moonlighting is overall.  Each program has developed program-specific moonlighting policies and criteria for participation for their residents.  Please see your program director for policies regarding moonlighting, duty hours and other employment activities.  Webpage Link

Stress/Counseling Resources. Confidential stress resources are available. Please see the Housestaff Handbook for listings or contact your Chief Resident, Program Director, or the GME office.  The employee Assistance Program (EAP) and GME office provides referrals.

Vaccinations. MCVH/VCU provides vaccines with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices (HICPAC) as well as the MCVH Infection Control Policy.

Meals. Meals are provided during in-house--over-night duty hours.

Call Quarters. Call quarters are available.

Uniforms. All housestaff are provided with 3 white coats and 5 sets of scrubs, at no cost.  Laundry services are provided by Linen Services.

Physician Impairment. The VCUHS Medical Staff Impairment Policy defines the policy and procedure for addressing potential impairment among physicians, dentists, and other practitioner medical staff.

Hospital Policy. All housestaff are recognized as members of the Hospital Professional Staff. As such they are expected to know Hospital Policies including but not limited to: Patient Confidentiality, Sexual Harassment, Drug Testing for Cause, Guest Relations, Informed Consent, Risk Management, and Advance Directives. Housestaff must respect patient confidentiality at all times and in all locations. Housestaff should be familiar with the Hospital Guest Relations program.  All Housestaff are expected to participate in hospital wide education programs as requested.  VCU Health Systems Policies and Procedures are available at http://pandp.mcvh-vcu.edu/VCUHS_PP/default.htm or by viewing them through Employee Self Serve.

ACLS. Contact your program director for information if this course is needed.

This agreement is intended to comply with all the requirement of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The information provided herein represents a brief summary of policies, benefits, and responsibilities.  More detailed information on the above can be obtained from the GME website (VCUHS Housestaff Handbook, GME Policies) www.medschool.vcu.edu/gme.

Sample Contract. Click here to view sample contract