Funding Policies for Regional Community Rotations and Ottawa/Toronto/Other Ontario AHSC Rotations
Funding for Regional Community Rotations
Financial support for preceptor payments, accommodation and travel will be provided for defined mandatory clinical rotations done outside of Kingston.
Residents must do mandatory rotations within Kingston if they are available at the Queen’s Health Science Centre. Each Program Director is required to confirm the mandatory community and AHSC rotations outside of Kingston. If a resident elects and the program director agrees to a mandatory rotation at an alternate Health Science Centre, it will be at the expense of the program and the resident.
Regional Education currently manages approximately 17 out-of-town accommodations across Southeastern Ontario (SEO) including: Belleville, Brockville, Markham, Oshawa, Peterborough and Ottawa. An accommodation allowance will not be provided for learners who choose not to stay in an available Regional Education accommodation.
Undergraduate clerks doing core rotations and FRCP Postgraduate residents doing mandatory rotations are reimbursed for travel expenditures to and from their SEO community rotations outside of Kingston. The cost for 1 return trip for each completed two-week time period is available for reimbursement at a standard amount for each community. Travel reimbursement is contingent on the occupant leaving the accommodation in a clean move–in fashion for the next occupant.
Residents will not receive financial support for elective community or AHSC rotations outside of Kingston. For community rotations in SEO, Regional Education office provides accommodation in that specific community. For rotations outside SEO the Regional Education office can provide support through arranging contact with provincial regional education providers such as ROMP and NOSM. AHSCs such as Ottawa and Toronto no longer provide accommodation support for residents from other medical schools.
Clinical preceptors within the SEO region will receive a supervisor stipend for mandatory rotations from Regional Education. Community preceptors in the remainder of the province are entitled to a preceptor stipend if arrangements are made through the specific regional education provider.
Residents who do a mandatory rotation in Ottawa, because it is not available in Kingston, will be offered Regional Education accommodation arrangements in Ottawa and a travel allowance of $190.00 (2 return trips) per month. If Regional Education accommodation is not available for the mandatory rotation, the resident will be entitled to an $800.00 accommodation allowance per month.
Residents who do a mandatory rotation in Toronto, because it is not available in Kingston, are entitled to an $800.00 accommodation allowance and a travel allowance of $220.00 (2 return trips) per month. The Postgraduate office and Regional Education will review accommodation and travel allowances annually.
Regional Education does not fund Intra city (community) transportation. The Regional Education office can provide information about potential accommodation and shuttle/public transport services, directions, maps in Ottawa, Toronto and other communities.
Program Directors and Program Assistants have the responsibility of advising the Regional Education and Postgraduate Medical Education offices regarding the assignment of residents to the region including sites and dates. To achieve best utilization of leased accommodations, Queen’s PG Specialty programs will work cooperatively in the selection of specific blocks for their program’s SEO and Academic Health Sciences mandatory rotations.
All Residents in all Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada specialty programs are treated equitably. Residents are advised to retain their expense sheets for travel and accommodation since Revenue Canada may request confirmation of expenditures. Residents that have rotation accommodation and/or travel costs beyond those covered by the above arrangements are directed to discuss these costs with their program director and the Postgraduate Education Office.
Funding for Rotations in Ottawa, Toronto, or other Ontario Academic Health Science Centres
Background
The Postgraduate Education Office completed review of Queen’s Specialty Postgraduate programs utilizing Ottawa and other Academic Health Science Centres for portions of their mandatory curriculum in 2005.
Subsequent to that year, Regional Education has provided a defined travel allowance for each resident and has covered the costs of accommodations beyond each program’s net costs in 2005. CHEO House provided accommodations for a substantial number of residents from Queen’s and elsewhere. In response to increased demand for Ottawa rotations, Regional Education office leased a 4-bedroom townhouse in Ottawa adjacent to CHEO hospital in April 2008. In June 2010, CHEO House ceased to exist. Regional Education has since leased a second 3-bedroom townhouse in the same location.
Policy
1. All Queen’s PG Specialty programs have equal access to Ottawa Regional Education accommodations.
2. All Queen’s PG Specialty programs have equal support to cover the expenses for Ottawa rotations in terms of travel allowance ($95 per 2 weeks), accommodation provision and accommodation allowances ($800 per month).
3. Each Queen’s PG Specialty program will cooperate in the selection of specific blocks for their Ottawa rotations to achieve best utilization of leased accommodations.
4. Each Queen’s PG Specialty program will notify Regional Education office:
- beginning of May – number of anticipated Ottawa rotations for their program.
- beginning of June – names and specific blocks for Ottawa rotations for their program.
5. Ottawa Regional Education accommodations are for mandatory rotations only. Accommodation for elective rotations can be considered in months when vacancies allow.
6. Residents on Toronto and other Ontario AHSC program approved mandatory rotations will be provided an accommodation allowance of $800 per month and a standard travel allowance of $110 for each completed 2-week period.
7. A resident that finds the accommodation or travel allowance inadequate, can request further support from their program/Postgraduate office.