A medical residency is no small achievement. And Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas is a special place. Parkland's commitment to “health equity” through a focus on community care, a commitment to honoring diversity, and a willingness to serve the indigent aren't for everyone. Your four years here, though, can be some of the most rewarding of your career and set you on a path of service in a way few other residency programs can equal.
Make no mistake: these four years will demand the very best of you. Parkland's unique mission requires it to hold residents to the highest standards. Success here isn't just about demonstrating what you know. You did that as a medical student. It's about demonstrating your medical ethics, your ability to work as part of a team, your compassion as a healer, and your dedication to patient care. Success means knowing exactly what's expected of you.
It also means knowing what to do when you make mistakes, as you inevitably will. It means knowing how to find help when you get yourself into trouble. At the law offices of Joseph D. Lento, we're committed to helping health professionals achieve their dreams by overcoming the obstacles that sometimes get in the way.
Medical Resident Policies at Parkland Health and Hospital System
As a resident at Parkland Health and Hospital System, you are governed by standards set by the Graduate Medical Education program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Those standards are encoded in the program's several policies. These include
- Academic Improvement and Corrective Action Policy, which details the school's academic expectations, its code of conduct, and its procedures for evaluating performance and progress
- Clinical and Educational Work Hours Policy, which describes your many duties as a resident, explains the measures in place to prevent fatigue and outlines the program's policies towards moonlighting
- Leave of Absence Policy, which explains the conditions under which a leave of absence may be appropriate and the consequences that can result from extended leaves of absence
- Impaired Resident Policy, which makes clear the conditions under which a resident might be considered “impaired,” and outlines procedures for handling such situations, such as alcohol and drug testing programs
- Professional Conduct Policy, which describes the standards specific to medical professionalism, including honesty, confidentiality, respect for others, and responsibility
- Resident Wellness Policy, which describes the many resources available to GME students, including access to safe working environments, quiet study environments, parking facilities, administrative support, and mental health services
Risks of Violating Parkland Resident Policies
No one—not even a medical resident—is perfect. Luckily most residency programs understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. That doesn't mean that UT Southwestern Medical and Parkland Health and Hospital System won't hold you accountable when you fail to meet standards or commit misconduct.
UT Southwestern provides a list of potential “corrective actions” should you violate program policies, including
- Probation: Formal notice that continued failure to meet expectations can result in dismissal from the program
- Repetition of Rotation: Requirement to repeat a rotation until you've performed it at an acceptable level
- Non-promotion: Denial of promotion to the next post-graduate year until your performance has met the required standards
- Extension of Training Period: Extra time added to the program itself to allow you to meet required standards
- Suspension: Temporary removal from duties and participation in the program
- Dismissal: Permanent separation from the program
Of course, dismissal from your medical residency can be traumatic in and of itself. In simple terms, it means losing all the progress you've made toward medical licensure. It can also mean, though, that your career as a medical professional is in jeopardy. Few residency programs, for example, will admit a new applicant who has been dismissed from another program. You could be paying back medical school loans for an education you never completed.
You don't have to be dismissed, though, to face serious consequences for a mistake. Even minor sanctions can have long-lasting repercussions on your career. For instance, you must report warnings and censures to the medical board when applying for your license. These can certainly weigh against you in the decision of whether or not to grant that license.
Protective Procedures for Parkland Residents
Luckily, among all its other policies, Southwestern Medical maintains a Grievance and Due Process Policy designed to protect residents who receive negative evaluations or misconduct allegations. You have the right to submit a written appeal for any corrective action. This appeal is heard by an ad hoc review panel consisting of a program director and two faculty members from programs other than your own. As part of the process, you have the right to present evidence at a hearing and to call witnesses to testify on your behalf. Should this appeal fail, you also have the right to appeal further to the Associate Dean.
While you have options when facing corrective action, keep in mind that a formal appeal is no small matter. A great deal can be at stake in such cases, and the procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate. You never want to take on this fight alone. An experienced attorney-advisor who knows how medical residency programs work and is comfortable talking to faculty and administrators is your best bet for a successful appeal.
Skilled Help for Medical Residents
Most medical school faculty want you to succeed and will give you every opportunity to recover from mistakes. There are always exceptions, though. If you feel like you're being held to standards that are too high, or you're being treated unfairly as a resident, get help. You have the right to seek advice from a legal professional, and you should take full advantage of that right.
Joseph D. Lento is a licensed defense attorney. He isn't just any defense attorney, though. Joseph D. Lento built his career helping medical residents just like you handle the many problems that can arise during a residency. Joseph D. Lento knows how to talk to hospital administrators and attending physicians. He knows how residency programs work, and how to make sure you're treated fairly in any judicial process. Most importantly, Joseph D. Lento knows how hard you've worked to get to this point in your career. He doesn't want anything to come between you and your success, and he'll do what's necessary to ensure you have the opportunity to continue your progress at Parkland.
For more information on how Joseph D. Lento can help you deal with medical residency issues, call 888.535.3686 or go online for help.
