FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE
Family and Medical Leave is provided for an eligible house officer's
serious health condition, the serious health condition of a house
officer's child, spouse or parent, or to bond with the house officer's
newborn, adopted, or foster care child. Medical leave may be requested
by a house officer for a medical condition affecting his/her ability to
continue in a training program or provide patient care. These leaves must
include the use of vacation, sick leave, or education leave at the onset
of the leave. The duration of the leave must conform with one's departmental
and American Board requirements together with the applicable state and federal
law, including AB1460, Federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Both
Family and Medical Leave are unpaid leaves.
Eligibility
A resident must have completed the initial year of appointment to be
eligible for either a Family Leave of up to 12 work weeks in a 12
month period, or a Medical Leave of up to 12 months.
Pregnancy
A female resident is entitled to a maximum of 4 months of unpaid leave
for pregnancy-related disability in addition to the 12 weeks of Family
Leave entitlement in a 12 month period.
Benefit Status
A resident on an approved Family or Medical Leave shall be entitled to
continue participation in the health plan coverage (medical, dental, and
optical) for a period of up to 12 work weeks in the leave year for Family
Leave, and 12 months for Medical Leave.
Qualifying Time for Board Requirements
If it is determined that training experience necessary to satisfy American
Board requirements is lacking and the resident must gain such experience,
the pay status of the time spent in making up training will be determined
prior to commencement of the make up activity.
Notice and Certification
- Requests for family or medical leave must include a written request
from the house officer sent to the program director and/or chair of the
department indicating the start and anticipated return dates.
- A letter from the house officer's attending affirming the need for
medical leave must accompany the request.
- Medical or family leave may be granted at the discretion of the
department chairperson after consultation with the program director
and others. Approved requests for leave must be in writing and indicate:
- start date
- return to duty date
- conditions for return to work
- whether time will be counted for training or how make up time
will be completed
- the PGY level upon return
- if additional work will be needed because of the absence.
- Medical leave up to a maximum of one year, per program, after vacation
and sick leave have been used, may be granted. Medical leave is unpaid
time but includes continuing medical benefits up to 12 months.
- A copy of the letter of approval of granted medical or family leave
will be sent to the Offices of the Dean and the Chief of Staff.
Return to work after a medical leave will require the following:
- Prior to returning to the residency, the house officer must submit a
written request to be reinstated.
- The letter of request to return to active appointment will include
the return date and any limitations on activities or special needs. The
letter should be sent to the department chair/program director.
- A letter release to return to duties from the house officer's
attending, which includes any restrictions or other special conditions,
must accompany the house officer's request to return.
- Written approval to return to appointment will be sent by the
department chair/program director. It shall include:
- the start date
- any limitations or special needs
- the reappointment PGY level
- the need to make up time for credit
- additional medical or program evaluation, and if so, time and evaluation process.
- Copy of the letter of approval to return to active appointment,
extension of medical leave or termination from the program related to
the medical leave will be sent to the Offices of the Dean and Chief of
Staff.
- Moonlighting while on medical leave is not allowed and may be cause
to terminate medical leave.
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