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CORD Guidelines on Resident Transfers

Residents within emergency medicine training programs on occasion desire to transfer to other programs. CORD believes that residents and residency directors should be aware that such transfers have many potential implications on individuals and programs. CORD believes that these transfers occur best within an environment that understands and attempts to address these issues. CORD believes that in general it is in the best interest of individual residents, programs and the residency program community if residents complete their entire residency within a single training program. Residents and program directors should consult with ABEM and the RRC-ACGME to ensure compliance within their policies before any transfer occurs. CORD believes the following principles should be respected with regards to residents who are contemplating a transfer between emergency medicine programs:

1. A resident should respect to the best of their ability their contractual responsibilities. The resident is vulnerable however because of the unequal relationship that exists with the program director. For this reason, the rights of the resident must be assured. It is unethical for a program director to block or interfere with the transfer of a resident from their program.

2. Residents should maintain open communication with their program director. Reasons for transfer generally fall into two categories: personal and educational. In general, the resident should communicate educational concerns with the program director in order to allow an attempt at remediation. Personal reasons are ideally communicated as well.

3. It is unethical for a program director, or designee, to contact a resident, in another program in an attempt to elicit a transfer. Established mechanisms, including the CORD listserv, SAEM residency vacancy service and periodicals are appropriate forums in which to announce vacancies.

4. Residents should not be offered positions until the current program director is made aware that a resident is contemplating a transfer.

5. Program directors should maintain open communication with the program from which the resident is contemplating departure. After proper release of information has been obtained, data regarding the resident's performance should be transferred to the program with the vacancy.

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