House Staff Manual - Winthrop University Hospital

The New York State Department of Health requires that employees of health facilities be free from healthimpairments which would present a significant risk to patients or which might interfere with theperformance of their duties. A health history and physical assessment is required at the time ofemployment and annually thereafter, along with your annual PPD. This is your responsibility tocomplete. Failure to complete these requirements leaves the hospital non-compliant with Department ofHealth regulations. In addition, employees are required to report any signs or symptoms of personal illnessto their supervisor, and to be referred for evaluation to determine the appropriate care and work limitation.It is also required that there be no discrimination on the basis of disability or handicap consistent withfederal and state statutes.The Employee Health Service provides pre-employment physicals, annual assessments and tuberculosisscreenings, as well as vaccines and health surveillances as required by regulatory agencies or as ordered bythe Director of the Employee Health Service. These services are provided without charge. The office isopen from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M., Monday through Friday.Employees who become ill while at work may make an appointment to be seen by the health care providerwhen available. Employees must present a “Request for Treatment” form, available in all departments. Atall other times, employees who become ill while at work may be seen in theEmergency Department with prior permission from the employee's supervisor. Employees who experienceany cardiac symptoms or acute gynecological problems should go directly to the Emergency Department.For further information on Employee Health Services, contact ext. 2534.10. FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVEIn accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Hospital will grant an eligible memberof the housestaff unpaid leave or leaves for up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period. Eligibility is one who hasworked a minimum of 1250 hours in the twelve-month period prior to the start date of the requested leave.Leave may be granted for the birth, adoption or acceptance for foster care of a child; for the care of a child,spouse, or parent with a serious health condition; or for the employee’s own serious illness.One should notify the Program Director and/or Chief Resident at least 30 days prior to the anticipated leaveor as soon as possible if 30 days’ notice is not possible. Residents are able to return to their trainingprogram after a leave of absence without loss of training status if their leave does not exceed that allowedby the specialty boards. Leave allowances as described by respective Boards vary greatly amongprograms; residents should contact the applicable specialty boards for current policies or the Officeof Academic Affairs, which will maintain copies of board policies.Accommodation of scheduling due to an intermittent or part-time leave (e.g. reduced hours, modification innight call or rotational schedules, part-time scheduling) is at the discretion of the Program Director and theChief Resident. The purpose of such accommodation is to allow for the maximum continuity of educationwithout creating intolerable increases in other residents’ workloads.A copy of the Hospital’s Family and Medical Leave Policy and Procedure may be obtained from theDepartment of Human Resources. One requests such a leave in writing by completing a “Leave ofAbsence” request form, also available from Human Resources. A leave request is not official unless signedoff accordingly by Program director or designee.11. HEALTH BENEFITS, DISABILITY AND LIFE INSURANCEWinthrop-University Hospital provides a comprehensive benefits program that affords house staff andmembers of their immediate family flexibility in choosing benefits. Candidates to WUH training programsare apprised of these and other benefits in writing at time of interview.Rev. 1/08