USF – College of Medicine

GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION POLICY & PROCEDURE

Policy Statement

The Resident Assistance Program (RAP) is a confidential evaluation, counseling and referral service offered to the residents enrolled at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.  The RAP is intended to help the resident complete his/her program in the healthiest condition possible, whether mental, physical, or spiritual.  The service is voluntary, completely confidential, and is established through non-University providers to assure privacy and freedom from interaction with colleagues or supervisors.

The services of the RAP are available to all residents and their family members.  The first three visits per year by residents or their family members to the RAP are free of charge.  At the discretion of the RAP Staff, an additional five (5) visits per year may be utilized. Any additional contacts may be covered by the resident’s insurance plan.  The program is staffed by highly qualified professionals to help with any area of concern related to emotional difficulties, marital problems, alcohol or drug abuse, family matters, grief and loss, and legal or financial concerns. 

Pamphlets describing the RAP are available from all residency coordinators, the Office of GME, at resident orientation, and in the lounge and study/call rooms at TGH.

To receive assistance, residents simply call the dedicated RAP line at 813/870-3344, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Procedure

Responsible Party                                             Action

Resident                                                           Contacts the RAP line at 813/870-3344 to obtain confidential counseling assistance in matters related to emotional difficulty, marital issues, alcohol or drug abuse, family matters, grief and loss, or financial and difficulties.

Wood & Associates                                         Provides up to three unbilled visits to the resident and/or each of their family members.  Up to five (5) additional visits per year may be utilized at the discretion of the RAP Staff.

Wood and Associates (cont’d)                         Provides complete confidentiality to the resident.  Can only release information to others after a written request by the resident to release the information.

Associate Dean, Graduate Medical                   Meets on a quarterly basis with the Director of

Education                                                         the RAP to determine if there are areas that need to be addressed.

Ensures that the RAP benefits are outlined to residents in new resident orientation, each resident contract, and information is provided on the Housestaff Website.

Provides a confidential report to the GMEC which protects the anonymity and rights to confidentiality of all parties.

APPROVED:

Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education

Dean, College of Medicine                                                                               

c:p&p\RAP

REVIEWED, REVISED, REISSUED 6/05