Surgery program in danger of shutting down, need advice!!!

[qwerty123!]

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Hello Everyone,
I am a categorical resident. I recently found out that the hospital that I am working at had about $50 Million in losses this year, more then the previous 2-3 years. Many of the ancillary staff have been let go as the hospital can't support them. There are talks of some attending that are also looking to leave due to the situation. Since, I don't see the hospital changing its course in the near future, I feel that the surgery residency program is at risk.
My question is what happens if the hospital shuts down?
Will ACGME help the residents find spots or does the program help find spots?
I know that the categorical residents have funding from the ACGME for the duration of the program, but what does that mean if the program shuts down?
Are the residents expected to secure spots themselves?

This is a very stressful situation for me, I would appreciate it if someone can relate their experiences of such a situation arising in the past.

Thanks

 

[Bean_Bunny]

I believe that if the program were to shut down, the residents are on their own to find a new spot. The program may choose to attempt to help them, but there is not requirement. The ACGME as far as I know does not help with placement.

 

[Frederica]

Hello Everyone,
I am a categorical resident. I recently found out that the hospital that I am working at had about $50 Million in losses this year, more then the previous 2-3 years. Many of the ancillary staff have been let go as the hospital can't support them. There are talks of some attending that are also looking to leave due to the situation. Since, I don't see the hospital changing its course in the near future, I feel that the surgery residency program is at risk.
My question is what happens if the hospital shuts down?
Will ACGME help the residents find spots or does the program help find spots?
I know that the categorical residents have funding from the ACGME for the duration of the program, but what does that mean if the program shuts down?
Are the residents expected to secure spots themselves?

This is a very stressful situation for me, I would appreciate it if someone can relate their experiences of such a situation arising in the past.

Thanks

The ACGME does not fund positions. Funding is typically from medicare reimbursement.

I recall St. Vincent's in NYC shut down a few years back. Just found this article, http://www.danburyhospital.org/en/N...-Surgical-Residents-from-St-Vincents-Hospital, about a hospital in CT helping displaced surgical residents. I'll be honest, I did not read through it, hopefully you will get something out of it.

 

[gutonc]

You don't mention where you are in the program. A cat intern or a rising Chief? If the latter, you likely have little to worry about since it takes time to shut a hospital down. Your chief year may be a horror show but you'll get your diploma and move on. If you're in the middle there then, yes, if there's a real risk of the place going TU then you've got concerns.

Bottom line is that the ACGME will do nothing for you. When St. V's in Manhattan shut down a few years ago the various programs reached out to other hospitals in the area to help place their residents, most of whom found something, somewhere. It's gonna suck, but you'll probably wind up OK-ish.

 

[Frederica]

I found this article, which I did read, and found it very informative.

http://www.asahq.org/resources/publ...ember2010/residents-review-orphaned-residents

Best of luck to you and your peers.

 

[Raryn]

I think every time this has happened to ACGME accredited programs in the past, pretty much every resident has found a program willing to take them in. The only circumstances I remember in which residents were actually left totally SOL was the AOA accredited radiology residency a few years back.