Another Residency Question

[MaseratiGT]

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Hey Everyone!

I have another residency question for those attendings and residents out there.

I am from Florida and would really like to come back here to complete my residency, so I was looking on CPME's site of residencies around the country. (I know it's early for me, but I'm interested 🙂 ) Anyway, a lot of the residencies in Florida have probationary approvals and are candidates for withdrawl from the program in summer of 2008.

Now, should I be making notes of these programs? Is is common to be on probation due to very strict guidelines, or are the programs just not up to par? What would a program go onto probationary approval for? How much does it matter if a program has been on probation before? 😕

 

[Feli]

JMO, but I wouldn't worry about it too much at this point; it's something you have no control over and don't have to deal with for at least a couple years (by which point you will see if probation has been lifted, been extended, or the program withdrew/shut down). It all boils down to your confidence in the program. Probation for residencies isn't usually as serious as it is for the pod schools, and many programs have been on probation in the past - especially during times of converting the models. For residencies, probation could be something as simple as that they weren't having journal club and grand rounds often enough or that they're missing an anesthesia, rad, path, etc rotation. Also, it could just be that the program hasn't matched in a couple years; the graduating classes and competition level for residencies have been down a bit in the past couple years.

If you have confidence in the program to remedy their deficiencies, then probation really shouldn't be an automatic deal breaker. I know that many of my classmates are doing clerkships at Fla programs on probation, and some knew that when they applied (some are probably unaware, though).

That said, if you see a program with a plethora of standards violations, particularly 6.10 and 6.11 (surgical numbers and diversity), then that becomes a bit of a red flag. Most of those programs are probably more likely to lose one of their spots (and therefore increase surgical numbers for the other spots) than get shut down altogether. Nonetheless, if a program did lose its accreditation for one or all spots, then the residents in those spots would have to apply for a pretty limited number of advanced standing residency positions or start all over; that would obviously be a big drag. A couple of the smaller programs in the south Fla area voluntarily closed this past year; I don't know if that was due to free will or impending CPME sanctions.

Conversely, another way to use that list is to realize that if you see that a program that was recently upgraded to a higher model (ie PSR24 to PMS36) or had a spot added (ie was approved for 2 residents last year and will now take 3), then that is typically a sign that numbers and training at the program should be more than adequate. In the end, you haven't even had one basic sciences lecture yet. I'd just try to keep your grades high for now, and worry about that stuff when the time comes. The middle of 2nd year is when you have to really start thinking about board exams and clerkships.

... question for those attendings and residents out there...

Probably want to post it in that forum then^ 👍