UTMB residents are being temporarily absorbed by other Texas residencies until they can return to work on the island, to avoid extending their training. Some have already started at other programs, some are preparing to do so.
There is no way Texas residencies alone can absorb all of the residents.
It looks like the poor UTMB residents will be going through a quasi-scramble.
Here is the straight scoop:http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/newsRoom/newsRm_IkeInq.asp
Hurricane Ike Disaster –
Hurricane Ike Information for Program Directors, DIOs, and Residents
Request from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB)
The devastation caused by Hurricane Ike has resulted in temporary alteration to the GME programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Thomas Blackwell, MD, the Designated Institutional Official (DIO), along with UTMB program directors, have determined they cannot provide all residents/fellows with an adequate educational experience for the short term. They have requested that the ACGME facilitate the temporary transfer of UTMB residents/fellows to institutions and programs that can provide this adequate educational experience in the following specialties and subspecialties:
Allergy & Immunology
Pulmonary Disease /Critical Care Medicine
Plastic Surgery
Anesthesiology
Rheumatology
Psychiatry
Anesthesiology: Pain Medicine
Neurological Surgery
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Dermatology
Neurology
Diagnostic Radiology
Emergency Medicine
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Neuroradiology
Family Medicine
Ophthalmology
Pediatric Radiology
Internal Medicine
Orthopedic Surgery
Vascular/Interventional Radiology
Cardiovascular Disease
Otolaryngology
Radiation Oncology
Interventional Cardiology
Pathology
Surygery
Endocrinology
Cytopathology
Surgical Critical Care
Gastroenterology
Pediatrics
Urology
Geriatric Medicine
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
Infectious Disease
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Medical Oncology
Nephrology
Institutions/Programs Offering to Accept Temporary Transfers
Programs offering to accept temporary transfers from UTMB programs affected by Hurricane Ike must complete the "Available Openings for Displaced Residents" form accessed through the Accreditation Data System (ADS). Information about these openings will be made available to Dr. Blackwell and UTMB program directors. In order to be included on the "available openings" list, programs must submit their information by September 24, 2008.
Programs that currently have available position openings they wish to offer (RRC-approved complement is greater than number of filled positions), should log on to ADS and confirm the status of every resident/fellow on duty for 2008-2009; then proceed to the section Positions for Displaced Residents to complete the "Available Openings for Displaced Residents" form. Information about these positions will be made available to Dr. Blackwell and the UTMB program directors.
Programs that currently do not have position openings (RRC-approved complement does not exceed the number of filled positions), but believe they have the educational resources to support temporary positions must seek approval from the RRC (Note: some specialties allow temporary increases without prior approval). The PD should log onto ADS and confirm the status of every resident on duty for 2008-2009; then proceed to Request Changes to request a temporary Increase. This request involves DIO and RRC approval. RRCs will expedite resident/fellow complement decisions as a result of these requests. Their decisions are based upon the adequacy of the receiving program's resources for resident education such as quality and volume of patients and related clinical material available, faculty-resident ratio, institutional funding, and the quality of faculty teaching. In those specialties where approval is required, the DIO and PD will receive an automatic notice that an increase has been approved. Then, the PD should log on to ADS and complete the "Available Openings for Displaced Residents" form. Information about these positions will be made available to Dr. Blackwell, UTMB program directors and residents/fellows.
UTMB program directors will contact the program directors offering positions to discuss possible transfers. Dr. Blackwell will approve the transfers. The ACGME cannot respond to questions regarding funding or resident caps. For issues related to Medicare funding for any additional residents see the August 19, 2008 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Final Rule, pp. 48433-49084 of the Federal Register.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17914.pdf
Residents and Fellows in UTMB Programs
If you are a UTMB resident or fellow in an affected program, Dr. Blackwell, your sponsoring institution's DIO, and your program director will have access to the "Available Openings" report. You should remain in touch with them during this time. UTMB will provide a web link to GME for residents/fellows in the next few days. The ACGME will publish this link when it is available.