Employment Termination

University of Pittsburgh

Department of Ophthalmology

Policies and Procedures:

Employment Termination

Revised on:
February 12, 2009
REC approval:
Pending





Purpose
This policy outlines the procedures that the Department of Ophthalmology will use in the termination of house officers’ employment prior to the date of expiration of the house officer’s contract, whether initiated by the resident or by the Department.
 
Scope
This policy will apply to the Department of Ophthalmology and shall be followed when considering employment termination for resident. For situations concerning inadequate or unsatisfactory performance by house officers, please see the applicable criteria and Probation Policy in the Departmental Resident’s Manual.
 
Definitions
House Staff or House Officer: refers to all residents enrolled in the UHCP Department of Ophthalmology graduate medical education training program
 
Remediation: the act or process of remedying or correcting knowledge deficits, see Remediation policy
 
Probation: a formal level of academic or professional discipline; see Probation Policy and Grievance and Appeals Policy.
 
Termination: the act of severing employment prior to the date of expiration of the house officer’s contract
 
Responsibilities/Requirements: Termination of a house officer’s employment prior to the established expiration date of the contract may be accomplished for valid reason.
 
Voluntary Termination or Resignation of the House Officer 
  • If the house officer desires to voluntarily terminate the house officer’s employment, then the house officer should provide a written request to the Program Director stating the reason for the action. If the request is approved by the Program Director, then the house officer should submit to the Program Director a signed letter of resignation with an effective date.
  • The Program Director, the Chair of the Department, or the Chair of the Evaluation and Competence Committee may request an interview.
  • Voluntary resignation may be granted with the concurrence of the Program Director, Department Chairman, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education.
  • The Program Director, Department Chairman, and/or the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education are not required to accept a voluntary resignation.
 
Involuntary Termination 
  • The Department or UHCP may determine by self-initiative to terminate a house officer’s employment prior to the established contract expiration date due to various substantive reasons, including, without limitation, the following:
    • Academic or professional misconduct
    • Endangering the health or safety of others, including patients, employees, or other persons
    • Unsatisfactory performance
    • Abandonment of position or employment
    • Failure to comply with hospital, Departmental, or institutional policies, practices, and directives
    • Any disciplinary action as described in the Probation Policy
  • Residents can be terminated while on Remediation, Probation, or Probation with Notice of Termination. (Please refer to Remediation and Probation policies)
  • The program Director, with approval of the Department Chairman, shall notify the house officer in writing of the decision to terminate employment.
  • Upon notice of termination, the house officer has the right to request an appeal of such notice, as described in the UHCP Grievance and Appeals Policy.
  • In any such employment termination situation, consultation and direction should be received from the UHCP GME Office and UHCP legal counsel as soon as practicable.