ACGME Continues to Aid in the Successful Placement of Hahnemann Residents and Fellows

The second and final tier of Hahnemann University Hospital (HUH) programs will close Tuesday, August 6, 2019. More than 95 percent of residents and fellows have found new positions and most of those not yet placed have received offers. ACGME staff members continue to assist the remaining displaced HUH residents and fellows that have not yet been placed by compiling and disseminating a list of available positions. The Sponsoring Institution is planning to voluntarily withdraw its accreditation on August 8, 2019.

The ACGME is grateful for the overwhelming response from the GME community; more than 1,500 available positions for displaced residents/fellows have been catalogued as of August 5.

CMS Clarification on Transferring Funding and Program Attendance

While not directly involved in resident or fellow placement or decisions related to funding, the ACGME has been in contact with CMS and received clarification about its process for transfers. CMS has published the Medicare Fact Sheet on Displaced Residents Due to Program or Hospital Closure to aid programs in understanding the process.

According to CMS, if the resident/fellow is planning to transfer with the CMS funding to a new program, he or she must be designated as a “displaced resident.” In order to be considered a “displaced resident” it is necessary for the resident/fellow to be physically present at HUH on the day of, or day prior to, program closure. The only exception to this is if the resident/fellow is on vacation, or on leave that has been approved by the Program Director. Any resident/fellow who is on an out rotation must also be physically present on the day of, or the day prior to, program closure.

Residents and fellows should contact their program director and/or DIO with questions about the transfer process.

Contact Information for HUH Program Directors and Residents

The ACGME is asking all HUH program directors to input personal/permanent e-mail addresses for themselves and the residents and fellows in their programs into the Accreditation Data System (ADS). By entering these personal/permanent e-mail addresses, the ACGME is able to remain in contact and provide information on available positions during this period of transition.

For questions or technical assistance regarding updating program director, resident, and/or fellow personal e-mail addresses in ADS, contact:

ADS@acgme.org
Data Systems Technical Support: 312.755.7474
For a complete listing of ADS representatives by specialty, visit the Data Systems Technical Support page.

ACGME Contacts

Institutional Review
irc@acgme.org
For questions regarding the institutional review process or institutional accreditation, visit the Institutional Review Committee section of the ACGME website.

Media Inquiries
Susan White
swhite@acgme.org
For more information, visit the Newsroom.

Review Committee Executive Directors
For questions related to specific Review Committees, visit www.acgme.org/specialties, and click on the applicable specialty.

Additional Resources

CMS Payment Policy and Fact Sheet
Medicare Fact Sheet on Displaced Residents Due to Program or Hospital Closure

Visa Issues
Contact the ECFMG: https://www.ecfmg.org/
Tracy Wallowicz
Twallowicz@ecfmg.org
Read a statement from the ECFMG on the hospital closing.

AOA Board Eligibility and Licensure
Contact the AOA at postdoc@osteopathic.org regarding questions about board eligibility and licensure in Pennsylvania.

Previous Updates

The following articles are previous updates on the ACGME's actions to support HUH's residents and fellows during this time of transition. They include background on the hospital closure, details on ACGME's Policy Requirements regarding extraordinary circumstances, and direct links to the ACGME's filings in bankruptcy court that were submitted in support of the residents and fellows.

Hahnemann University Hospital Closure (July 2, 2019)
ACGME Submits Court Filing in Support of Hahnemann Residents (July 9, 2019)
ACGME Supports Hahnemann Residents in New Court Filing (July 15, 2019)
ACGME Actions in Support of Hahnemann Residents (July 19, 2019)
ACGME Continues to Support Hahnemann Residents and Fellows (July 25, 2019)
ACGME Assists with Successful Placement of Hahnemann Residents and Fellows (July 31, 2019)