what can program do with open spot?

[gambino]

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Residency program A had matched someone for this July. This person cannot join this program due to personal issues and, without issue, gives up the spot. What does/can the training program do with the open position? are they obligated to fill it? can they let the spot roll over to the next match cycle? what if only 1 person applied for this July 1st spot, do they have to go through a application cycle with more than 1 applicant ? Thanks.

 

[pruritis_ani]

They are not obligated to fill the spot. The cannot let it roll over to next year, as each program has an approved number of spots per training year (ie, you are approved for 3 residents at each year, you cannot change that to 4 in PGY 1 and 2 in PGY 2).

Basically, a program is approved for X number of spots each year. In the match, they can fill them all, or fill none. They are not obligated to fill them, they are not obligated to rank any of the applicants. In reality, the program will usually prefer to fill the spot for funding and scheduling reasons, but in some cases may prefer to leave the spot open, due to a lack of qualified candidates, or for some other reason.

 

[BKN]

The cannot let it roll over to next year, as each program has an approved number of spots per training year (ie, you are approved for 3 residents at each year, you cannot change that to 4 in PGY 1 and 2 in PGY 2).

Sorry, P. We can do exactly that. If we can't fill it, we can choose to ofer an extra the year after. In EM at least, the requirement is we have to average no more than a upper limit.

 

[pruritis_ani]

Sorry, P. We can do exactly that. If we can't fill it, we can choose to ofer an extra the year after. In EM at least, the requirement is we have to average no more than a upper limit.

I was told that it couldn't be done, sorry.

That is pretty interesting, though...say you do offer the extra spot the next year, wouldn't you eventually go over your allotment, assuming you fully fill each year following?

Assuming you roll the spot so that PGY 1 has 3 residents, Pgy 2 has 1 and PGY 3 has 2 you average 2 per year....but, when PGY 1 becomes PGY 3 with 3 residents, and each year below has 2 residents, you average over 2 per year, right?

So, it would seem that if you do take the extra position and carry it to the next year, you also have to commit to having one less position in a future match as well?

 

[Jocomama]

I agree. If a spot opens, it is usually filled that year, or left open if there are enough residents. IN terms of adding it onto the next year - NO.
You would have to petition the RRC to allow an extra position for the following year.
It also depends on the specific board. In order to become board eligible, the resident must complete so many years in an accredited position.

How do I know this? I have been dealing with this over the last several months and am aware of 3 programs that had similar situations for 2006 in Plastic Surgery.

Thus - the speciality must follow the board rules for eligibilty for their requirements, and the program must follow the RRC requirements for number and years.

I was told that it couldn't be done, sorry.

That is pretty interesting, though...say you do offer the extra spot the next year, wouldn't you eventually go over your allotment, assuming you fully fill each year following?

Assuming you roll the spot so that PGY 1 has 3 residents, Pgy 2 has 1 and PGY 3 has 2 you average 2 per year....but, when PGY 1 becomes PGY 3 with 3 residents, and each year below has 2 residents, you average over 2 per year, right?

So, it would seem that if you do take the extra position and carry it to the next year, you also have to commit to having one less position in a future match as well?

 

[radonc]

so, the reason you petition the RRC is that at some point in a 3-5 year cycle, there will be more than the full complement of residents that the rrc grants. However, this tends to be flexible...

in smaller fields (radonc, derm, optho) or in competitive fields (above, rads, ortho, plastics), this position would likely be filled very quickly...and it is to the dept/programs advantage to do so because of the even distribution of duties, set call/work/rotation schedules, etc. in IM, peds, fp and larger fields, it could stay unfilled, depending on how aggressively the PD is trying to fill the spot.

 

[BKN]

I agree. If a spot opens, it is usually filled that year, or left open if there are enough residents. IN terms of adding it onto the next year - NO.
You would have to petition the RRC to allow an extra position for the following year.
It also depends on the specific board. In order to become board eligible, the resident must complete so many years in an accredited position.

How do I know this? I have been dealing with this over the last several months and am aware of 3 programs that had similar situations for 2006 in Plastic Surgery.

Thus - the speciality must follow the board rules for eligibilty for their requirements, and the program must follow the RRC requirements for number and years.

PA and J.

What I said before stands. I don't have to petition the EM RRC about this and I can roll it over to the next year. Rather, when it comes time to prepare the Program Information Form, I have to show all residents in the program at the time of the site visit, and all residents who have left the program in the previous several years and whether the separation was voluntary.

The American Board of Emergency Medicine knows how many graduates I certify every year to take the exam. They can do the math.

It may be different in other specialties.

BKN

 

[Jocomama]

I agree
It is specialty dependent and up to each specialties RRC rules and regs.
Obviously ER and Plastics is different.
thanks

PA and J.

What I said before stands. I don't have to petition the EM RRC about this and I can roll it over to the next year. Rather, when it comes time to prepare the Program Information Form, I have to show all residents in the program at the time of the site visit, and all residents who have left the program in the previous several years and whether the separation was voluntary.

The American Board of Emergency Medicine knows how many graduates I certify every year to take the exam. They can do the math.

It may be different in other specialties.

BKN