Resident and Fellow Benefits and Agreements

For more information on specific benefits and benefit costs for residents and fellows, call the Penn State Health HR Solutions Center at 717-531-8440.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary

• Medical/Prescription plan

• Dental plan

• Vision plan

• Up to 20 annual vacation/CME days

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Health Saving Account (if electing HDHP Select plan)

• Group term life insurance

• Accidental death and dismemberment

• Travel assistance and business travel accident insurance

• Short-term disability (voluntary)

• Long-term disability

• Malpractice insurance

• 75 percent tuition reduction for resident/fellow and dependents at Penn State campuses. For more information, review Policies HR12 and HR41 on the internal Infonet

• Employee Assistance Program – access up to 10 confidential counseling sessions at no cost

• Concierge Scheduling Service

• , such as perks like Peloton and Weight Watchers membership discounts and Blue365fitness discounts

Employee Discounts

Penn State Health has partnered with Abenity to offer not only local discounts but also national offers and discounts as well. Through the Abenity discount portal, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center employees can access a comprehensive group of local and national discounts and offers for hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, spas, theme parks and more as well as concierge services. Current residents and fellows can register or login here.

Sample Resident/Fellow Agreement

The Office of Graduate Medical Education provides a sample resident/fellow agreement for participants in ACGME-accredited physician residencies. Other programs may use alternate agreements.

This Resident/Fellow Agreement, dated today, __________________, 20[yy], by and between Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation (hereinafter “Hospital”) and [resident first and last name and credentials] (hereinafter "Resident/Fellow").

Recitals

• Hospital offers a graduate medical education program (hereinafter "training program") in [program title], accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

• Hospital has offered a position in the training program to Resident/Fellow, and Resident/Fellow has agreed to accept the position, on the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement.

• In consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Resident/Fellow Agreement and intending to be legally bound, Hospital and Resident/Fellow agree that Resident/Fellow shall assume a position in the training program on the terms and conditions set forth below.

Operative Provisions

• Duration of Appointment and Acceptance of Position
  Resident/Fellow accepts the position of [status] year resident in the training program for the period of [start date] through [end date] (the "Resident/Fellow Agreement Period"). During the term of this Resident/Fellow Agreement, Resident/Fellow agrees to perform such duties of Hospital and its affiliated institutions which are part of the training program conscientiously, to the best of Resident/Fellow's ability, and under the highest standard of professional ethics. The term of this Agreement may not exceed one (1) year unless renewed in writing by Hospital authorized representatives.

• Renewal of Resident/Fellow Agreement
  Renewal of this Agreement is dependent upon satisfactory progress by the Resident/Fellow as determined solely by evaluation of the Resident/Fellow’s performance by the training program. Reappointment of Resident/Fellow to a subsequent contract period requires execution of the Resident/Fellow Agreement Renewal, and nothing contained herein shall be construed to confer upon Resident/Fellow an automatic right of renewal.

• Financial Support
  Resident/Fellow shall receive financial support from Hospital in the form of an annual stipend of [compensation], to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-weekly installments, subject to all deductions required by state and federal law and such other deductions authorized by Resident/Fellow in accordance with Hospital policy.

• Resident/Fellow Responsibilities

  • Licensure to Practice Medicine
    Resident/Fellow shall maintain, throughout the Resident/Fellow Agreement Period and any subsequent renewal(s), a valid graduate medical training license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine or the Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. Resident/Fellow is not permitted to begin training at Hospital until issued a Pennsylvania graduate medical training license. Resident/Fellow agrees to provide Hospital with immediate written notification of any action which is taken or which is contemplated to be taken against the license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including but not limited to, disciplinary action such as suspension, revocation, limitation or other restrictions. Hospital shall have the option to terminate this Resident/Fellow Agreement or suspend its obligations under this Resident/Fellow Agreement pending the outcome of any such disciplinary proceeding.

  • Background Checks
    All required background check and clearance record results are to be received by Penn State Health prior to the individual beginning employment with Penn State Health. When Penn State Health business needs necessitate, an employee is permitted under this policy to begin work before the final clearance record results are received and turned in to Penn State Health Human Resources provided the following are met: All required clearances shall be applied for and initiated (including completion of fingerprinting as applicable), and the required Penn State Health Employee Background Disclosure Statement is truthfully signed by the individual. Failure to comply with these provisional requirements may result in disciplinary action, including immediate termination of employment. All required and complete clearance record results must be provided to Penn State Health Human Resources within 60 days of the individual’s commencement of work with Penn State Health. See HR policies at https://pennstatehealth.ellucid.com/documents/view/91 (internal access only; login required).

  • Pre-Employment Drug Testing
    Penn State Health conducts pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Any applicant who refuses to comply with the drug screening process or who tests positive for a non-prescribed drug will not be hired. See HR policies at https://pennstatehealth.ellucid.com/documents/view/140 (internal access only; login required).

  • Reporting to Program
    Resident/Fellow shall be physically present and able to perform the duties associated with their position in the training program on the first day of the Resident/Fellow Agreement Period. All documents required, for participation in the training program, as outlined and specified in the Onboarding checklist of the New Innovations System, shall be completed and submitted prior to the first day of the Resident/Fellow Agreement Period. Resident/Fellow understands and agrees that this Agreement will be unenforceable if Resident/Fellow is ineligible or unable to be physically present and perform the duties associated with their position in the training program as of the first day of the Resident/Fellow Agreement Period for any reason.

  • Clinical Care
    Resident/Fellow is expected to provide competent and compassionate patient care, and to work effectively as a member of the health care team. This implies professional demeanor and conduct both in direct patient care and in communication with family members, other health care professionals, and support staff. The highest level of professionalism is expected at all times. Resident/Fellow is directly responsible to the faculty attending to whom they have been assigned for all matters related to the professional care of patients.

• Policies
  Resident/Fellow is required to follow all Penn State Health and Hospital Graduate Medical Education and Human Resources policies. See GME policies on the and HR policies at https://pennstatehealth.ellucid.com/manuals/binder/15 (internal access only; login required).

• Self-Disclosure of Criminal Activity
  Resident/Fellow is required to notify the Human Resources Department within 72 hours (or 1 business day if on a visa) of being charged and/or convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or child abuse offense (as outlined in Policy HR 68) by utilizing the Penn State Health mySolutions self-reporting tool (internal access only; login required). This includes any filing of charges or convictions that occur between the date of disclosure for a hospital-required background check and the date of the individual’s engagement with Hospital, or the date of issuance of background check results and the commencement date of the individual’s engagement with Hospital. Failure to report such incidents within the required time frame may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

• Conditions for Reappointment and Promotion
  Renewal of the Resident/Fellow Agreement will be based on the ACGME core competencies. Resident/Fellow will be evaluated/reappointed based on patient care, medical knowledge, clinical competence, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice, evaluations, ACGME Milestones and/or any other factors deemed necessary by the Program Director to advance to the next level in training.

• Promotion, Appointment Renewal and Dismissal
  Each Hospital ACGME-accredited program has a policy that outlines the criteria for promotion and/or renewal of a Resident/Fellow’s appointment. Resident/Fellow will be provided with written notice in the event Resident/Fellow will not be promoted to the next level of training, the Resident/Fellow Agreement will not be renewed, or Resident/Fellow will be dismissed.

• Grievance and Due Process
  In the event of an academic or disciplinary action that could result in suspension, dismissal, non-renewal of the Resident/Fellow Agreement or non-promotion to the next year of the training program, Resident/Fellow may utilize the process outlined in the Graduate Medical Education Grievance and Due Process Policy, available on the Graduate Medical Education Website Polices page.

• Professional Liability Insurance
  Hospital shall provide Resident/Fellow with professional liability insurance in an amount no less than that required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Liability insurance includes legal defense and protection against awards from claims reported or filed during or after the completion of the training program for acts and omissions occurring during the Resident/Fellow Agreement Period that are within the scope of the Resident/Fellow’s responsibilities in the training program.

• Health Insurance and Other Benefits
  Health, dental, disability and other insurance is provided to Resident/Fellow and their eligible dependents beginning on the first day of the Resident/Fellow Agreement period. Information regarding the types and associated costs of such insurance coverage and other benefits is available on the Graduate Medical Education website.

• Leave of Absence
  Resident/Fellow is entitled to vacation and leave(s) of absence, including medical, parental, and caregiver leave(s) of absence. Resident/Fellow acknowledges that after any leave of absence, additional training may be required for successful completion of the Program or for Board Certification. The necessity for additional training will be determined by the Program Director and applicable Board. The Leave of Absence Policy is available on the Graduate Medical Education Website Polices page.

• Duty Hours (Maximum Hours of Clinical and Educational Work per Week)
  Resident/Fellow shall be present and available for duties assigned to Resident/Fellow by the Program Director, including night, weekend or any special duty assignment which Resident/Fellow may be given at the discretion of the Program Director. All requirements of the Residency Review Committee (RRC) must be met for work hours and work environment. The Program Director is responsible for the appropriate scheduling of duty time, including provision of adequate off-duty hours. Resident/Fellow shall be given a monthly average of one day in seven free from clinical duties and expectations. Resident/Fellow understands and agrees that the hours of duty will vary with the clinical service to which Resident/Fellow is assigned from time to time. Hospital shall, however, maintain an environment conducive to the health and well-being of Resident/Fellow and will make its best efforts to limit assigned duty to the customary and usual schedule for Resident/Fellow physicians on the service to which Resident/Fellow is assigned at that time in compliance with the Clinical Experience and Education Policy, available on the Graduate Medical Education Website Polices page.

• Moonlighting
  Resident/Fellow may not provide physician services to other health care institutions for remuneration outside the scope of their educational activities and regularly assigned duties of the training program unless prior and specific written notification detailing such activities is given to and written consent for such activities is obtained from the Program Director. Moonlighting shall not be approved if the Program Director believes such activities may interfere with the Resident/Fellow's ability to perform their obligations and duties in the training program. The Program Director's determination in this regard shall be final and does not fall within the scope of the institution's Grievance and Due Process Policy. The Moonlighting Policy is available on the Graduate Medical Education Website Polices page.

• Certificate of Completion
  Issuance of a Certificate of Completion of the training program is contingent upon the return of all Hospital property, including books, keys, equipment, etc., completion of all medical records for which Resident/Fellow is responsible, and the settling of all professional and financial obligations to Hospital. Completion of the program is not a guarantee of applicable Board eligibility. Resident/Fellow must verify the specific Board certification eligibility requirements.

• Miscellaneous

  • Applicable Law
    This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

  • Waiver of Breach
    The waiver of either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as, or be construed to be, a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or other provision hereof.

  • Severability
    In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason, the unenforceability thereof shall not affect the remainder of this agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms.

• Entire Agreement
  This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between parties and supersedes all prior understandings. Any changes or alterations to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties.

Acknowledgment

Resident acknowledges reading this Agreement prior to signing.

In WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

Resident:

DIO:Karl Clebak, MD, MHA, FAAFP, Designated Institutional Official
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education

Maintaining a culture of respect in the clinical learning environment is a core value of the institution. With input from trainees as well as faculty, nursing staff, medical students and others, Penn State Health have developed a set of expected behaviors in professional interactions.