Tufts Medical Center Residencies
The Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) in Boston, MA, is a leading provider of healthcare and medical education across the state. As an affiliate of the Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts MC is committed to training some of the best and brightest medical minds.
Becoming a Tufts MC resident is not easy, and you should be proud of your accomplishments so far. However, at this stage in your career, any perceived policy violation or performance problem could jeopardize your future. If you're a resident facing medical residency issues at Tufts MC, the Lento Law Firm can help – call us at 888.535.3686 to discover how.
Medical Resident Policies at Tufts Medical Center
Tufts MC has various policies and conduct codes that residents must comply with to complete their residency. The most significant policies include the following.
- Discipline and Dismissal of House Officers and Appeal Process: The disciplinary guidelines set out when Tufts MC may take disciplinary action against a resident and how the affected resident may appeal to the center's sanctions.
- Evaluation, Advancement, and Remediation of House Officers: This policy provides an overview of how departments might decide how to evaluate house officers and what remedial actions they could take if a resident fails to meet the expected performance criteria.
- Extension of Training: This policy establishes guidelines for when residents may be required to extend their training in order to meet educational and/or competency requirements.
- Residency Program Closure or Position Reduction: The notice explains Tufts MC's procedures for reducing or closing residency programs.
Appointment Agreement
Tufts MC residents must also sign a contract, known as their Appointment Agreement, which sets out the terms of their employment. Crucially, the Agreement specifies the conditions for reappointment, which include:
- adhering to ethical standards
- assuming responsibility for their own progression and learning
- behaving in a professional manner
- demonstrating the required level of skill and competence
- taking responsibility for patient care in line with their experience
Residents who allegedly do not meet the standard for reappointment, or who face dismissal should call the Lento Law Firm immediately for advice and assistance.
Tufts Medical Center Policy Violations
As set out in the Tufts MC Disciplinary Policy, violations can include:
- behavior or conduct which affects patient safety
- breaches of center bylaws, regulations, or policies
- conduct which makes the center question a resident's character or professional qualifications
- consistently substandard behavior or performance
- failure to fulfill certain clinical or academic requirements
- unsuccessful remedial action, e.g., additional training, extra educational activities
Other policy violations which may lead to disciplinary action include scientific misconduct, general misconduct, or a failure to maintain a valid MA license.
Consequences of Policy Violations at Tufts Medical Center
Tufts MC reserves the right to place residents on probation or suspend or dismiss them from the program, depending on the nature of the alleged violation. Other consequences include non-promotion or non-renewal of the Appointment Agreement (meaning your contract is not renewed at the end of a 12-month period).
Before imposing sanctions, Tufts MC asserts that it will consider the resident's overall performance, any prior disciplinary action, and the frequency or severity of the alleged offense. However, there's always a chance that the center may not apply its own policies correctly or consistently – if you're facing disciplinary action, seek prompt assistance from the Lento Law Firm.
Tufts Medical Center Grievance Process
If a Tufts MC resident wishes to challenge disciplinary action, they can do so by triggering the center's grievance process. For example, should a resident wish to appeal probation, they have five business days to request a meeting with the Program Director to discuss the matter.
The most serious disciplinary sanctions – such as dismissal – can also be challenged. Typically, this will involve making a written appeal request to the Faculty Review Committee for a hearing.
- In the interests of fairness, residents may have a say in who sits on the Faculty Review Committee for their hearing.
- At the hearing, residents can present their own evidence, including witness statements or supporting documents, to demonstrate why the sanctions are unnecessary or disproportionate.
- The President decides the outcome after reviewing the Committee's findings. The decision is final.
An appeal is your opportunity to present your defense. Since you have the right to request an appeal, you should do so – after all, your career hopes are on the line. Attorney-advisor Joseph Lento can walk you through what to expect from an appeal hearing, and he'll explain the type of evidence you can use to defend your position.
Medical Resident Attorney-Advisor | Lento Law Firm
If there's a performance issue during your residency, or there are concerns around your ability to progress, you deserve the right support to deal with the matter properly. Even seemingly minor issues can damage your professional reputation if they're not handled effectively, and in the worst-case scenario, your entire residency could be at stake.
Joseph Lento, an experienced attorney-advisor, understands just how hard you've worked to get where you are right now. He wants to help you challenge any misconduct allegations or disciplinary action you're facing – no matter what the issue is, he believes you deserve the chance to defend yourself.
Joseph Lento and his Medical Resident Defense Team will ensure that Tufts MC applies its due process procedures fairly. We will help you present your defense in a clear, concise, and effective way, and we can support you throughout the entire appeals process. We can also help if your residency is terminated due to program restructuring or if you need to negotiate a withdrawal from the program.
Are you in need of support? Tufts Medical Center residents looking for advice on how to handle a residency issue should call us at 888.535.3686 or leave us a message online to schedule a meeting.
