VCU Internal Medicine Training Program
Moonlighting Policy
Printable version of the Moonlighting Policy (pdf)
Policy
Because residency education is a full-time endeavor, moonlighting must not interfere with the ability of the resident to achieve the goals and objectives of the educational program. The VCU Internal Medicine Residency Program adheres to the VCU Medical Center’s written policies and procedures regarding moonlighting.Moonlighting that occurs within the VCU Internal Medicine Residency Program, i.e., internal moonlighting, will be counted toward the 80-hour weekly limit on duty hours. Residents are responsible for reporting their internal moonlighting hours to the Office of Educational Affairs.
Procedure
- Moonlighting Eligibility
The Department of Internal Medicine permits, in a limited capacity, residents to practice outside of the required clinical activities which are official components of the residency program. Such practice (moonlighting) is considered a privilege for residents who are performing well. However, residents must limit such employment to:- preserve sufficient study time and (2) minimize fatigue, which may impede the maximal educational benefit of clinical activities. In addition to the guidelines listed below, residents must also conform to the General Institutional Policy on Housestaff Moonlighting.
- Guidelines
- Moonlighting may be performed only after successful completion of the R1 year and USMLE Step III. After these requirements, residents are permitted to moonlight in accordance with the guidelines described below.
- Moonlighting venues are restricted to VCU Medical Center and McGuire VAMC.
- Moonlighting is restricted to those residents who are in academic good
standing. Good academic standing is defined as:- Attendance at 60% of all required departmental conferences,
- Completion of appropriate scholarly activity according to level of training, and
- No unsatisfactory evaluations by faculty within the previous six months. Residents on
probation will not be permitted to moonlight. In special circumstances, requirements may be waived at the discretion of the program director. - Moonlighting activities must not interfere with any required obligations of the residency program, including ACGME Duty Hours, regular clinical hours, and conferences. e. Moonlighting is not permitted while assigned to inpatient ward services including Hematology/Oncology, Night Float, and Bridge Team, the Emergency Department, or any ICU services. Moonlighting is permitted on elective or ambulatory rotations.
- Moonlighting activities is limited to no more than 48 hours per month. Moonlighting activities must not place the resident's total work hours in excess of the Duty Hour Requirements established by the ACGME.
- Residents are required to submit a moonlighting form (scroll to end of pdf document) prior to initiating any moonlighting shifts and the form must be resubmitted every 6 months.
- Residents must submit their moonlighting hours to the Office of Educational Affairs by email or in writing within 1 week of completion of the shift.
- A resident's moonlighting privileges may be suspended at the discretion of the program director.
- Those failing to adhere to the moonlighting policy will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include probationary status and dismissal from the residency program.
