Conference Travel - Residents presenting an oral presentation will be approved for two nights travel (suggested the day before and the day of the presentation and leaving the following morning) plus airfare and per diem.

Chief Travel - Chief Residents will be permitted to attend one entire conference, not to exceed $2000 total.  Chief residents are permitted to attend a post graduate course at the American College of Surgeons, but the Department will not reimburse more than a total of $2000 for the entire meeting. 
 

 Call Schedule
 

We use a night float team for all surgery services within the Department of Surgery. Night float is available Sunday through Friday evenings from 6:00pm to 6:00am. Each resident will take call approximately two weekend days, including one Saturday 24 hour in-house call, per month. During the intern year, outside rotation call schedules will be generated by each Department. Click here to view the Section of General Surgery resident call schedules.

Salary/Benefits

Salary (2007-2008)
PGY-1          $42,774
PGY-2          $43,865
PGY-3          $45,108
PGY-4          $47,107
PGY-5          $48,924

Book Allowances - For PGY2 residents $150; PGY5 $300.

Loupe Allowances - The Department will provide $500 per rising PGY-2 resident for the purchase of loupes. The residents are free to spend the loupe allowance on loupes from any vendor/company.

Health Insurance -  subsidized by the Medical College of Georgia and the University Systems of Georgia.

In-Service Examination

The in-service examination is given the last Saturday of January. Every categorical resident must take this exam. Vacation and that week-end off is not allowed. A score of 20^th percentile is required by the Department. Failure to make 20^th percentile will result in enrollment in a remediation program for one year. Failure to make 20^th percentile for two years in a row is grounds for dismissal.

Performance Review by Faculty

Semi-Annual Review - Semi-annually, at a scheduled faculty meeting, the Program Director will review each residents performance during the previous months.

Evaluation Forms - 360° evaluations are completed in electronic format on residents, faculty, and rotations.

Resident Academic File - All pertinent information gathered on a resident will be filed and reviewed semi-annually.

Inadequate Performance - Substandard performance issues raised at the Departmental Faculty Meetings will be discussed by the Section Chief or Program Director with the subject resident within one calendar week following the meeting. A written report will become part of the permanent file with a copy given to the resident. Progress reports on inadequate performance will be an automatic item on the agenda at the next scheduled Performance Review Meeting.

Deficiencies Needing Immediate Action - The Program Director will have individual meetings with the residents to review deficiencies that require immediate attention. A written summary and recommendation of the meeting will become part of the file.

Annual Performance Review - A meeting of the faculty for Annual Performance Review will be held. The Faculty is expected to make recommendations for reappointment based on information kept in the folder.

Disciplinary Actions

Probation:  Based on monthly reviews and/or information, the faculty may recommend that a resident be placed on probation for a specific number of months. Such cases will be reviewed each month or as necessary.

Loss of Credit: Based on monthly or annual reviews and/or results on the In-Training Examination (below 20^th percentile), the faculty may recommend that the Resident lose credit for the year on the service or portion thereof.

Supervision

Policies of the supervision of residents are published. Each patient is assigned an attending. Attendings are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all patients. Patients are seen 24 hours of admission or sooner if necessary by the attending. Attendings are notified of all urgent and emergent admissions and of significant changes in a patients status. Daily rounds are required. Presence of the attending surgeon in the operating room and on the wards is documented by the hospital information system and is in compliance with IL 372.

Junior house officers provide most of the pre and post operative care under the direction of chief residents who in turn report to the attendings. Close supervision is maintained by daily attending rounds. All critical decisions by junior house officers are cleared through the chief resident or the attending surgeon. The chiefs in turn consult attendings on the most major decisions

Medical Records

All medical records should be updated once a week. All dictations must be done immediately after surgery or at the time of discharge. Staff Notes must have a date and time. As stated in the physicians contract, charts that are 30 days delinquent will cause the individuals paycheck to be held until completion.

Time Sheets

Time sheets are completed online daily using ONE45.com.

Research

Research and presentation of work, either scientific or clinical in nature, is encouraged. The Department will pay travel and meeting expenses if the resident is presenting an abstract or poster. International meetings require special approval.

ACGME Operative Case Log

Residents are required to maintain an accurate and current log of all operative cases in which they participate.  This internet based system can be accessed at any Department computer or at home. It is the resident's responsibility to keep up with their cases.