Regarding completing current PGY-1 year

[throwaway991111]

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Hi all, I have a specific question regarding rules surrounding completion of PGY-1 year

Am in PGY-1 year of a categorical program from Match 2018. Now matched in 2019 match into a PGY-1 spot of a categorical program in same specialty at different institute. Both programs are ACGME accredited and participated in the NRMP match.

Are there ACGME/NRMP/Other rules to complete the current academic year or is this absolved with signing of the new contract? (Aside from being professional and completing the contract). Would like to take June off but don't technically have the "leave" days to cover this officially. PDs and PCs are unclear of the fineprint regarding this.

I'm guessing this situation comes up more commonly with PGY-1 prelims (Ie surgery) that did not also match in a categorical program in past match, but have now matched into a categorical program.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Probably has nothing to do with ACGME/NRMP--you satisfy your match agreement as soon as you work something like 45 days. If you aren't getting credit for your PGY-1 anyways (seems odd...) then there seems to be no incentive to do anything above what you are minimally required to do in your contract.

Read your contract. That will tell your requirements are in terms of giving notice for quitting, and the consequences for terminating the contract early.

You don't need me to tell you that doing this puts your current program in a bind, and presumably they were helpful to you in the process of switching programs. Seems like that should probably be a consideration on some level... but it's your call.

 

[Raryn]

Hi all, I have a specific question regarding rules surrounding completion of PGY-1 year

Am in PGY-1 year of a categorical program from Match 2018. Now matched in 2019 match into a PGY-1 spot of a categorical program in same specialty at different institute. Both programs are ACGME accredited and participated in the NRMP match.

Are there ACGME/NRMP/Other rules to complete the current academic year or is this absolved with signing of the new contract? (Aside from being professional and completing the contract). Would like to take June off but don't technically have the "leave" days to cover this officially. PDs and PCs are unclear of the fineprint regarding this.

I'm guessing this situation comes up more commonly with PGY-1 prelims (Ie surgery) that did not also match in a categorical program in past match, but have now matched into a categorical program.

There's no rules that would apply here other than the contract you signed. You do not need to finish this year (except again, to fulfill the contract that you signed).

That said... you really don't want to burn any bridges here. For the rest of your life, every time you get a license, get credentialed for a new hospital, get credentialed by an insurance company, etc, you will be putting down the contact information for every single program that you ever did any GME training through. Including this one. If you leave them in the lurch by peacing out a month early, they could theoretically write that you did not satisfactorily complete your year on any paperwork they get, which will be a bump in the road.

If your PD is OK with releasing you though, you are welcome to quit.

 

[hallowmann]

Honestly, I'd just finish the year. You're talking about one month (assuming you have no leave time left), basically just wasting the last 11 mos of hard work. Who's to say things will go great at the next program and you'll finish 1st year? If it were me, I'd stack all my sick days and vacations at the end (maybe you'll get a week), and just finish out your first year. After that you're closer to being eligible for licensure (if you're an AMG, you'd be eligible in most states with Step 3) and you wouldn't have burnt a bridge.

In any case, if there is a way that your PD would be cool with you taking that last month off, and would still give you intern year completion credit then whatever, it doesn't matter, but I suspect you're asking because they said they "weren't sure" if they could do that (the whole PCs and PDs fineprint comment).

 

[GoSpursGo]

The more I think about it, you should probably finish the year out just so you can say you completed a year of training. Yeah, you're probably going to do fine at your new program and complete the full training there, but on the off chance that something goes off the rails and you wind up not completing for some reason, you'll be glad that you can say you completed at least one year of training so you can get a license in the future.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

I'd be interested in hearing what @aProgDirector has to say. Aside from the professionalism and "medicine is a small world" issues, it would be interesting to know whether your new program could ask for a NRMP waiver and drop you. Their argument may be that you misrepresented yourself as intending to complete your current PGY1 year, and now you haven't. Whether that's enough for a waiver, I'm not sure. But I certainly wouldn't risk it. If their was some personal hardship, I'd talk to your new program director to make sure they're aware of what's going on.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It's extremely unlikely that a program would ask for a waiver over something like this, and equally unlikely that the NRMP would grant it. Nowhere in the ERAS application does it say you won't quit your current job, whatever it is.

But the other concerns are valid. If somehow things should go sideways in this new program in your PGY-1, you won't have a completed PGY-1 year. Two partially completed years won't count. And leaving your co-interns stuck if you leave early may create some negative energy in your current program. Their future recommendation may not be 100% positive, or they could simply be slow in completing your paperwork.

Best option is to find a compromise. Tell your program you need to leave 2 or 4 weeks early. Rearrange your schedule to minimize impacts on others. Be a professional.

 

[deleted480308]

I’d finish the year so I have a license in case something falls apart at the new place