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

Item 505
Residency Closure and/or Reduction

Updated: July 2000

Preamble

• This policy statement has been approved by the Dayton Area Graduate Medical Education Consortium (DAGMEC) Graduate Medical Education Committee effective October 28, 1999. In accordance with the DAGMEC Code of Regulations, this policy has been adopted in full recognition that the member institutions must follow federal and state law, Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense regulations, directives and policy concerning this topic.
  
  
• The intent of this policy is to promote the fair and equitable treatment of residents affected by institutional decision to close or reduce the number of residents in a residency program sponsored by a DAGMEC member institution.

Statement of the Issue

• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Institutional Requirements commit sponsoring institutions to a policy concerning residency closures and reduction.
  
  
• ACGME Institutional Requirements, Item C.10, of Section II, state the following:

Residency Closure/Reduction: If an institution intends to reduce the size of a residency program or to close a residency program, the institution must inform the residents as soon as possible. In the event of such a reduction or closure, the institution must allow residents already in the program to complete their education or assist the resident in enrolling in an ACGME-accredited program in which they can continue their education.

Policy Statement

In the event of residency closure or reduction, DAGMEC member institutions sponsoring ACGME-accredited program of graduate medical education will:

• notify all residents in the program as soon as possible when a decision is made to reduce or close a program.
• whenever possible, reduce entry-level positions through decreased recruitment.
• make every effort to allow residents already in the program to complete their education.
• assist residents displaced by closure or reduction to continue their education in an ACGME- accredited program.
• protect remaining residents from inappropriate duty hours and service obligations.

Table of Contents