Wright State University School of Medicine
Sponsored Graduate Medical Education Programs
Resident Manual

Item 210
Patient Care Activities Outside of the Educational Program ("Moonlighting")
Revised April 2005

Residents are not required to perform patient care activities outside of the educational program ("moonlighting").

Moonlighting contributes to resident work hours and may produce fatigue that affects performance. Outside employment for residents may serve the following purposes: (1) meet a genuine community need; (2) provide educational experiences; and (3) supplement income insufficient to meet current obligations, particularly educational debt. However, participation in outside employment may leave insufficient time for rest and restoration to promote the resident's educational experience and safe patient care.

All moonlighting activity MUST be prospectively approved. The resident must submit a letter of request to the program director for any moonlighting. The letter must describe the place, nature, dates, time of employment, and the professional liability (malpractice) insurance coverage, which will be in effect. The program director must investigate and approve only activities including medical practice that do not interfere with the educational goals of the participant's residency or fellowship program. Active duty military residents and other federal employees cannot participate in outside employment.

The program director will determine the maximum number of hours of outside employment permitted for each resident. This temporal limit will not usually exceed 30 hours in four consecutive weeks.

The program director can permit a resident to engage in limited off-duty outside employment if the resident:

1. is a licensed physician in the state of Ohio or state of medical practice,
2. has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate prescribed educational and professional growth within a residency program, and
3. will be employed in a situation that will continue such growth.

The program director must document review of any requests for outside employment and make this information part of the resident's file.

The effect of outside employment on resident performance must be monitored by the program director. Failure of an individual resident to demonstrate proper professional growth within the residency or fellowship program will mandate the program director's reduction or withdrawal of permission for moonlighting.

A resident's failure to comply with this policy is a breach of contract and grounds for termination of appointment and contract.

Fiscal support, fringe benefits, and professional liability coverage for outside employment are the responsibilities of the resident and the outside employer, and not the SOM or any of its employing affiliates.

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