Leave Time Policies/Procedures

Vacation

A resident may take his/her vacation during most rotations after discussion with the attending and/or program director. No more than 1 week (7 days) should be taken on a month ED rotation at any one hospital at one time. No more than two weeks (14 days) should be taken on a two month ED rotation at any hospital at one time. Vacation must be taken in blocks of 7 days. In order to determine the number of emergency department shifts worked in a month when vacation is taken, refer to the table in the shift policy.

The program reserves the right to restrict vacation time from being taken from a particular rotation. Please see attached specifics for each PG year.

All residents receive 3 weeks (21 days) of vacation per fiscal year (July through June).

Procedure for vacation requests:

a) Obtain a WSU Leave Request Form from the resident coordinator. Complete form for leave request days and return to resident coordinator.

b) The resident coordinator will forward to the attending for signature and approval of leave.

c) Once returned to the resident coordinator from the attending, the resident coordinator will have the program director approve. After this has been completed, a copy will be given to the resident. You are then responsible for keeping this copy in case of questions later.

The resident coordinator will keep a log of the resident's leave time in a notebook located at her desk. The white copy will be filed in the resident's file. If the vacation takes place in the ED, the Chief resident scheduler of that facility will also receive a copy.

Vacation or CME leave should NOT be scheduled during the following activities:

• Annual labs including the procedure lab (Aug/Sept), airway lab (Aug/Sept), ultrasound lab (Nov), wound care lab (Aug/Sept), splinting lab (Aug/Sept)
• Biannual Oral Boar Simulations (Dec & May)
• In-Service exam (Feb)
• Spring Retreat (April/May)
• NBME Part III exam (?)
• R-I ultrasound didactics (Oct)
• The last week of June

Sick Leave

Each resident is allowed 15 days of sick leave per fiscal year, i.e., sick days accrue at a total of 1.25 days per month by contract. If a resident is unable to report on duty for any rotation, he/she must call the departmental office and the attending on service. For ED rotations this should be the scheduler/clinical coordinator as well as the attending on duty. If an illness requires absence for more than one day/shift, it is imperative that the same process of reporting takes place for each day/shift missed.

Sick leave will also be logged in the "Leave" notebook. The Program Director will be requesting a tally of sick days taken for each Emergency Medicine resident.

Personal Leave

Arrangements can be made individually with the Program Director for personal days off. Residents apply for this leave in the same as fashion vacation, filling out the same WSU Leave Request form. The same signature cycle is used. See section on Vacation Request.

Educational Leave

The educational leave policy can be found in the KMC house staff manual.

Maternity Leave/Paternity Leave

Maternal and paternal leave will be arranged with the program director in accordance with RRC guidelines and the established policy found in the KMC house staff manual.

Absent Without Excuse

"Absent without excuse" days will be made up during the same rotation. Any absenteeism without excuse will be reported to the Program Director or his designee for review and clarification. Absenteeism is unacceptable in clinical practice and is unacceptable as part of training.

Contractual Responsibilities

It is anticipated that each resident will perform to the best of his/her capacity for the total duration of his/her contract. Each resident must fulfill their clinical responsibilities for the entire month of each rotation. Should a graduation exercise occur before the end of the month of a resident's last clinical rotation, the resident shall be held to his/her clinical duties as assigned by his/her scheduler. Should a resident fail to perform the assigned clinical duties, the Program Director shall make every effort to have the clinical duties "made up." If the clinical duties are not performed to the satisfaction of the Program Director, the Program Director may choose not to sign for permission for this individual to sit for the board exam.

Return to the Residency Handbook