I.B. Participating Sites

A participating site is an organization providing educational experiences or educational assignments/rotations for residents.

I.B.1. The program, with approval of its Sponsoring Institution, must designate a primary clinical site. (Core)
The Review Committee may specify which other specialties/programs must be present at the primary clinical site

I.B.2. There must be a program letter of agreement (PLA) between the program and each participating site that governs the relationship between the program and the participating site providing a required assignment. (Core)

The PLA must:

I.B.2.a).(1) be renewed at least every 10 years; and, (Core)

I.B.2.a).(2) be approved by the designated institutional official (DIO). (Core)

I.B.3. The program must monitor the clinical learning and working environment at all participating sites. (Core)

I.B.3.a) At each participating site there must be one faculty member, designated by the program director as the site director, who is accountable for resident education at that site, in collaboration with the program director.

Background and Intent

While all residency programs must be sponsored by a single ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Institution, many programs will utilize other clinical settings to provide required or elective training experiences. At times it is appropriate to utilize community sites that are not owned by or affiliated with the Sponsoring Institution. Some of these sites may be remote for geographic, transportation, or communication issues. When utilizing such sites the program must ensure the quality of the educational experience. The requirements under I.B.3. are intended to ensure that this will be the case.

Suggested elements to be considered in PLAs will be found in the ACGME Program Director's Guide to the Common Program Requirements. These include:

Identifying the faculty members who will assume educational and supervisory responsibility for residents
Specifying the responsibilities for teaching, supervision, and formal evaluation of residents
Specifying the duration and content of the educational experience
Stating the policies and procedures that will govern resident education during the assignment

I.B.4. The program director must submit any additions or deletions of participating sites routinely providing an educational experience, required for all residents, of one month full time equivalent (FTE) or more through the ACGME's Accreditation Data System (ADS). (Core)

The Review Committee may further specify.

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