Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
©2020 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Page 51 of 62
Background and Intent: The intent of this requirement is to ensure that residents have
the opportunity to access medical and dental care, including mental health care, at
times that are appropriate to their individual circumstances. Residents must be
provided with time away from the program as needed to access care, including
appointments scheduled during their working hours.
VI.C.1.e) attention to resident and faculty member burnout,
depression, and substance abuse. The program, in
partnership with its Sponsoring Institution, must educate
faculty members and residents in identification of the
symptoms of burnout, depression, and substance abuse,
including means to assist those who experience these
conditions. Residents and faculty members must also be
educated to recognize those symptoms in themselves and
how to seek appropriate care. The program, in partnership
with its Sponsoring Institution, must:
(Core)
Background and Intent: Programs and Sponsoring Institutions are encouraged to review
materials in order to create systems for identification of burnout, depression, and
substance abuse. Materials and more information are available on the Physician Well-
being section of the ACGME website (
http://www.acgme.org/What-We-
Do/Initiatives/Physician-Well-Being).
VI.C.1.e).(1) encourage residents and faculty members to alert the
program director or other designated personnel or
programs when they are concerned that another
resident, fellow, or faculty member may be displaying
signs of burnout, depression, substance abuse,
suicidal ideation, or potential for violence;
(Core)
Background and Intent: Individuals experiencing burnout, depression, substance abuse,
and/or suicidal ideation are often reluctant to reach out for help due to the stigma
associated with these conditions, and are concerned that seeking help may have a
negative impact on their career. Recognizing that physicians are at increased risk in
these areas, it is essential that residents and faculty members are able to report their
concerns when another resident or faculty member displays signs of any of these
conditions, so that the program director or other designated personnel, such as the
department chair, may assess the situation and intervene as necessary to facilitate
access to appropriate care. Residents and faculty members must know which
personnel, in addition to the program director, have been designated with this
responsibility; those personnel and the program director should be familiar with the
institution’s impaired physician policy and any employee health, employee assistance,
and/or wellness programs within the institution. In cases of physician impairment, the
program director or designated personnel should follow the policies of their institution
VI.C.1.e).(2) provide access to appropriate tools for self-screening;
and,
(Core)