Do you have a concern or formal complaint about residency education and/or the learning environment in an ACGME accredited program/institution? 

How Resident Services Responds to Concerns and Complaints

Resident Services encourages you to bring your concerns and complaints to the attention of the program director and/or the institution's designated institutional official (DIO). If this does not lead to resolution, bring your concern or complaint to us for review. Resident Services will work with the DIO to resolve issues surrounding concerns. Valid complaints will be processed by Resident Services, which will require a response from the program director and attestation to the response by the DIO, and review by the relevant review committee.

You may submit your:

• concern by mail, fax or email
• signed complaint by mail or courier service

Be sure to include the following:

• a brief summary of the issues, including steps taken - if relevant
• the name, street address, city, and state of the residency program
• your contact information

Providing your name and contact information enables Resident Services to inform you about the actions taken in response to your concern or formal complaint, and also to contact you should additional information be needed.

It is our policy to treat your name as confidential information and not to disclose it without your permission.  However, depending on the circumstance, it may be necessary to share your name with the DIO in the course of the concern (not complaint) investigation.

Scope of Concern Evaluations

Information provided is used to investigate, in a confidential manner, specific concerns by physicians in graduate medical education (residents, fellows, and faculty members) when the existing channels of communication or dispute resolution have proven unsatisfactory. If, in the judgment of Resident Services, any given case suggests a need for change to specific institutional, common program requirements, procedures, or policies, Resident Services will direct its recommendation to the ACGME Chief Executive Officer.  Submitting a concern does not affect the program and/or institution’s accreditation status. There may be instances when Resident Services will recommend that you submit a formal complaint, which could affect the program and/or institution’s accreditation status.

Scope of Complaint Evaluations

Information provided is used to investigate, in a confidential manner, specific alleged areas of non-compliance with the ACGME’s Institutional and Program Requirements.  Anyone having evidence of non-compliance with these standards by a program or institution may submit a formal complaint to the ACGME.  Please review the “Procedures for Addressing Complaints against Residency Programs and Sponsoring Institutions” at www.acgme.org.  You will find the document under “Resident Services.”  Submitting a formal complaint may affect the program and/or institution’s accreditation status.

Scope of Egregious or Catastrophic Events

The occurrence of an alleged egregious accreditation violation or catastrophic institutional event, which, because of its urgency, must be addressed outside of the established processes of the ACGME is reported promptly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ACGME who will initiate an investigation to determine credibility and degree of urgency.  Examples of egregious or catastrophic events are: loss of the program’s entire faculty; hospital bankruptcy that affects residency training; or program closure without assistance provided to the residents and fellows in locating other positions.  Please review “Egregious Violations” at www.acgme.org.  You will find the document under “Resident Services.”