Is this true about residency?

[medstudent87]

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I read on someone's post (don't remember who's or where) that when matching into a residency program, you really only match into STARTING your residency at that hospital. After each successive year, the hospital cuts their residency spots in half and all the people that didn't do as well must find another hospital to finish at.

(Ex. PGY-1: 15 IM residency positions, PGY-2: 7 IM residency positions, etc.)

Is this true? I always thought that once you get in, you're gonna be there the entire time unless you REALLY f-ck up...

 

[BloodnGuts]

I read on someone's post (don't remember who's or where) that when matching into a residency program, you really only match into STARTING your residency at that hospital. After each successive year, the hospital cuts their residency spots in half and all the people that didn't do as well must find another hospital to finish at.

(Ex. PGY-1: 15 IM residency positions, PGY-2: 7 IM residency positions, etc.)

Is this true? I always thought that once you get in, you're gonna be there the entire time unless you REALLY f-ck up...

It's my understanding that this pyramid style of residency program went on in the past, but these days is illegal.

 

[IHeartNerds]

With the exception of some preliminary medicine/surgery positions (where you know when you match that they are only one year), this is completely and utterly false.

 

[cpants]

You will see some places that have 15 interns going down to 7 PGY2's but that is not a cut system. The other 8 interns were prelims who are going into derm, rads, anesthesia, etc or they are people (like foreign grads) who were unable to match and signed up for a 1 year spot to get more competitive. If you match to an IM program as a categorical resident, you are unlikely to get fired unless you do something really stupid.

 

[exptherainbow]

Perhaps you watch too much Grey's Anatomy. I have never heard of this happening to anyone I know and really the only way that you will be dismissed from a standard residency is if you really mess up... Residency is a binding contract both for you and the institution you match at

 

[JustUseYourHead]

False. The places that have more PGY1 spots than PGY 2 spots, those extra PGY 1 spots are prelim years. Not categorical PGY1 spots.

 

[medstudent87]

Ok ,thanks. Yea, that's what I thought initially...I don't know what this person was smoking...

 

[Smurfette]

Perhaps you watch too much Grey's Anatomy. I have never heard of this happening to anyone I know and really the only way that you will be dismissed from a standard residency is if you really mess up... Residency is a binding contract both for you and the institution you match at

Actually, they do not HAVE to offer you a contract after your first year if they have cause to let you go. They can hold you back a year or tell you they are not going to renew your contract. However, from a manpower perspective, they expect and plan on everyone in your class completing the program as expected...too much turnover from people leaving the program needs to be explained to the ACGME (and no program wants extra ACGME scrutiny). ACGME will not allow pyramidal programs---so generally speaking, there are the same number of categorical interns as there are graduating residents each year. Prelim interns are not expected to continue on in the program after the first year (some programs will have prelim PGY2s, but it's less common) and this is understood.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Actually, they do not HAVE to offer you a contract after your first year if they have cause to let you go.

👍 The Match contract is technically only binding for one year. In practice this is rarely an issue, certainly pyramid structures such as the one you describe don't exist anymore (that I know of).

 

[Impromptu]

Your contract is good for one year at a time and each year you need to sign a new contract with them. I've already signed my PGY-3 contract. Residents who underperform and show no improvement with all the remediation efforts can be let go (not offered another contract).

Also, if you decide to switch residencies mid-year, they can hold you to the contract and make you finish that year. I've seen that happen.