Graduate Medical Education

Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc.

Institutional Policy
 

PURPOSE

MCWAH is committed to providing a professional learning environment and supportive culture for all housestaff. This policy describes the procedure to use regarding housestaff concerns that may arise during training regarding unfair treatment by the faculty, staff or other housestaff.  Such complaints and grievances include, but are not limited to, evaluations, probation, non-promotion to the next level of training or the professional environment.

DEFINITIONS

Complaint:  An oral statement provided by a housestaff member to the Program Director, MCWAH’s Designated Institutional Official (DIO) & Executive Director, or other member of the MCWAH staff expressing dissatisfaction with some aspect of the program, a faculty member, a member of MCWAH staff, another housestaff member or other program related issue which has resulted in a negative impact to the complainant.

Grievance:  A written statement provided by a housestaff member to the Program Director, MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director or other member of the MCWAH staff expressing dissatisfaction with some aspect of the program, a faculty member, a member of MCWAH staff, another housestaff member or other program related issue which has resulted in a negative impact to the complainant.

POLICY

Housestaff may assert a complaint or grievance as outlined below.  Retaliation against housestaff for asserting a complaint or grievance will not be tolerated. Every effort will be made to resolve the complaint or grievance fairly and promptly.

COMPLAINT AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS

Housestaff concerns, complaints and grievances regarding the work environment, evaluations, probation or non-promotion to the next level of training should be addressed using the following process:

1.      Housestaff should address concerns or complaints with the appropriate person(s) in a professional manner.

2.      Housestaff may raise concerns either verbally or in writing to his/her Program Director. If the complaint is provided verbally, it is the responsibility of the individual receiving the complaint to summarize the complaint in writing and request the Housestaff member to confirm that the summary accurately reflects the substance of their concern.

3.      If the housestaff does not feel comfortable raising an issue with his/her Program Director, or if there is dissatisfaction with the Program Director’s response or action, the housestaff should contact the Division Chief or Chair of the Department or MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director.

4.            If the complaint remains unresolved after taking the above steps, the housestaff should report his/her complaint or grievance to MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director. If MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director identifies a conflict in his/her ability to resolve the matter, s/he will designate an alternate person to review and manage the matter. MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director may consult with other faculty, the Program Director, the Chair of the Department or other senior leaders of the Medical College of Wisconsin to gain additional insight and to facilitate a resolution of the complaint.

5.      The decision of MCWAH’s DIO & Executive Director regarding the disposition of the complaint or grievance is final.

EXCLUSIONS

Complaints and grievances relating to decisions of non-renewal and termination actions are governed by the Graduate Medical Education Training Agreement, sections of MCWAH’s Evaluation of Housestaff and Progressive Management of Substandard Performance policy and MCWAH’s Appeal of Academic Adverse Decision policy.

Complaints and grievances relating to alleged acts of sexual harassment and/or harassment or discrimination based upon sex, race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship status, or other protected group status are covered by MCWAH’s Harassment and Reporting Procedure and/or ADA Americans with Disabilities policies found in the MCWAH Handbook.

Complaints and grievances of housestaff employed by MCW relating to alleged acts of sexual harassment and/or harassment or discrimination based upon sex, race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship status, or other protected group status are covered by MCW policies.

This revised policy was approved by the MCWAH Graduate Medical Education Council on July 18, 2011.  The original policy was approved on February 20, 2006.