Period of Intensive Academic Focus

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  • NEWYORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL
    GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
    POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
    TITLE: PERIOD OF INTENSIVE ACADEMIC FOCUS

POLICY:

Based on the evaluation of Graduate Staff in accordance with the GME Selection, Evaluation, Promotion and Dismissal Policy, a Clinical Service Chief and/ or the Program Director may determine that the academic performance of a Graduate Staff Member (GSM) has not yet progressed to the expected level of performance for the program.

When such a determination is made, the Program Director may direct the GSM to begin a period of intensive academic focus in order to enhance the opportunity for the GSM to achieve the expected level of performance. A period of intensive academic focus shall not exceed four months.

PROCEDURE:

The procedure for placing a GSM on a period of intensive academic focus shall be as follows:

  1. The Vice President, Medical Affairs or the Designated Institutional Official of the Hospital, must be notified of the determination and each has the authority to review said determination.
  2. The Clinical Service Chief, the Program Director and/or the Vice President, Medical Affairs must review the decision with the Office of Legal Affairs prior to notifying the GSM to assure appropriate documentation and compliance with applicable policies and procedures. The GSM will be notified of the determination by an in-person meeting with the Clinical Service Chief, the Program Director and/or the Vice President, Medical Affairs. At the request of the Vice President, Medical Affairs, Designated Institutional Official, Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director, legal counsel for the Hospital may attend the meeting and participate in same. The GSM may not have legal counsel present at the meeting.
  3. Within ten (10) days following the meeting with the GSM, the Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director must confirm the in-person notification by written notice to the GSM via hand delivery or expedited trackable mail which sets forth the basis for the determination, an intensive academic focus program, and the effective date and duration of same. Additionally, the written notice will advise the GSM of the right to have the determination reviewed under the Grievance Policy and Procedure. The initiation of the Grievance Procedure by the GSM shall not stay the implementation of the period of intensive academic focus which shall begin on the effective date.
  4. For the duration of the period of intensive academic focus, the Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director, or their designees, shall meet with the GSM on a periodic basis, but not less often than every two weeks, to provide verbal feedback. Documentation of said meetings shall be maintained in the GSM’s file. At the conclusion of each month of the period of intensive academic focus, the GSM shall be given a written evaluation providing feedback as to the progress made, or lack thereof, regarding the period of intensive academic focus. At the conclusion of the period of intensive academic focus, the GSM shall be given a final written evaluation which shall state whether the GSM’s academic performance has progressed to the expected level of performance. In the event that the GSM has not satisfactorily completed the period of intensive academic focus and is not performing at the expected level of performance for the program, the Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director, in consultation with the Vice President, Medical Affairs, shall determine a further course of action to address the matter in accordance with the Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures and/or Medical Staff By-Laws.
  5. If at any time during the period of intensive academic focus, the Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director determine that the GSM is not making satisfactory progress and/or not complying with the academic program, the period of intensive academic focus may be terminated. In the event of the foregoing, the Clinical Service Chief and/or the Program Director, in consultation with the Vice President, Medical Affairs, shall determine a further course of action to address the matter in accordance with the Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures and/or Medical Staff By-Laws.
  6. Placing the GSM on a period of intensive academic focus does not preclude action under other Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures and/or the Medical Staff By-Laws.
  7. This Policy and Procedure shall not apply to factual circumstances that must be reported as incidents of possible professional misconduct on the part of the GSM under Public Health Law Section 2803-e and other applicable sections of New York law. In the event of the foregoing, the Vice President, Medical Affairs and the Office of Legal Affairs shall be notified as soon as possible.

Approved by GMEC: September 2008
Approved by The Medical Board: May 2010