hospital money woes

[cali-ob]

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so I just received an email from my program director that we are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss some recent hospital news. My residency program is at a univ. affiliated county hospital that has been financially in the red for several quarters now. Apparently, the residency program directors just met with hosptial CEO and Many programs, including mine, will be cutting back on the number of first year spots they offer starting this season.
I was fine reading this e-mail until I got to the part where my program director said "Don't worry. Our residency program is not closing. I repeat, WE ARE NOT CLOSING". Somehow, her assurances that we are not closing, made me feel less than secure that we might infact be closing sometime in the next 2 years. Am I being paranoid? As a family practice resident, I have to complete my 2nd and 3rd years in the same hospital per ABFM requirements. If i have to get out, next year is the time. Should I be looking around for other programs, or take her assurances, and wait to see if the
sh%t hits the fan? I don't want to be faced with a pressure situation should we find out mid second year (next year for me) that the program will have to close.
ps- I can't go to the meeting tomorrow due to my rotation schedule.

 

[exPCM]

so I just received an email from my program director that we are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss some recent hospital news. My residency program is at a univ. affiliated county hospital that has been financially in the red for several quarters now. Apparently, the residency program directors just met with hosptial CEO and Many programs, including mine, will be cutting back on the number of first year spots they offer starting this season.
I was fine reading this e-mail until I got to the part where my program director said "Don't worry. Our residency program is not closing. I repeat, WE ARE NOT CLOSING". Somehow, her assurances that we are not closing, made me feel less than secure that we might infact be closing sometime in the next 2 years. Am I being paranoid? As a family practice resident, I have to complete my 2nd and 3rd years in the same hospital per ABFM requirements. If i have to get out, next year is the time. Should I be looking around for other programs, or take her assurances, and wait to see if the
sh%t hits the fan? I don't want to be faced with a pressure situation should we find out mid second year (next year for me) that the program will have to close.
ps- I can't go to the meeting tomorrow due to my rotation schedule.

If they take less residents next year then how will the training for the remaining residents be impacted? In addition, if some of your colleagues decide to transfer out then how will the training for the remaining residents be impacted? Are any of the attendings looking for new jobs? I would advise talking to your colleagues who attend the meeting. If a lot your colleagues decide they are going to bail then that could affect your decision, particularly if it looks like your training is going to be adversely affected.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree with ex-PCM in general. I would worry if you will get overworked if there are going to be fewer interns the next couple of years. However, it's also difficult to switch programs, so you could end up "out of the frying pan, into the fire" if you try to switch. I guess in your position my decision would be based on a lot of different things...if you think you have a good change to get into a comparable program somewhere else, and are willing to move, then it might be wise to look around elsewhere. However, if you love your PD and your program (for example) and your fellow residents, you might want to just stay. Even if your program does close, then I would think your current program would help find you a spot somewhere (like elsewhere in their hospital system, esp. if it's a U of California program). But I really don't know...perhaps they don't have to do so.

 

[yumita]

Would you pretty please tell me which program you are at? I have interviews coming up at many hospitals that are rumored to be in similar situations and I need to know if I am taking a gamble on a place. I will keep it between you and me.
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[medicinesux]

this sucks- get ready for your workload to exponentially increase👎