Main ContentSample Contract for AY2024-2025
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER
HOUSE OFFICER APPOINTMENT AGREEMENT
The University of Mississippi Medical Center ("UMMC") offers, and the physician or dentist identified below (hereinafter referred to as "House Officer") hereby accepts, appointment under the following terms and conditions of this House Officer Appointment Agreement (the "Agreement").
HOUSE OFFICER: Jane Doe Sr., MD
RESIDENCY/FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ("Program"): Cardiology
DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, or SCHOOL ("Department"): Internal Medicine
LEVEL OF TRAINING: PGY-3 Level
AGREEMENT TERM ("Term"): 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025
FINANCIAL SUPPORT/ANNUAL SALARY ("Salary"): $41,234.56
This Agreement describes the principles which govern the Graduate Medical Education ("GME") programs sponsored by UMMC and your rights and obligations as a participant in the Program. Your signature signifies your acceptance and agreement to the terms and conditions of the Agreement. The term "House Officer" shall include a physician or dentist, or other graduate of a doctoral program, who is enrolled in a Hospital-sponsored training program as a resident or fellow.
For the remainder of this document, individual GME policy references can be accessed through UMMC's internal policy portal.
1. TERM OF APPOINTMENT
All House Officers are appointed for a period of one year. You, as a House Officer, acknowledge that this one-year appointment is subject to your compliance with the terms of this Agreement and UMMC, Office of Graduate Medical Education, Department, and Program policies and procedures.
2. HOUSE OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
The House Officer agrees to:
Read, understand, and comply with the expectations, standards, and obligations set forth in this Agreement.
Cooperate fully with UMMC, Office of Graduate Medical Education, Department, and the Program in coordinating Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation submissions and activities, as applicable, including the legible and timely completion of patient medical/dental records, charts, reports, duty hours, statistical, operative and procedure logs, faculty and Program evaluations, and/or other documentation required by the ACGME, CODA, UMMC, Office of Graduate Medical Education, Department, and/or Program and/or any other applicable accrediting body.
Abide by the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, UMMC, Office of Graduate Medical Education, Department, Program, and any hospital or other facility while on a rotation at such hospital or facility.
Comply with the applicable ACGME, CODA, Office of Graduate Medical Education, and Program-specific clinical and educational work hour policies, including accurate reporting of such hours.
Comply with UMMC's policies and procedures regarding confidentiality of medical records and patient information, including policies restricting access to medical records.
Develop a personal program of self-study and professional growth with guidance from the Program directorship and teaching staff.
Comply with UMMC's requirements for vaccinations, tuberculosis testing, and any other health requirements as applicable.
Participate in all training mandated by UMMC, Office of Graduate Medical Education, Department, and Program. Provide patient care under appropriate supervision as assigned by Program directorship consistent with the educational goals of the Program and the highest standards of patient care.
Participate fully in the educational activities of the Program and, as required, assume responsibility for teaching and supervising other residents and students.
Participate fully in the educational and scholarly activities of the Program as specified by Program directorship to include all Program requirements.
3. UMMC RESPONSIBILITIES
UMMC agrees to:
Provide a training program that meets the standards of the Institutional and Program Requirements of the ACGME or CODA, as applicable, that is accepted by the relevant specialty board.
Payment of a Salary in regular installments, subject to UMMC payroll policies.
Use reasonable efforts within available resources to provide the House Officer with adequate and appropriate support staff and facilities in accordance with federal, state, local, and ACGME or CODA requirements, as applicable.
Orient the House Officer to the facilities, rules, regulations, and policies of UMMC, GME, and the Institutional and Program Requirements of the ACGME or CODA as applicable.
Provide the House Officer with appropriate and adequate faculty and staff supervision for all educational and clinical activities.
Maintain an environment reasonably conducive to the health and well-being of the House Officer.
Evaluate, through the Program Director and Program faculty, the educational and professional progress and achievement of the House Officer on a regular and periodic basis. The Program Director shall present to and discuss with the House Officer a written summary of the evaluations at least once during each six-month period of training or more frequently if required by the Program, consistent with the GME-Trainees' Appointment Promotion/Renewal/Dismissal Policy.
Provide the House Officer with the GME-Sexual Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy.
Provide the House Officer with the GME-Physician Impairment Policy.
Provide information for specialty board certification requirements. Each board of the American Board of Medical Specialties ("ABMS") has individual requirements with which House Officers should become familiar. Information regarding requirements is available on the ABMS website (abms.org), with links to the individual websites for each specialty board. Many boards have a requirement for a minimum number of weeks worked for a year of training to qualify for board certification. A House Officer should meet with their Program Director and/or contact the appropriate specialty board for information concerning their eligibility.
UMMC agrees to:
4. HOUSE OFFICER REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
A. Licensure: All House Officers must have either: (1) an unrestricted full Mississippi license; or, (2) a restricted temporary Mississippi license (or a limited institutional Mississippi license for qualifying international medical graduates) prior to the date of appointment or the commencement date of the Program. All House Officers must provide proof of a valid Mississippi license. House Officers may not work until the Office of Graduate Medical Education has been able to confirm current licensure directly with the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure. It is the House Officer's responsibility to provide copies of information, materials and documents required for licensure to the Office of Graduate Medical Education.
B. ECFMG Certificate: All graduates of international medical schools must submit a copy of a valid Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate as evidence of passing the ECFMG or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and English test.
C. House Officers must successfully complete all UMMC and GME onboarding requirements prior to Program start date.
5. BENEFITS
In addition to the Salary, House Officers are provided the following benefits:
A. Paid Time Off, Medical Leave, and Leaves of Absence: House Officers accrue paid time off and medical leave and may qualify for leaves of absence. Details are set forth in UMMC's Faculty and Staff Handbook as well as the
GME-Vacation and Leave(s) of Absence Policy. Absences may affect the House Officer's ability to satisfy the ACGME and specialty board requirements for completion of the Program.
B. Health Insurance: House Officers and their eligible dependents are eligible for health insurance benefits starting on their first day of employment. House Officers are eligible for other benefits, such as dental/vision/disability starting 30 days after the date of hire. Completed forms must be submitted in a timely manner in order to ensure receipt of benefits.
C. Employee Assistance Program: The Employee Assistance Program ("EAP") is available at no cost to House Officers and their household family members. The EAP offers confidential support for mental, financial, physical and emotional well-being. The EAP provides access to professionally trained advisors to help with family problems, marital concerns, financial and legal matters, stress, depression and other issues affecting personal or work-related matters.
6. MOONLIGHTING
Moonlighting is permissible only at the discretion of the Program Director and in accordance with the GME-Moonlighting Policy and Procedure. All required documentation and approvals set forth in the policy must be completed prior to committing to or engaging in any moonlighting. House Officer acknowledges that the Mississippi Tort Claims Act does not cover external moonlighting and House Officers are responsible for obtaining required professional liability coverage for any approved external moonlighting activity.
7. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY COVERAGE
House Officers are covered for professional liability pursuant to the Mississippi Tort Claims Act for all duties related to approved Program rotations in Mississippi. If a House Officer desires to participate in a rotation at a facility outside of Mississippi, the House Officer may be responsible for procuring a professional liability policy with limits required by the out-of-state facility at the House Officer's own expense.
8. HOSPITAL OR PROGRAM CLOSURE
In the event that the Program is reduced or closed, in accordance with the GME-Program Closures and Reductions Policy:
A. The Program will notify the affected House Officer of a projected reduction, closure, or discontinuation date as soon as practical after the decision is made.
B. The Program will either (1) permit the affected House Officer to complete their education or (2) assist the affected House Officer in finding an appointment to another training program in the same specialty at the appropriate PGY level.
C. The Program will provide proper care, custody and disposition of the House Officer's education records and will provide appropriate notification to licensure and specialty boards.
9. CONDITIONS FOR REAPPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION TO A SUBSEQUENT PGY LEVEL
The Term expires at the end of the period defined above, unless sooner terminated in accordance with applicable policies. Reappointment for additional years of training shall be based upon evaluation of the House Officer's performance and availability of positions. The House Officer must, at a minimum, have completed responsibilities as assigned within the scope of the Program and attained the knowledge and skills necessary to progress to the next level of post-graduate training.
Promotion to a subsequent PGY level is based on evidence of satisfactory progressive clinical knowledge and skill, professional behavior, adherence to ethical standards, adherence to UMMC policies and procedures, patient/staff interactions, and demonstrated ability to assume increasing responsibility for patient care as determined by the Program Director. Failure to achieve the proficiency level required by the Program may result in the nonpromotion, nonrenewal or termination of appointment. As a UMMC employee, House Officers may also be subject to discipline, including termination pursuant to UMMC's human resources policies and procedures.
In instances where (i) this appointment will not be renewed (other than by mutual agreement or Program completion), or (ii) the Program Director has determined that the House Officer should not be promoted to the next level of training, the House Officer will be given written notice no later than four months prior to the agreement expiration date shown above, unless the primary reason(s) for and/or the decision to not reappoint or promote occurs within the last four months of the term of this Agreement, in which case the House Officer will be provided with as much advance written notice of the intent to not reappoint or promote as the circumstances will reasonably allow. The House Officer may appeal the decision in accordance with GME-Grievance Policy and Procedure.
10. TERMINATIONS
In the event a state of financial exigency is declared by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, UMMC may terminate this Agreement and/or decrease the Salary at any time by giving thirty (30) day's notice to the House Officer.
UMMC may terminate this Agreement prior to its expiration date for "cause" which shall include, but not be limited to, a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the House Officer or upon conduct by House Officer which is considered by UMMC to be unethical, unprofessional, fraudulent, unlawful, or adverse to the interest, reputation or business of UMMC and its patients, employees or students.
House Officer may terminate this Agreement with a 30-day written notice to the Program Director and UMMC's Designated Institutional Official in situations in which: (i) the House Officer decides to change specialties; (ii) the House Officer decides to no longer practice medicine; or (iii) other reasons mutually agreed upon by both parties.
11. GRIEVANCES
Grievances by the House Officer concerning adverse actions taken by the Program which may harm his/her professional training shall be resolved in accordance with the GME-Grievance Policy and Procedure. Grievances related to adverse employment actions taken by UMMC arising out of violation of UMMC policies may, in the discretion of the Designated Institutional Official, be referred to the UMMC Department of Human Resources for resolution.
12. DUE PROCESS
Due Process is afforded to the House Officer in accordance with the GME-Due Process Policy.
13. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (which may be exchanged by facsimile or PDF, or via an online platform), each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute the same Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of dates included below.
University of Mississippi Medical Center:
By: LouAnn Woodward, M.D
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs June 25, 2024
By: Jimmy L. Stewart, M.D. Designated Institutional Official
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education June 25, 2024
House Officer:
By: House Officer __________________________________