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Hospital / Time-Off Policies

Hospital Policies

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at Upstate Medical University at Syracuse, New York offers the clinical experience of a large medical center in a small, cultured city atmosphere.

Three distinctly different hospitals, University Hospital, the Veteran's Administration Medical Center and Crouse Hospital (a private institution), provide a rich variety of patients on a single campus, all within walking distance.

There are common, as well as specific policies at each hospital:

Time Off Policy

By ACGME and ABIM policy, you are allowed a total of 20 days off per academic year (this includes interview time, vacation time, and sick time exceeding 4 days); unused time-off can not be carried over to the following year (i.e. you must use your annual allotment of 20 days). Anytime beyond 20 days must be made up (i.e. training time must be extended which means that your residency end date will be after June 30th of your final year; extending your training means that your fellowship or employment start date will be delayed beyond July 1st) in order for you to be eligible for the ABIM Certifying Exam. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Incoming PGY-2s and PGY-3s will be required to submit in advance of the academic year all planned days off based on their schedules; these days can only be while on an elective. However, changes may be allowed based on the below descriptions; all changes require approval of the Educational Programs Office. Incoming PGY-1s will have vacation time assigned to them in advance of the academic year; these can only be changed with approval of the Educational Programs Office.

Please note that while we fully support the Family Medical Leave Act, any time taken beyond the allotted 20 days per year must be made up in order to be eligible for promotion or graduation. This will require extending your training time.

  • All time off, regardless of reason, requires prior approval from EPO.
  • All time off, regardless of reason, requires prior approval from EPO.
  • Vacation requests are on a first come, first serve basis.
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