CHAM Resident Policies (as of 07/2025)

Swapping Shifts

We know that things change and you may need to switch shifts with people.  Please be mindful prior to asking for a switch of the following ACGME and CHAM residency requirements.

  • Cannot do two 24 hour shifts within a 72 hour period (no Q2 24 shifts)

  • Must have 24 hours off (consecutive) per week between shift days

    • Weeks = Tuesday to Monday

  • Must have 10 hours off between shifts

  • No more than 6 consecutive nights of night float

  • Intern and Senior shifts: the only shifts you may switch between Interns and Seniors are certain ED shifts (pending chief approval).

  • You CANNOT switch shifts in return for money

Please make shift swaps that are comparable so as not to jeopardize fulfilling an ACGME or CHAM residency requirement. Shift swaps CANNOT be in violation of policies as stated above.

Swapping Policy:

  • Please place swap requests early!

  • All swap requests should be entered into Qgenda (when able)

  • If a request is placed within 1 week of a shift, email pedschiefs@montefiore.org and cc the other resident so they can indicate if they approve the swap.

  • If it’s within 48 hours, call the chief on call 

  • Please note that swap requests are not guaranteed

ATTENDANCE policy:

Residents can only miss a certain number of weekdays of a rotation to ensure they are meeting ACGME/ABP/program requirements.

Interviews/Conferences (may vary with approval)

  • 3 days off during a one month inpatient or core elective

  • 1 day off during 2 week inpatient or core electives

  • Up to 2 days off during two weeks of non-core electives

Other Reasons (STEP/COMLEX exams, medical appointments):

  • 2 days off during a one month rotation

  • 1 day off during a two week rotation (*can be 2 days with approval)

  • Other reasons require PD approval - please email chiefs with requests/reasoning

Please note that total days off (including both interviews/conferences and other reasons) cannot exceed:

  • 3 days off during a one month inpatient or core elective

  • 1 day off during 2 week inpatient or core electives

  • Up to 2 days off during two weeks of non-core electives


Lecture Attendance

  • Lectures are protected educational time and an important part of your educational curriculum.

  • All residents are expected to attend Noon Conference, Academic Half Day, Grand Rounds, and Professor’s Rounds/M&M except for those on ED, NICU, PICU, NBN, or Nights.

  • Please be on time!

  • You are expected to attend at least 75% of all lectures.

  • We will take into account lectures that you cannot attend due to other shift obligations.

  • If attendance falls below 60%, you will be asked to meet with Program Leadership to identify potential barriers.

  • If you find yourself consistently unable to make it to lecture because of patient acuity, rounds ending late, please let us know so we can help!

LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY

Please see official policy posted on New Innovations which covers the below topics

  • Maternity Leave

  • Paternity Leave

  • Medical Leave

  • Family Medical Leave

  • Disability- Short and Long Term

  • Personal Leave

  • Vacation

  • Sick Leave

  • Jury Duty

  • Death in the Family

other policies on new innovations

  • Resident Promotion Criteria

  • Supervision

  • Transition in Care Policy

  • Social Media Policy

  • Procedure Requirements

  • Reimbursement for Conferences and Travel to Conferences

Electives

  • Electives are your time to fully engage in learning!

  • Please contact both the fellow and attending on service prior to starting to request any days you need to miss and CC the chiefs.

    • Elective contact list is available in start of cycle email


Sick Call (Jeopardy)

Jeopardy was instituted to ensure the safety of both patients and residents. If you are sick, please do not come into the hospital to care for patients. However, Jeopardy should not be called for interviews, family functions, or other non-emergent pre-planned events. 

If you know in advance that you will need a particular day off for a non-emergent event (ex: a medical procedure, conference, etc.) please try to swap your shift with someone. If you are having difficulty finding coverage please talk to the chiefs, who are more than happy to assist you.

You are required to contact the chiefs if you need to call out (even when on electives).

  • Please CALL the chief on call. Do not text or page, please CALL.

  • Please do not contact the person listed as jeopardy under any circumstances. 

We ask that you kindly do not discuss why someone may have called out to maintain confidentiality and protect each other’s privacy. 

As stated in the updated Sick Leave Policy, House Staff get 12 sick days without penalty:

  • 5 of those 12 sick days for safe or sick purposes:

    • Safe purpose: family member or self is a victim of any act or threat of domestic violence or unwanted sexual contact

    • Sick purpose: family member or own mental or physical illness/injury

    • Can be a combination of safe and sick days for yourselves, or to take care of a family member

  • Remaining 7 days need to be under Montefiore’s Sick Leave Policy ONLY for own illness or injury.

If you miss a significant number of days of a required rotation you may need to make it up at a later date for educational purposes to meet ACGME/ABP requirements, even if you missed less than 12 days.

Medical or safe leave documentation is required for leave after 4 or more consecutive days and must be submitted within 7 days of returning to work.

OHS medical clearance letter is required for more than 5 consecutive days, prior to returning to work, if absence is due to illness

Disability Benefits Claim form must be completed by PMD if absence is for more than 7 consecutive days due to illness or injury unrelated to employment.

If you are on Jeopardy, expect that you may be called in at any time. While we understand that residents work very hard, and you may not always be called in for an easy shift, we encourage you to uphold your professionalism and offer your colleagues the respect and privacy you would want for yourself, as a means to cultivate a trusting and caring work environment.

  • If you are on Jeopardy you should be within 1 hour of the hospital and your phone volume set on high. 

Please be aware that disciplinary action can be taken against House Staff who engage in misuse of safe or sick leave.

Travel Policy

  • You are expected to stay until the end of a scheduled shift.

  • If you are scheduled for a shift, you should not book a flight or train within 4 hours of the end of shift. (ie. If you are on nights, your shift ends at 8am, if you are on days, your shift ends at 7pm, and 24 hour shifts end at 11am)

Continuity Clinic

  • Notes

    • Patients transferred to ED or admitted: Finish note prior to leaving clinic.

    • Other notes: finish notes within 24 hours.

  • EPIC Inbox

    • Interns: Messages should be completed by the next clinic session.

    • Seniors: Responsibility is to regularly check and respond to inbox messages.
      Exceptions: PICU, NICU, Night Float, Vacation, FE (please set away message during these times)

    • Communicate with clinic preceptor for any questions/concerns

    • All urgent labs will be followed up by preceptors.