TAGME Program Administration 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ACGME Common Program Requirements, what is the minimum time off between scheduled duty periods for residents?
- 6 hours
- 8 hours (Correct answer)
- 10 hours
- 12 hours
Correct answer: 8 hours
ACGME requires that residents have at minimum 8 hours off between scheduled duty periods to ensure adequate rest, with a strongly encouraged 10 hours.
Question 2: A program administrator discovers that a participating site has not signed an updated Program Letter of Agreement. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Continue rotations and update the PLA at the next annual review
- Suspend resident rotations at that site until a signed PLA is in place (Correct answer)
- Notify ACGME immediately and await their instruction before taking action
- Have the program director verbally confirm the agreement terms with the site
Correct answer: Suspend resident rotations at that site until a signed PLA is in place
Rotations at a participating site without a current, signed PLA are not compliant with ACGME requirements; rotations should be suspended until a valid agreement is executed.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of the Designated Institutional Official (DIO)?
- Serving as the primary faculty educator for each residency program
- Overseeing all GME activities, chairing the GMEC, and ensuring ACGME compliance at the institutional level (Correct answer)
- Managing resident scheduling and duty hours directly within each program
- Acting as the liaison between individual program directors and hospital administration only
Correct answer: Overseeing all GME activities, chairing the GMEC, and ensuring ACGME compliance at the institutional level
The DIO is the senior administrative and academic leader responsible for all GME at the sponsoring institution, including chairing or co-chairing the GMEC and ensuring institutional compliance with ACGME requirements.
Question 4: Under ACGME Common Program Requirements, what is the maximum number of hours per week residents may be scheduled for duty, averaged over four weeks?
- 60 hours
- 70 hours
- 80 hours (Correct answer)
- 90 hours
Correct answer: 80 hours
ACGME limits resident duty hours to a maximum average of 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period, inclusive of all in-house call activities.
Question 5: When a program seeks to add a new required rotation at a previously unapproved participating site, what must the program do before residents begin rotating?
- Obtain ACGME approval and execute a Program Letter of Agreement with the new site (Correct answer)
- Notify residents at least 30 days in advance of the new rotation
- Submit a request through the Annual Program Evaluation process
- Inform the DIO and proceed with rotations while ACGME approval is pending
Correct answer: Obtain ACGME approval and execute a Program Letter of Agreement with the new site
Programs must receive ACGME approval for new participating sites and execute a PLA before residents may rotate there, as all training sites must be formally approved and documented.
Question 6: Which ACGME tool provides programs with data on resident case volumes, scholarly activities, and faculty information used for accreditation review?
- Milestone Management System (MMS)
- Case Log System within the ADS portal (Correct answer)
- FREIDA Online database
- ERAS applicant tracking module
Correct answer: Case Log System within the ADS portal
The Case Log System within the ACGME's ADS portal allows programs to track and report resident procedure and case volumes, which are reviewed during accreditation.
Question 7: A resident files a complaint alleging that the program director retaliated against them for reporting a patient safety concern. Which ACGME requirement is most directly implicated?
- The requirement for annual faculty evaluations of residents
- The Common Program Requirement mandating a non-retaliatory environment for reporting concerns (Correct answer)
- The Institutional Requirement for GMEC milestone oversight
- The duty hour requirement for resident rest periods
Correct answer: The Common Program Requirement mandating a non-retaliatory environment for reporting concerns
ACGME Common Program Requirements explicitly prohibit retaliation against residents who report patient safety concerns, duty hour violations, or other issues, and programs must maintain an environment free from such retaliation.
TAGME Program Administration 5
According to ACGME Common Program Requirements, what is the minimum time off between scheduled duty periods for residents?