WELLNESS COMMITTEE

Faculty Representatives: 

MSW Radiology Wellness Champion: Rajesh Patel  

• Amita Kamath

• Chuck Pfaff

• Nolan Kagetsu

• Scott Nowakowski

  • Also, one-on-one faculty wellness mentors are assigned initially at R1 Orientation. (These assigned mentors may be updated at any time.)

• And, the Resident-led Wellness Committee (link here to current members)

Please feel free to reach out to any of these faculty members with  wellness-related questions or concerns.

This includes, but is not limited to topics such as the faculty mentorship  program, protected trainee educational time, minimizing non-physician obligations, access to mental health resources, leave and coverage time,  wellness curriculum, and other resident benefits.

How To Submit an Event Proposal

• Individuals/committees will need to provide a written proposal to Dr. Kamath, Paula, Lucy and Melissa Yang (melissa.yang@mountsinai.org) at least 3 weeks prior to the proposed event via email if they are requesting to utilize the Resident Wellness Fund. Written proposal for events will include:

  • Description of event/location and how it relates to resident wellness

  • Expected list of participating residents

  • Vendor(s) used with estimated cost 

• Proposals will be emailed to and approved by both Melissa Yang and Dr. K

• Reimbursements to be submitted will include the following:

  • Detailed itemized receipt of expenses.

  • List of participating residents and life numbers of those who are involved in said events/activities 

• Holiday party, graduation, and orientation events are not included in this Resident Wellness Fund

• Funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages

WELLNESS CURRICULUM

(SEE BELOW ATTACHMENTS)

SNACK FUND

• Link here to submit requests for snacks/food to be stocked monthly in the West Pantry

DUTY HOURS

New York State Laws may be MORE strict than ACGME. 

Check this PDF comparison table (link) to double check!

• Clinical and educational work periods for residents must not exceed 24 hours of continuous scheduled clinical assignments.

• Up to 4 hours of additional time may be used for activities related to patient safety, such as providing effective transitions of care.

• Hours worked ≤ 80 hours/week averaged over 4 weeks. 

• Cannot work >27 hours, after 24 hours of patient care.

• Must have 1 day off every 7 days (NOT averaged over the month)
  
  

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Corporate Perks

• Working Advantage

  • ID#:852722734

• Mount Sinai Recreation Discounts

  • TDF discounts. discount movie tickets, and more

• TRIP benefits for all transportation

• Uber Rides DETAILS

• CIR Benefits
  
  
  

COMPLAINTS

• Report to GME (Anonymous complaint form):
  https://mountsinai.formstack.com/forms/gme_concerns_reporting
  
  

• Title IX coordinator:

Email: TitleIX@mssm.edu

Phone: 212-241-0089

Cell: 646-245-593

https://icahn.mssm.edu/education/students/compliance/online

Call: 800-853-9212

• Other avenues to report:

Resident evaluations

Report to chief resident

Report to Program director

Report to Radiology chair

GME Ombuds Services are available through the New Innovations homepage.

CIR SEIU CONTRACT BENEFITS

• Union contract can be found on Radrez homepage (also this link)

• Vacation

  • 20 vacation days credited at the start of the academic year.

  • Weekends before/after vacation week not guaranteed but often provided.

  • Taken in one week blocks but can be taken in 2 week blocks. Can't split into 2-3 days.

• Salary

  • GME benefits

• Sick days

  • 12 paid sick days per year (carry over annually)

• Personal days

  • 4 personal days per year 

  • See "Time off policies" below for more details

• Maternity leave

  • 5 days paid Maternity leave per CIR contract

  • See Procedure to Report LOA attachment for instructions

  • Contact Nefertidi Linton, Leave Coordinator if you have questions

  • Future Mom's Program via health insurance

• Paternity leave

  • 5 days paid Paternity leave per CIR contract

  • Sick days cannot exceed 5 days for paternity leave or must apply for disability or FMLA (receive only 60% of pay)

  • Can use a combination of sick days & personal days to ensure full pay (eg. 4 sick days...1 PD...4 sick days...1 PD...)

  • Let Dr. K, Chiefs, Lucy  & Paula know when taking Paternity leave

• Benefits

  • Health coverage (Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield)

  • Dental coverage (Guardian Dental)

  • Optical coverage (Davis Vision)

  • Disability and life insurance benefits

  • Legal services for a wide range of issues

  • Medical licensure consultation

• Education fund

  • $800 per yr on 7/1/26,  to increase to $900 on 7/1/27 (rad dept reimburses entire annual $650 ABR fees, using this amt)

    • Otherwise: May be used towards books, journals and electronic equivalents, board review courses, educational conferences, medical equipment, exam fees, electronic medical devices and tablets

  • Submit your receipt and credit card statement (black out sensitive info) to Paula within one month of purchase

• Step 3 Reimbursement

  • $800 for residents who successfully pass Step 3 while employed at MSW and under CIR. (Cannot reimburse if taken during intern year, sorry!) 

  • Submit your receipt and credit card statement (black out sensitive info) to Lucy or Paula!

• Meals

  • $1500 per year for Radiology given bi-annually with paycheck

• Chief Resident differential

  • $3000 per year for full-time Chiefs

• CIR Discounts

24/7 mental health hotline for students and trainees (starting 3/1/2020)

• • 212-241-2400 or 1-866-339-7725

  • Callers will be connected to a licensed counselor who can provide:

    • Crisis intervention and counseling

    • Urgent mental health support

    • Referral to mental health resources, locally or regionally based on the needs and requests of the caller (including to Student and Trainee Mental Health - STMH)

    • Assistance in accessing emergency services (911 or Mobile Crisis Teams) when appropriate
      
      

Emergency Services 

• Go to your nearest ER, or call one of the following: 

• Crisis Referral Line: 888-NYC-WELL 

• National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255
  
  

Mount Sinai’s Psychiatric Emergency Services

• • For emergency mental health services, contact Psychiatric Emergency Services, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room

  • Mount Sinai Beth Israel: 212-420-4614

  • Mount Sinai West: 212-523-4000

  • Mount Sinai St. Luke’s: 212-523-3347

Your Program Directors are available to talk with you about any concerns.

GME Ombuds Services are available through the New Innovations homepage.

Mental Health Resources: https://www.mountsinai.org/about/covid19/staff-resources/well-being/mental-health-psychosocial-support

Lifenet

• Free, CONFIDENTIAL help line with trained mental health professionals help NYC residents find mental health and substance abuse services

• You can call Lifenet for yourself or for a friend

• 1-800-LIFENET

• 24 hours per day, 7 days a week
  
  
  

The following signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide:

• • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves

  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun

  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live

  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly

  • Sleeping too little or too much

  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves

  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

  • Displaying extreme mood swings

 Sick days

• Each resident is provided 12 sick days per year that carry over

• If a resident falls sick during a call shift and can no longer work, immediately notify:

  • • (1) chief resident via phone call or text message

    • (2) your attending

    • (3) email MSW_Radiology_Residency_Admin_Team@mountsinai.org (includes program director, program coordinator, chief residents)

• If a resident falls sick unexpectedly <24 hours of a regular/daytime working shift:

  • • (1) email the attending you are working with and

    • (2) email MSW_Radiology_Residency_Admin_Team@mountsinai.org (includes the program director, program coordinator, chief residents)

    • Please state (1) if you are on a mandatory rotation, and (2) if mandatory, whether or not you have found coverage.

• If a resident plans to use a sick day for appropriate reasons (medical procedure, etc) IN ADVANCE, within the bounds of NYC regulations: 

  • • Email Dr. K and team: MSW_Radiology_Residency_Admin_Team@mountsinai.org

      • Please state (1) if you are on a mandatory rotation, and (2) if mandatory, whether or not you have found coverage (coverage should be found by the resident for that shift)

      • Remind the covering attending and co-residents the same week of the advance Sick Day, even if previously informed months in advance.

    • (Regulation link found here (click link), or also for PDF see Page 10, III. RIGHT TO AND NOTICE OF SAFE AND SICK LEAVE)

• Residents need to be medically cleared if requesting 3 or more consecutive sick days

  • Please visit a clinician and have them sign the employee health medical clearance form. See below, also available from employee health services (EHS)

  • Bring the SIGNED med clearance form to EHS

    • EHS is staffed by NPs and requests you to be cleared by your doctor. They will mediate the clearance process between the department and your doctor. 

    • EHS should be used for illnesses during work hours, but they may still refer you to a doctor or urgent care for conditions they cannot handle. 

  • A supervisor or administrator will also need to submit a medical referral form to EHS via email prior to your visit. 

    • EHS contact = Beatriz Kevelier
      Departmental Assistant
      Mount Sinai West, Employee Health Services
      1000 10TH
      Ave, Rm GA-30
      New York NY, 10019
      O:212-523-8530|F:212-523-8531
      Email: Beatriz.Kevelier@mountsinai.org

Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Provides eligible employees with up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave in the event that he or she needs to interrupt training due to:

• • Birth, adoption, care for a newborn, or placement of a child 

  • To care for a child, parent, or spouse with a serious health condition 

  • Because of the House Staff Officer’s own serious health condition 

  • For qualifying exigent circumstances due to a spouse, son, daughter, or parent being either on active duty or on call for such duty in the Armed Forces or Reserves in support of a contingency operation 

  • To care for a spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin who is also a “covered service member” of the United States Armed Forces or Reserves with a serious injury of illness incurred in the line of duty. 

Source

NY State Paid Family Leave Law (NYPFLL)

Provides eligible employees in New York with paid, job protected leave for certain family and medical reasons including:

• • To bond with a newborn child within the first 52 weeks after the child’s birth 

  • Placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care, and to bond with that child within the first 52 weeks after the placement 

  • To care for a covered family member with a serious health condition as defined by law 

  • Qualifying exigencies arising out of an employee’s spouse, domestic partner, child or parent being on or called to active duty status as a member of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves 

You may take up to 10 weeks of Paid Family Leave in a 52 week period and receive 50% of your average weekly wage (AWW), capped at 50% of the New York State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW), which is $652.96/week in 2018.

https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/paid-family-leave-bonding

Personal Days

• Each resident receives 4 personal days a year

  • Extra personal days accrue after the holiday when you worked/were on vacation in accordance with article 8 of CIR contract

• Extra personal days:

  • Holidays - Residents receive an extra personal day for working on holidays, as well as any weekday (NOT weekend) holidays during your scheduled vacation

  • Additional personal days may be accrued from working extra shifts.

  • Earned personal days may be carried over till March 1st of the next academic year (March 1st not included).

• Notification deadlines/timeline:

  • Notify Chiefs (MSWChiefs@mountsinai.org):

    • If non-MSH rotation: via email at least 3 days in advance

    • If MSH rotation: via email at least 1 week/7 days in advance

      • NOT guaranteed - MSW Chiefs must confirm with MSH Chiefs!

  • Covering attending(s) - Notify at least 3 days in advance. 

    • Out of courtesy, it is the resident's responsibility to remind the covering attending (+any co-residents on the rotation) closer to the date/the same week of the PD, even if previously informed months in advance.

  • MUST STATE (1) if you are on a mandatory rotation, and (2) if mandatory, whether or not you have found coverage.

  • Last minute requests will be considered on a case by case basis, and are NOT guaranteed!!!

    • Especially true during popular holiday times (i.e. day after Thanksgiving). It's first come first serve, so it's in your best interest to request these as EARLY as possible.

• Coverage

  • Residents are responsible for finding coverage for personal days taken during mandatory rotations*

    • Personal day requests MAY be declined if there is inadequate coverage

  • Personal days taken during Peds Rotation need additional clearance from MSH Chiefs

  • New 2021: Personal days taken during VIR Rotation need additional clearance from VIR Chiefs, and are NOT guaranteed especially due to coverage concerns.

Personal Days request instruction for the following rotations:

• PEDS - Mandatory Rotation - 1 week in advance, email Dr. Fisher for permission, then email chiefs once he has confirmed

• IR - Mandatory Rotation - 1 week in advance, email MSWChiefs and IR chief residents

• Nucs MSH - Non mandatory rotation. 3 days in advance, email MSWChiefs and the Nuclear Medicine Chief residents

• Other tips: 

  • You can not split a personal day into half days
    
    

 
Conferences/Fellowship/Job Interview Days

• Notification: All requests (interviews, conferences, etc) must be emailed to Chiefs MSWChiefs@mountsinai.org and also cc'ed to Dr. Kamath

  • Fellowship/job interview: The invitation/confirmation email from the fellowship coordinator for the program you are interviewing at should be forwarded/sent to the Chiefs and Dr. Kamath (to keep track of locations & confirmation)

  • (External) Conferences:  The conference acceptance email should be forwarded/sent to the Chiefs and Dr. Kamath, and a Travel request form is required separately (get Request form approval ASAP to get days off!). In order to attend the conference the resident submitting the request needs to be FIRST AUTHOR of the submitted and accepted work.

  • MUST STATE (1) if you are on a mandatory rotation, and (2) if mandatory, whether or not you have found coverage.

• Coverage: Residents are responsible for finding coverage or switching shifts if conferences or interview days fall on a mandatory rotation*

  • Once coverage is found, the resident can submit the proposed switch to the Chief Residents for approval.  Make sure approval is obtained/updated on Amion before assuming you have that date off!

• Amount of time: 

  • In-person conferences/interview days: 3 days off per invitation (includes travel to/from the site; additional days will require Personal Days)

    • Exceptions apply, i.e. Senior (R4) Conf, ITAR; must ask Dr. K first!

  • Virtual conferences/interviews: 1 day off per invitation

Jury Duty:

• Notification: Please email MSW_Radiology_Residency_Admin_Team@mountsinai.org (includes the program director, program coordinator, chief residents).

  • Coverage: Resident's responsibility.  Coverage should be found by the resident, especially if on a mandatory/Call rotation.  Please discuss with Chiefs early, especially if selected for full Jury Duty, which may last more than a few days.

• You will be provided a form at the end of jury duty. Please submit this form to Lucy/Paula
  
  

Bereavement days:

• Notification: Please email MSW_Radiology_Residency_Admin_Team@mountsinai.org (includes the program director, program coordinator, chief residents).

• Up to 3 days off
  
  

Mandatory rotations

• Any solo-covered rotation generally is required. 

  • Absolute mandatory rotations are listed below, if you are solo-covering (again, if you are double-covered, this becomes more flexible - however, be careful so that an R1 is preferably not solo-covering - especially if it is the R1's 1st time on that particular rotation):

    • Any call shift (BI/M NF, M Eve, W Eve, BI Eve, BI Jr, Weekend call)

    • Chest XR-XR (R1-only duty; phone/pager coverage)

    • Fluoro (R1-only rotation) AND 

      • -FL (Fluoro coverage rotations, R2-R4s)

    • VIR all sites (W, BI, M -- ESIR rotations are under IR Chiefs)

    • Body CT any site (W, S)

    • Body MR

    • MSH rotations, if scheduled (Peds, Body MR); if requesting to use a PD or Sick Days on these rotations, requires MSMW Chiefs to touch base with MSH Chiefs

  • Yes, there are exceptions (listed below) that may not require getting resident coverage (and need to just notify the attending on-duty & Chiefs, that you will be unable to attend for PD or Sick Day): 

    • Mammo all sites (DUS, MSC, W, M etc)

    • Nucs all sites (variably mandatory, depending on site AND availability of attendings to be present for scheduled procedures, such as Lymphoscintigraphy injections, Morphine injections, and Thyroid administration). Requires schedule-checking and discussion with Chiefs, to maintain coverage.

    • US when R1s scanning-only in 1st half of year (R1s only)

    • MSK DUS or W

    • Neuro W or Neuro M or Neuro S

    • Cardiac

    • Chest CT

• If any questions regarding mandatory/coverage, please discuss with Chiefs (MSWChiefs@mountsinai.org), especially when scheduling days off (sick days, PD, conference, etc.).

• REMINDER: Out of courtesy, it is the resident's responsibility to remind the covering attending (+any co-residents on the rotation) closer to the date/the same week of the advance Sick Day/PD, even if previously informed months in advance.

MINDFULNESS / YOGA / SELF-CARE RESOURCES

• Yoga/Meditation

  • Sitewide yoga/ meditation workshops at SL, MSH, BI, West

  • To join the weekly Yoga update, email mountsinaiyogaprogram@gmail.com or 4CALM@mountsinai.org.

  • Upcoming Events/Schedule

• Mount Sinai FIT

  • For more info (yoga classes, meditation, and self-care), email 4calm@mountsinai.org. 

  • For info regarding personal nutrition, diabetes self-management education, or exercise, email wellness@mountsinai.org.

• 4-CALM (telephone)

  • Take a mindful pause during the day with a 2 minute guided meditation by Take Time to Meditate facilitators on a telephone recording.

  • Please dial 4-CALM (4-2256) or 212-241-CALM (2256) to access the recording.

• Free 30 minute self-care consultation.

  • Private, confidential, in-person or over the phone.

  • Includes information on setting up a health care proxy.

  • Email 4calm@mountsinai.org for appointments. 

• Parent and Family Resources

  • Child Care, Housing, Financial Resources, Parents' Groups.