January 2025 GME Town Hall Q&A
Why was there so much change in health insurance coverage this year compared to previous years?
Healthcare costs are rising across all industries, but MedStar is committed to keeping rates as affordable as possible. Although co-pays have gone up this year for all associates, we remain dedicated to ensuring access to high-quality care while working to keep costs as low as possible for all our associates.
Are there resources to help me file my taxes?
MedStar provides access to the Physician Concierge service, which can connect you with an accountant or other financial professional who can assist with filing and answer any questions you may have about your individual filing. The concierge service is provided for you at no cost; you would be responsible for any fees associated with working with a tax professional.
You can access this service by:
- Calling 866-625-3797
- Visiting myHRMedStar.net/EAP
- Emailing MedStar@circles.com
- Visiting My Circles using your MedStar email. For mobile access, download the My Circles (US) app for Apple or the Circles app for Android.
Your account should be associated with your MedStar email. Contact Shane Murr at shane.m.murr@medstar.net if you need assistance creating your account.
Why is the SPOK paging service taking so long to answer calls?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have escalated this issue to our IS/IT leadership team, as this issue spans multiple hospitals and levels of care providers. More updates will follow soon.
How do I access expedited mental health services?
We are dedicated to helping facilitate quick access to mental health resources for our residents and fellows. For expedited mental health services, please call 202-944-5400 during business hours and identify yourself as a MedStar Health resident or fellow.
We offer additional resources for mental health services, such as access to mental health referrals, including five free counseling sessions. For more information:
- Visit myHRMedStar.net/EAP
- Call 866-765-3277
- Call or text 988 the for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988LifeLine.org/Chat.
Are there opportunities to connect with Empower retirement counseling outside normal work hours?
Yes! MedStar residents and fellows can receive retirement counseling through Empower, which offers daytime, evening, and weekend support. Contact Empower’s Customer Service at 833-738-6787 (Weekdays: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturdays: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM).
Where can I find information about loan forgiveness?
MedStar Health provides student loan guidance through Ed Assist. You can access this benefit via MyHRMedStar.net under the Career tab, selecting Student Loan Coaching.
How can I share concerns with residency or fellowship programs outside my specialty?
The best place to start is with your Chief Resident/Chief Fellow or your Program Director. You can also reach out to your Associate Designated Institutional Official (ADIO) or your local GME leader. In addition, our feedback form is always available and completely anonymous, unless you choose to share your name.
The shuttle app is inaccurate, and service is limited on weekends. Can you provide any insight into if/when this will be resolved?
- The app has been reconfigured and should now accurately show times and locations.
- Traffic rules, like double parking, sometimes alter the shuttles schedule. If the shuttle is unable to stop because of a traffic law, it will circle back around to the stop.
- Weekend shuttle service is currently not feasible.
Can we plan more opportunities for residents to meet other residents outside their specialty?
Yes! We welcome your ideas for events and activities and encourage networking and socializing with colleagues from other specialties and training locations. Please share your ideas with your ADIO and/or local GME leaders.
Have there been any improvements in food options and availability?
Yes! Making sure our residents and fellows have access to healthy and diverse food options is a priority. We are consistently looking at how to improve our food service. We are happy to share that later this month, a 24/7, self-service market designed for your convenience will open at MGUH. In addition, we invite you to attend a monthly meeting with Chris DeRocco, MedStar’s Vice President for Food and Nutrition Services. These meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month, at 5 PM on Teams. All residents and fellows are invited.
April 2024 GME Town Hall Q&A
What is the symposium abstract review process?
The symposium scientific review committee received nearly double the number of submissions for the 2024 symposium this year compared to past years. Given the space restrictions, we limited accepted abstracts to ~300, representing a variety of disciplines and academic rigor. In the future, the committee will strive to provide evaluation feedback on proposals that aren’t accepted to further the learning process.
I have some concerns about the care.com service. Is MedStar looking at this?
Yes. Our HR partners are evaluating our current contract for this service to ensure that it is meeting the expectations and needs of our community. Please continue to share specific feedback on this service to inform our decision.
How are decisions made for SiTEL annual mandatory online training for residents?
Currently, residents are assigned the same provider bundle as other direct care providers within MedStar Health. A group from across MedStar Health has been formed to redesign and optimize the central line training process, and updates will be shared on this topic in the coming months.
How often does MedStar examine stipend levels for travel?
Our goal is to ensure that we can provide personalized, flexible benefits for our residents and fellows. We are aware that food and travel costs continue to increase and work to be responsive to these changes to remain competitive in our market and meet the needs of our teams.
What is being done to improve bicycle or scooter parking for residents and fellows, specifically at MWHC?
For the safety of patients, visitors, and associates, manual and motor-powered vehicles are not allowed inside the hospital. This includes electric scooters, bicycles, and electric bikes.
Bike racks are available at the Bus Circle and Emergency Department entrances, the Main (Blue) parking garage, and the Physicians Office Building (Yellow) parking garage. Residents and fellows should secure manual and motor-powered vehicles with a lock.
We encourage residents and fellows to report incidents of theft to the Office of Public Safety and GME.
January 2024 GME Town Hall Q&A
What is being done about the call rooms at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) where computers and lights are not functioning?
The GME office has been doing daily walkthroughs of all call rooms at MWHC. While computers and printers in every lounge are functioning, there is a known issue with ports on the computers in the call rooms, which are actively being replaced by colleagues from our IT team. For any call room, computer/printer or lounge concerns, please e-mail WHC-GMEoffice@medstar.net, call 202-877-7227, or stop by the front desk.
Call rooms at MWHC are not always being cleaned. What can be done?
Environmental Services will not clean call rooms if there are personal belongings in the room or if it looks like the room is being actively used. We encourage you to put your personal belongings in the lockers that are immediately outside of the call rooms. For any call room, computer/printer or lounge concerns, please e-mail WHC-GMEoffice@medstar.net, call 202-877-7227, or stop by the front desk.
Is MedStar Health planning on increasing food availability at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH)?
There will be more food options for MedStar Health associates, patients, and families at MGUH in the coming months. We recognize that this is a significant issue, and we are working diligently to improve the available options and reducing barriers to food on the hospital campus. There is currently food distributed to the house staff lounge on 3CCC on a routine basis and we are considering expanding distributions to the resident workrooms on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. We are also considering turning some of the resident workrooms at MGUH into combined lounge/work rooms with tables, couches, and a fridge stocked with food. Please stay tuned for more updates soon.
Have the patient rooms on 4BLES been designated for a specific purpose moving forward?
Yes, that unit is undergoing a full renovation, and it will be converted to offices and meeting space, nursing space, and resident call rooms and workspaces. The resident call rooms should be operational in early March.
Have the computer workspaces/pods in the Verstandig Pavilion at MGUH been designated to specific specialties?
There are glass-enclosed team workrooms on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floor that are open to anyone, including all of our residents. In addition, there are three rooms defined as resident-only workrooms on the far corner of the ICUs on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. These resident-only workrooms are open to all house staff.
Will the Physician Concierge Program also help secure specialist appointments for residents?
The Physician Concierge Program is a benefit unique to GME. You can e-mail LafayetteConcierge@medstar.net and mention you are a MedStar Health resident or fellow to be connected with a Primary Care Provider (PCP). We will bring the feedback that we need additional access to specialist appointments back to the workgroup who helped set up the Physician Concierge Program, and we will develop a solution.
What is the Everyday App and what is its availability at each hospital?
Sodexo has an app called the Everyday app that allows you to order food in advance and save time by paying via the mobile platform. The app can be downloaded from your phone’s app store or by visiting Everyday.Sodexo.com. Find instructions on how to use the app and find hours and availability by hospital here.
HIDDEN
- Sept 2023 Q&A
Can we please talk about resident cell phone numbers being shared in AmIOn?
As a result of your feedback and guidance provided by the GME Committee, we have decided to proceed with a three-month pilot program with AmIOn to better evaluate the unique needs of residents/fellows. Residents/fellows will not be required to enter their cell phone number in AmIOn at this time but are strongly encouraged to do so. As clinicians, you rely on data, and so do we. The GME Executive Team will analyze the data and learning provided by this pilot to determine next steps. For the three-month period October 1 to December 31, GME residents and fellows will engage in a pilot program to collect data and feedback. Please contact your Program Director and/or Program Coordinator to opt in to this pilot program.
If our cell phones are posted to AmIOn, will GME provide a cell phone stipend?
We will put consideration of cell phone stipends on our agenda as we approach the upcoming budget.
What is being done about the paucity of food options at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH)?
Having access to healthy food is important. Right now, our priority is to provide enhanced food options and availability to residents and fellows (at no cost) in the lounges and in the ORs.
Will there be a new cafeteria at MGUH in the pavilion?
There are no plans for a dedicated cafeteria in the new MGUH pavilion. GME will continue to provide food for house staff and are exploring how to better serve you in this regard. We are also working on standardizing food stipends for all MedStar Health residents and fellows in the coming year.
