ACGME Actions in Support of Hahnemann Residents

The steps being taken by ACGME staff members to assist the residents and fellows displaced by the impending Hahnemann University Hospital (HUH) closure (see Background) focus on: compiling a list of available positions; communicating with HUH regarding implementation of the ACGME’s Extraordinary Circumstances Policy (see ACGME Policy Requirements) to expeditiously arrange for the transfer of residents and fellows; and making two separate filings with the bankruptcy court.

Institutions Offering to Accept Transfers

The ACGME is facilitating accreditation considerations that make it possible for residents and fellows to transfer to other programs, including expediting the process to identify and approve locations that can accept transfers of affected residents and/or fellows through the ACGME’s Accreditation Data System (ADS). ACGME accreditation teams and Review Committees are expediting requests related to HUH’s closure, including complement increase requests from programs that offer to accommodate the transfer of displaced residents.

The ACGME is grateful for the overwhelming response from the GME community; more than 1,300 available positions for displaced residents/fellows have been catalogued as of July 18.

The ACGME is sending daily reports to the Hahnemann Graduate Medical Education Office and designated institutional official (DIO). The DIO is providing this report to all program directors and coordinators so that they may inform residents/fellows of these transfer opportunities. The ACGME’s list is designed to be a resource for HUH program directors to use in assisting their residents and fellows. It only contains positions that have been entered into ADS. Opportunities not on the list may also be pursued.

The ACGME welcomes additional requests from programs able to accommodate HUH residents and fellows. For programs interested in offering positions, information can be found in the ACGME Newsroom post on June 27, 2019.

CMS Clarification on Transferring Funding

While not directly involved in resident or fellow placement or decisions related to funding, the ACGME has been in contact with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (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.

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

Bankruptcy Court Actions

The ACGME made two submissions to the bankruptcy court regarding the HUH closure, expressing support for the residents and fellows and their ability to transfer to programs of their choice. The ACGME filed the first response July 8, 2019, and the second response July 15, 2019. ACGME Legal Counsel will attend the Court hearing scheduled for Friday, July 19, 2019.

Background

On June 28, 2019, the ACGME invoked its Extraordinary Circumstances Policy (Section 21.00-21.70) in response to the abrupt announcement of the closure of HUH in Philadelphia. The ACGME is committed to assisting the HUH residents and fellows in the 35 ACGME-accredited programs with the least disruption to their education.

HUH filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy June 30, 2019 and announced on July 16 a plan to wind down services and close the hospital on September 6, based on the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Philadelphia Health Commissioner’s Office.

ACGME Policy Requirements

Per the ACGME Extraordinary Circumstances Policy (Section 21.00-21.70):

• Programs must expeditiously arrange for temporary or permanent transfers of the residents and/or fellows and/or make the decision to reconstitute the program so as to maximize the likelihood that each resident or fellow will complete the academic year with the least disruption to her or his education.
• Arrange for resident and fellow temporary or permanent transfers
  • arrange temporary transfers to other programs or institutions until such time as the program(s) can provide an adequate educational experience for each of its residents and/or fellows; or,
  • assist the residents and/or fellows in permanent transfers to other ACGME-accredited programs in which they can continue their education.
• If more than one institution or program is available for temporary or permanent transfer of a particular resident or fellow, the preferences of the resident or fellow must be considered by the transferring institution or program.
• Revise its educational program to comply with the applicable Common, specialty-specific, Institutional and Program Requirements within 30 days of the invocation of the policy.
  
  

ACGME Contacts

Accreditation Data System (ADS)
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.

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