GME Trainees

More Information

For more information on physician well-being, visit these websites:

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) works to ensure that residents and fellows train in educational environments that support patient safety, resident and fellow education, and physician well-being.

www.acgme.org
Telephone: 312-755-5000

The American Medical Association (AMA) physician wellness program

www.ama-assn.org
Telephone: 800-262-3211

Perspective: On the First Year of Residency

By Jeff Dewey, MD
July 1, 2019

ACGME: What were the first few weeks of residency like for you? What do you remember the most?

Dr. Dewey: I distinctly remember the morning my wife (then girlfriend) dropped me off for my first morning as in intern. I was starting in the ICU, and my stomach was in my throat! Those first few weeks were a whirlwind, but in retrospect I am amazed at how much I learned. I can still recall the feeling of the small successes: getting my first arterial line, managing acute hypotension, independently admitting a complex patient. As stressful as it seemed to face these challenges, the joy of growing to meet them was the fuel that kept me energized.

Support for the GME Community

Congratulations! Your graduate medical education marks an exciting time for you both personally and professionally. Managing day to day life and the demands of residency/ fellowship can affect your sense of equilibrium. You may feel overwhelmed by:

Work overload and/or burnout
Sleep deprivation
Feelings of isolation or inadequate support
Lack of time for self-care and recreation
Demands of patient care and personal relationships
Career planning, supervising, and/or building a professional network

Duke's Personal Assistance Service (PAS) can help you find your footing. Our staff of licensed, experienced mental health professionals provides stigma-free mental health services from assessments to short-term counseling to referrals. Services are available at no cost to benefits-eligible employees.

PAS services are confidential, are not part of any health record system, and clients are never given a formal diagnosis. Your participation is completely voluntary and would not need to be disclosed on a job or licensing application. You can self-refer or refer a colleague in need of support.

We reserve weekday appointments for GME staff as early as 7 am and as late as 5 pm, in addition to our regular office hours, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Sessions are scheduled by appointment. You need only to call our office at 919-416-1727, identify yourself as a GME trainee, and schedule an appointment.

Where is PAS Located?

Our offices are located off-site in the Erwin Square Tower at 2200 W. Main Street, Suite 400A, in Durham. Erwin Square Tower also houses the Duke Credit Union and the Duke School of Medicine. Free parking is available in front of and behind the building.

The H5 shuttle runs from Duke North hospital and Duke South Clinic directly to our building. It is approximately a 15-minute walk from the hospital to our offices.

We also offer services at our 308 Crutchfield Street office which is across from Duke Regional Hospital in Durham. Free parking is available.

What Should I Do If I Have a Mental or Behavioral Health Emergency?

For urgent mental or behavioral health needs outside of normal business hours (e.g., nights, holidays, or weekends), we recommend the following protocol:

Contact the DUMC paging operator at 919-684-8113.
Identify yourself as a GME trainee in need of urgent assistance. You can self-refer or refer a colleague in need of support.
The paging operator will contact the psychiatry attending on call. The attending will reach out to speak with you, assess your situation, and determine a safe and appropriate course of action.
If you are in an immediate crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741, the National Crisis Text Line.

How Can I Reach Out for Support Anonymously?

Duke further supports GME residents and fellows through an anonymous and secure website called the Interactive Screening Program (ISP). You simply sign on, answer an anonymous survey, and choose whether you want to be connected with a PAS counselor or not. This service is available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.

The ISP was developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is intended to serve trainees proactively before a crisis emerges. It is not intended to be a crisis intervention service. To get started, follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Sign on to ISP under duke.caresforyou.org on the Welcome page or by clicking the Sign Up button. You can also access this service through Med Hub. The service is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Step 2: Create a user ID and password. This allows for complete anonymity. Your identity will only be known if you choose to share it.
Step 3: Take a brief questionnaire and submit it.
Step 4: Within 24-48 hours, a PAS counselor will receive and review your submission. You will receive a personal response from a counselor which will include recommendations, resources, and next steps for you to consider.
Step 5: You decide what's next. You can opt to communicate anonymously with this counselor through ISP. You can decide to schedule an in-person or video counseling appointment at the PAS offices. You can also decide to do nothing further.