Resident-Fellow Fitness for Clinical Experience & Education Policy

Policy Owner: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Policy Contact: Assistant Dean for Advanced Education

POLICY STATEMENT

Trainees are required to report to work physically and mentally capable of safely performing the functions of their job. Trainees must not report to work if they are impaired for any reason. Trainees must not consume alcohol, cannabis, or any federally prohibited controlled substance while on call, including “at-home call.” Trainees must self-regulate their use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications to ensure these medications do not cause impairment. Trainees must manage their sleep to avoid excessive fatigue. Programs have a responsibility to remove trainees from patient care activities if the trainee’s impairment poses a threat to patient safety.

1. Reporting Responsibility

Responsibility to Report

Anyone who is aware of signs of impairment displayed by a trainee has an obligation to make a report to the trainee’s Program Director or supervisor on duty.

Self-Reporting

Any trainee who believes they themselves may be impaired is required to contact their Program Director or supervisor on duty to report the situation. If a trainee is approached by a co-worker or patient who is concerned the trainee may be impaired due to fatigue or any other reason, the trainee has a professional responsibility to contact their Program Director to inform them of the concern.

Upon detection of impairment, or potential for impairment, the trainee will be dismissed from all program activities for the remainder of the day.

2. Guidelines

Due to the safety-sensitive nature of their work, trainees must manage their exposure to substances that may cause impairment, including prescription medications. Because these substances affect each person differently, there are no universally applicable standards. In the case of alcohol, the U.S. FAA regulations for airline pilots are referenced as a guideline. These regulations prohibit pilots from operating an aircraft within 8 hours of the consumption of any alcohol, or while having a blood alcohol content of 0.04% or greater regardless of length of time since last consumption [FAR 91.17]. The institution expects trainees to refrain from alcohol consumption within 8 hours of reporting for clinic, education, or being on call.

REASON FOR POLICY

To define expected trainee conduct as it relates to fitness for clinical experience and education, to provide guidance and direction on how to proceed when confronted with a potentially impaired trainee, and to help trainees in obtaining assistance when needed.

The School of Dentistry is committed to providing healthy, safe, and supportive training environments for all trainees, as well as safe, high-quality care for patients. Trainees practicing while impaired can have serious adverse effects on patient safety, and negative impacts on their own performance and safety, as well as that of others in the workplace. Therefore, the School of Dentistry supports and follows the University of Minnesota's Drug-Free University policy.

PROCEDURES

There are no procedures associated with this policy.

FORMS/INSTRUCTIONS

There are no forms associated with this policy.

APPENDICES/LINKS

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are no frequently asked questions associated with this policy.

CONTACTS

DEFINITIONS

An impaired resident/fellow (trainee)

Any trainee who is unable to safely care for patients, perform duties normally expected of a trainee, or engage in peer interaction necessary for patient care for any reason, including but not limited to: personal stress; fatigue; medical condition (including physical disability or mental illness); use of alcohol or controlled substances, including drugs prescribed by a physician or dentist; or use of over-the-counter medication.

Clinical experience and education

All clinical and academic activities related to the residency or fellowship program.

Fit for clinical experience and education

Being physically and mentally capable of safely performing the functions of one’s job. Fitness for clinical experience and education includes being free of alcohol and drugs that have not been legitimately prescribed, and being free from impairment that affects job functioning for any reason, including but not limited to personal stress, fatigue, use of drugs prescribed by a physician or dentist, or use of over-the-counter medication.

RELATED INFORMATION

University of Minnesota Code of Conduct

University of Minnesota Drug Free University Policy

HISTORY