UMMC Department of Radiation Oncology

Physics Residency Program

University of MS Medical Center

THE MISSION OF UMMC

�  1. EDUCATION

�  2. RESEARCH

�  3. PATIENT CARE

Background � As the only teaching institution in the

State of Mississippi, when presented with the opportunity to implement a physics residency program within our department, we not only wanted to do it, but felt that it was our obligation to do everything that we could to be a part of this program.

Departmental Challenges �  Gain clinical acceptance to what a resident could

and couldn’t do,

�  Gain departmental administrative support for clinical functions proposed by clinical staff

�  Agree to the acceptable physics staffing levels with residents incorporated into the day-to-day operations

�  Obtaining the necessary resources to support the program within in our fixed operational budget.

Funding Sources � Ms. State funds for education and

research

� Hospital Budget for clinical operations (can’t be used for education or research)

� Practice Budget for the operations of the private practice

�  Because we are one of a few departments in the institution that manages all 3 budgets, we have the ability to make financial decisions that allows for a little more creative flexibility than most.

Financial Model

�  Rollover funds:

At the UMMC, if there are funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year in the Medical Center’s budget, we are able to carry those funds forward as Rollover monies. The restriction on those funds is that they can’t be used for ongoing operations or expenses.

In our case, we obtained approval for a one-time two-year use for funding the salaries and benefits of two physics residents.

Because utilizing rollover funds didn’t negatively impact our daily operational funds needs, we were met with little resistance for the first two-year operations of the program.

Financial Model cont’d

�  Ongoing Funding:

On June 30, 2013, we will have exhausted the original rollover funds that’s supporting the residency program.

In order to continue the residency program, we have gained permission to utilize an existing vacant position’s funds to continue to support the two resident’s positions.

How Have We Done It? Do’s (your homework)

•  We did extensive research on what the physics staffing levels should be based

on the number of MD FTEs, number of machines, patient volumes and types of services performed by researching the following:

�  The American Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, �  ABT Study of Medical Physics Work Values in Radiation Oncology, �  ACR �  AAPM

�  Met with the appropriate non-clinical administrative staff to get their buy-in and support by demonstrating the justification based on the various physics staffing sources.

�  Be sure of what you are asking for (you will be held to it)

 

How Have We Done It? Cont’d

Don’ts

�  Don’t assume that everyone understands

�  Don’t wait until the last minute

�  Don’t take your request for granted