The McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University is a prestigious association of hospitals with multiple ACGME-accredited residency programs. It consistently ranks among the top 20 of the nation's best medical centers. As a resident at McGaw Medical Center, you have many opportunities to build your experience as a physician. And although the residency program is, at times, stressful, you soon reap the benefits of your training as you work in one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the United States. But if you want to complete your program successfully, you must maintain excellent behavior and progress. Failure to do so comes with significant repercussions, such as disciplinary action or dismissal.
Medical Resident Policies at McGaw Medical Center
Now is when theory becomes practice, and you consistently work with patients, physicians, and medical teams. At the fundamental level, your residency helps shape you into a well-rounded and experienced physician under the guidance of your supervisors. Although your supervisors expect you to make mistakes, not every error has the same repercussions. The rules listed in the Policies & Procedures segment of the website guide trainees and program staff to avoid mishaps that may lead to negative consequences. Some of these policies include:
- Duty Hours: This concerns the policies in all McGaw residency training programs relating to duty hours, including the recording of vacation and sick days. It includes clinical and educational work policies, work done from home, in-house calls, and schedule minimums.
- Conduct and Discipline: This policy describes the professional demeanor and behavior that McGaw Medical Center expects of residents. It includes compliance with applicable laws and regulations, reporting, general conduct, and professionalism.
- General Hospital Policies: Multiple hospitals comprise the McGaw Medical Center Consortium. This policy informs residents about complying with each member hospital's policies, including HIPAA rules, impairment, infection control, professionalism, discrimination, and harassment.
- Impairment: This policy explains how McGaw Medical Center addresses the suspected impairment of residents and the fitness-for-duty protocols enforced. It also includes substance abuse issues. Not all impairment falls under this policy, as it may relate to medical and health problems.
- Substance Abuse: The use of addictive, abusive, and illegal drugs, including cannabis, is a prohibited act and may lead to drug testing. The policy includes a list of behaviors that justify a drug screen by administrators.
- Moonlighting: This policy concerns all clinical work performed outside the residency program's activities. Although moonlighting is not frowned upon at McGaw Medical Center, it must not cause interference with the resident's ability to achieve their program goals.
Additional policies on resident behavior and expectations are part of the policies page.
Violating McGaw Medical Center Policies
As a physician, you are in a position of public trust. Moreover, you are responsible for your patients, institution, and fellow medical team members. Thus, you must always maintain a professional demeanor befitting your profession and constantly strive to succeed. Professionalism encompasses most of the issues you may face in a residency program. The other problem is academic progress. Even if you maintain excellent and professional behavior, you still need to keep up with the program's academic requirements to move on to the next phase.
Residents who fail to comply with the academic, professional, and behavioral policies of McGaw Medical Center face several issues. These include suspension, non-promotion, dismissal, and notifying the IDFPR.
According to the policy, a Program Evaluation Committee monitors and tracks the progress of residents and fellows to maintain program quality. Those who fail to complete their program due to performance deficiencies also face additional action. These include revoking the resident's training certificate and reporting findings to external agencies such as the ACGME, other hospitals, or potential employers.
Protective Procedures for McGaw Medical Center Residents
As with any program, you receive warnings before facing sanctions. For example, suppose you fail to progress. In that case, your supervisors will send you a warning letter and work with you to remediate the situation. In other cases, such as those that cannot come with fair warning, you will know that there are charges against you. You can take action by working with an Attorney-Advisor like Joseph D. Lento, who understands the complexity of your situation. The next step after receiving a warning or sanction is filing an appeal.
Appeals at McGaw Medical Center for performance deficiencies and professionalism concerns are possible. However, the request to the Appeals Committee must relate to one of the following conditions:
- An error of procedure that affects the case outcome
- The emergence of new information not previously available during the decision time
- That the action taken against the resident is unreasonable and unsupported by information
The Appeals Committee deliberates on the request and makes a recommendation to The President of McGaw Medical Center. They make a final decision and relay it to the Program Director and the resident. After this action, no other appeal is possible.
Strong Representation at McGaw Medical Center
As a resident, it is essential to abide by the rules and policies imposed by McGaw Medical Center as they severely impact your long and short-term professional path. After working for so long to become a doctor, notifications, suspensions, and dismissals can lead to issues with potential employers who will hesitate to hire you once they receive this notification. However, regardless of appeals, you still need the guidance of an advisor who helps you when you face sanctions or dismissal.
Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento understands your situation and the significant stress you are going through. With years of experience working with medical residents nationwide, attorney-advisor Lento understands how panels work and builds a strong strategy for the best possible outcome.
Whether it's misconduct, performance issues, or behavioral concerns, every resident deserves fair and robust representation. If you face dismissal or harsh sanctions from McGaw Medical Center, it becomes more difficult to find another program. What you worked so hard to achieve takes the backseat against the charges, and employers notice and heed warnings.
If you or someone you care for experience possible sanctions at McGaw Medical Center, help is available. Call the Lento Law Firm today for a thorough and discreet consultation at 888-535-3686.
