UPMC Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh

Information for Applicants to Graduate Medical Education Programs:
Salary, Benefits, and Conditions of Employment

2007-2008 Academic Year

Health Insurance

Health insurance, with employer and employee premium contributions, is available for the resident physician and dependents beginning on the start date of the Training Agreement. All employees are required to have health insurance coverage, but those with alternate health insurance coverage may elect to forego this benefit.

Dental Benefits

A dental benefit program, with employer and employee premium contributions, is available for the resident physician and dependents beginning on the start date of the Training Agreement.

Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Life Insurance in an amount equal to twice the annual stipend is provided for resident physicians. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage in an equal amount is also provided.


Short Term Disability Coverage

Short term disability coverage for up to 180 days is provided via stipend continuation to resident physicians during approved medical leaves as follows:

First 4 weeks 100% of stipend
Next 2 weeks 90% of stipend
Next 6 weeks 80% of stipend
Remainder 60% of stipend


Long Term Disability Insurance

Long term disability insurance is provided for resident physicians beginning on the start date of the Training Agreement. Coverage provides 60% of salary after a 180 day elimination period (i.e. 180 days from the first day of disability).


Malpractice Expense Insurance

Malpractice insurance covering activities in the training program is provided for all Mercy resident physicians in the amounts specified by Pennsylvania law. Mercy also provides the Pennsylvania MCARE assessment for residents for whom it is required.

Vacations and Leaves

Vacation

Three weeks per contract year. Unused vacation may not be accumulated for use in subsequent training years.

Family/Medical Leave Act

UPMC Mercy extends FMLA leave to resident physicians upon hire. The Family Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid time away from work and job protection. During medical leaves, residents will have stipend continuation via the short term disability program. Refer to GME Policy #4

Educational Leave

As approved by the particular program director for attendance at conferences, seminars, board review courses, and the like.

Personal Leave of Absence

Residents who have exhausted or do not qualify for medical or family leaves of absence may be provided up to four weeks of unpaid personal leave (during which benefits continue) with the approval of their program director.

Additional Benefits

Meals When On-Duty

Each resident physician is provided with a meal debit card that permits expenditures of up to $2,000 per year ($2,200 for General Surgery residents) to provide meals for the physician in the Hospital cafeteria when working. The allowance may not be used for individuals other than the resident physician or for the purchase of items for consumption when off-duty.

Parking

Residents are provided free parking.

Uniforms

Three labs coats (embroidered with the physician’s name) and five sets of scrub suits are provided to all new resident physicians.

Educational Allowance

Resident physicians at the PGY-2 level and above receive an educational allowance of up to $1,000 each contract year that may be used toward educational conference registration fees and travel expenses, the purchase of medical media (i.e. books, videotapes, databases, CD-ROMS, journal subscriptions, etc.), or other expenses certified by the Program Director to be primarily of educational value during the period of residency..

Board Review

Categorical residents in their final year of training are provided ½ (up to $300) of the registration fee or tuition for a board review course. With the approval of the program director, the educational allowance and board review benefits may be combined.

Child Development Center

Mercy’s Child Development Center provides child care services and an early education program for children age 6 weeks to 6 years. Full-time and part time enrollment plans are available. The Center also provides after school and summer programs for school-aged children to age 9. There is a fee for all CDC services. Call 412-232-7478 for more information.

PDA

Each new resident physician is provided with a subsidy of up to $200 toward the purchase of a PDA or toward upgrades or software for an existing PDA.

Conditions of Employment

The following conditions must be met for an individual to become (and, when applicable, to remain) a resident physician in a Mercy Hospital sponsored program:

1. Must be a graduate of a medical school and be eligible according to the relevant accreditation guidelines for appointment to the program.
2. Must hold the appropriate Commonwealth of Pennsylvania medical or osteopathic training license (or, in the case of podiatric residents, must obtain an unrestricted podiatric medical license).
3. Must complete the pre-employment physical examination.
4. Must, if a graduate of an international medical school, hold a valid ECFMG certificate.
5. Must, if not a US citizen, hold an immigration or visa status that permits work as a resident in a graduate medical education program.
6. Must agree to undergo a criminal records check and, if convicted of a criminal offense, must undergo clearance via the procedure described in GME Policy #40.
7. Must agree to disclose any current or prior treatment for or diagnosis of alcoholism, drug abuse, or drug dependency. Must agree to special contract language providing for evaluation by Physicians Health Program and compliance with any PHP recommendations.
8. Must not be listed on the Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Inspector General Cumulative Sanction Report.
9. Must not be listed on the General Services Administration’s List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Non-Procurement Programs.
10. Must, while a resident, abide by all terms of the Training Agreement.