Welcome to our Residency Program

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Welcome to our Residency Program
help@neurology.com

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Neurology Residency Program at OBH

Policy for Neurology Resident and Faculty Well-Being

Psychological, emotional, and physical well-being are critical in the development of competent, caring, and resilient physicians. Residents and faculty alike are at risk for burnout, depression, and substance misuse disorders. Our program will foster a culture in which all members of the healthcare team share responsibility for the well-being of each other and provide support for one another in an environment free of fear of negative repercussions. In accordance with section VI.C. subsections of the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Neurology (the “Program Requirements”), SUNY Downstate’s OBH neurology program has the following policies in place:

1. Attention to work schedule and intensity: Residents work hours are limited to fewer than 80 per week, and there is at least one 24-hour period off from work each week to allow adequate time away from work to engage with family and friends and attend to personal needs. A night float system will be used for the in-house on calls by PGY2 and PGY3 residents to ensure compliance with these work-hours limitations. Night float duties will be six nights per week for 1-2 weeks at a time. There will be back-up support from a senior resident (PGY4) and an attending at all times, available to provide on-site assistance at times of high patient volume/intensity. We will review resident reporting of duty hours and honest documentation will be encouraged.
2. Weekend coverage: Daytime coverage on weekends and holidays will be provided by the ward and consult residents (PGY2 and PGY3), retaining the one-day-off-per week policy (one weekend day coverage for each of the two residents), to reduce errors during transition of care and alleviate stress for residents not assigned to these services (e.g during elective months).
3. Workplace safety: Data will be reviewed routinely to ensure a safe work environment. On call rooms are in close proximity to patient floors and will be available at all hours. Food will be available on site (cafeteria and vending machines), and residents will be provided a food stipend. Lactation facilities will be available as needed.

4. Protected time: Protected time will be provided to attend educational activities (conferences et al.), ancillary services will be provided (e.g. blood-drawing teams), and the program coordinator will provide administrative support. Additional time off from work will be allowed for residents to attend medical, mental health, and dental care appointments. When these must be scheduled during key rotations such as ward or consult service duties, coverage will be provided.

5. Mental health and well-being: All residents and attendings will be educated to identify and recognize signs of burnout, depression, substance misuse, fatigue, and sleep deprivation. There will be wellness fairs to learn about sleep hygiene, relaxation, and fatigue mitigation. In addition to the on-call room, a spa-like relaxation room is available at OBH to promote well-being and give residents and faculty a quiet place to reflect and unwind. Residents and faculty will be encouraged to look out for one another, and to report any concerns regarding any colleague’s or faculty member’s wellness in these regards to the appropriate parties: Residency program leadership (PD or APD) for resident issues; Department leadership (chair, site director, or vice chair) for faculty issues.

6. Extended absence to attend to personal needs such as illness, family emergency, parental leave, or other wellness issues: Accommodations will be made on an individual basis for allow an appropriate length of absence for residents unable to perform their patient care duties. Teammates will assist colleagues in need by providing the necessary coverage and to reintegrate the resident upon return to duty. There will be no negative repercussions, but residency training time may need to be extended to allow for completion of specialty requirements. All of the above polices are overseen by the SUNY Downstate DIO and are reported to the SUNY Downstate GME committee. As such, residents may confidentially report lapses in work hours compliance or other concerns regarding well-being to the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Compliance Hotline, to the compliance hotline at the applicable site, or directly to the SUNY Downstate Designated Institutional Official or the Associate DIO. To report anonymously, one may email gmehelp@downstate.edu. Residents are encouraged to use our internal reporting mechanisms so that issues can be addressed promptly, should they arise. Residents and faculty will also be encouraged to report their concerns regarding their colleagues SUPPORTS, TOOLS and RESOURCES The following are available through the SUNY Downstate New Innovations portal. If you’d like support managing anxiety, depression, or any other emotional distress, or if you are experiencing significant stress or burnout, there are many resources available. We especially recommend reaching out for support if your scores on any of the self-screeners are in the moderate to high range.
a. Self-Assessment Tools (available through our SUNY Intranet): Keeping tabs on your own psychological well-being is a crucial part of maintaining overall health and successfully working towards your goals, both personally and professionally. Psychological well-being is complex and fluid, and it can even shift from week to week based on a variety of factors like physical health, work hours, rotation, or stress level, so it’s important to check in with yourself on a regular basis. The following self-assessment tools are available:

1. MENTAL HEALTH – These handy self-assessment tools can help you get the quick view on depression, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use, and eating disorders. They can be used on a one-time basis, or to track changes across time.

2. BURNOUT AND COMPASSION FATIGUE – While working as a physician can be rewarding, it also brings many specific stressors and challenges. We know that professionals working in a helping field are at risk for experiencing symptoms of burnout or compassion fatigue at some point in their career, with the most recent studies reporting that nearly 50% of all physicians are experiencing burnout. PROQOL-5 can help assess your overall quality of life at work, including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and compassion satisfaction.
b. Provider Resilience Phone App: Being more aware of signs of burnout can help prevent it. WE recommend checking out the free phone app, developed by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology. It includes the well-validated PROQOL-5 trackers for resilience-building factors as well as those that contribute to burnout or compassion fatigue.

c. Confidential hotlines (not affiliated with SUNY Downstate or OBH):
1. Employee and Physician Specific:
i. The Confidential Employee Assistance Program Hotline: 1(800) 386-7055
ii. Committee on Physician’s Health:
(518) 436-4723 (day); (518) 694-0002 (evenings)

2. Mental Health Hotlines:
i. NYC Suicide Hotline: 1(888) NYC-WELL, or text WELL to 65173 (24 hrs)
ii. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1(800) 273-8255 (24 hrs)
iii. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Spanish): 1(800) 628-9454 (24 hrs)
iv. Trans Lifeline (run by and for trans people): (877) 565-8860, available daily from
10 AM – 4 PM; https://www.translifeline.org/

d. Other Available Support
1. LGBTQ National Hotline: 1(888) 843-4564; https://lgbthotline.org/nationalhotline.html
2. Domestic Violence Hotline: 1(800) 621-HOPE (4673); https://www.thehotline.org
3. National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: 1(800) 656-HOPE (4673);