Interview Trail Rumors

[jollyvulcan]

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So it seems like every interview I go on I hear a new rumor about some program. I am not starting this to spread rumors but rather to try or validate or refute them. If anyone has any insight on the following I would like to hear it.

Rumor #1: UVa has recently been taken off probation by the ACGME for violations. I heard this from two people but with different variants (one indicating a lack of administrative oversight and failing to file paperwork on time, the other for work-hour violations).

Rumor #2: Rainbow Babies (Case) has frequant work-hour violations and several people have transferred out of the program. I heard this from a now intern at another program with which I was interviewing who told me that on her interview she was told about these two "facts" and advised not to come.

Does anyone know how to check and see if a program is has been recieving complaints for things like violating work hours?

 

[siempre595]

I also heard the Rainbow rumor regarding people leaving their program for a certain other well-known peds program just a few blocks away....

 

[UVA07]

I'm currently a 4th year at UVA going into pediatrics. Consequently, I can definitely speak to this rumor as I was closely involved with the issues. No UVA residency program has every been on probation. What occurred is that the ACGME found that the administrative office that oversees all house officers was being lax on many of their duties. These included things such as performing internal reviews of each specialty program on time and providing adequate documentation as to upkeep of resident work space, etc. It was NOT because of work-hour violations. This is the office that oversees all residency programs (pediatrics, medicine, derm, surgery, etc.), but none of these programs were ever on probation themselves and resident training was never in jeopardy or uncertain.

The office was placed on probation and given a few month period to provide adequate documentation of services and standards. However, this was lifted in October when the office again met the standards. Again, I think it is very important to restate that no program (especially Peds) was ever on probation or was ever close to it. I have done numerous rotations in peds here at UVA and the residents are very good at keeping to their hours. Interview here with confidence! Hope this helps and I hope this makes sense. If not, I'll try and clarify in later posts

 

[jollyvulcan]

That is perfectly clear and exactly the sort of feedback I was hoping for. Thanks for taking the time to clarify the issue for me.

 

[kidsfirstdoc]

other pointers are to ask directly if you hear rumors-Ask the residents. If one doesn't give a direct answer then ask a few-someone is bound to be an honest person and give you atleast an indirect answer if not a direct one!
also important things to ask are regarding how many people drop out of a class or transfer programs. this gives an important clue as to the happiness of the residents and any red flags. Also if there are a few residents having to remediate rotations in their 3rd year, that should raise many RED FLAGS!
Basically, keep all eyes and ears open and be a detective looking for any red flags possible and then stay away from that program!

 

[miniscule]

hey jollyvulcan

great thread! esp regarding rainbow's work hours. also found somewhere that they went unmatched 10/24 in 2002. i went there for an interview recently (will post later) and asked the questions you were asking. surprisingly, my interviewer was very honest and acknowledged/confirmed those points . she said that yes, rainbow used to be very haughty since they were a big and well known program so they ddin't take into consideration the residents' complaints, eg bad work hours, poor computer system, etc. so the residents revolted by telling interviewees not to go there because of poor treatment, hence the 10/24 match stat. it was a huge wake up call for them--"the best thing that ever happened to them," -- that they made a lot of arrangements. also during that interim, they made several administrative changes as well, including a new program director. the new Program director has been with rainbow for a long time (was head of NICU) and is very responsive to all complaints. ever since that year and the administrative changes, things have improved--a LOT, says my interviewer. residents there echoed the thought and are actually very happy there: good work hours (they have a rule saying they can't arrive at hospital before 7am for prerounds!) and several input committees which are very responsive. as for the computer system, a new one is the works, supposedly coming out when we're 2nd yrs--SUPPOSEDLY.

regarding people transferring out, hasn't happened in the recent years....

hope that helps!