Due Process and Appeals Policy

All resident physicians will be evaluated on an ongoing basis by a number of modalities. The primary evaluation mode will be written quarterly reports by faculty members.

An evaluation form for each resident will be submitted to the Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation and become part of the resident's permanent record. These comments will remain strictly confidential and be available only to the resident and members of the Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation.

The Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation will meet to review the quarterly evaluation forms. No evaluation significantly below average may be put on record without the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program, or his designee, having discussed with the resident, specific areas of weakness or poor performance.

The Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program, or his designee will then note on the evaluation form that the resident was counseled about these deficiencies and the steps that may be taken to aid the resident in correcting such deficiencies. If there are repeated instances of poor performance, the resident will receive written notification from the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program. If the resident fails to improve his/her performance despite counseling and a written warning, a decision on dismissal will be made by vote of the Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation. The Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program will not be part of this committee.

Instances of job negligence, professional misconduct, or other actions which are detrimental to patient care, must be brought to the attention of the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program. The resident must be notified of any such complaint and a meeting arranged to fully discuss the situation. The resident must be told what, if any, action is deemed appropriate and whether the complaint will become part of his permanent job record.

Quarterly, each resident will be asked to meet with the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program and/or his designee(s) to review their job performance, and to identify specific areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Residents may request to read a specific evaluation in the presence of the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program. In addition, for the purpose of requesting letters of recommendation, the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program may, at his discretion, indicate which faculty members have provided the strongest evaluations.

In the instances in which a resident has received a written warning, he/she may request an appearance before the Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation for review of the matter. A resident may request the presence of two (2) representatives of the housestaff to attend the hearing. No resident may be dismissed without prior written warning except in unusual circumstances where the resident's actions have resulted in a gross disregard of his professional responsibilities. This action may be taken at the sole discretion of the Director of the Podiatric Surgical Residency Program.

If the matter concerning a resident or the residents-at-large cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of all, the resident(s) may appeal the decision to the Education Committee Chair. A written notice of his/her intention to appeal the decision within seven (7) days of receiving the decision from the Education Committee of The Colorado Health Foundation. A resident's failure to appeal during this prescribed period after a decision has been rendered will constitute a waiver of the resident's right to appeal.

The Education Committee Chair shall make a decision based upon a conference with the resident and after conferring with all of the members of the Committee and reviewing their notes and any other evidence. The Education Committee Chair will render his/her decision within seven (7) days after receipt of the written notice of appeal from the resident. Said decision shall be in writing and a copy thereof shall be sent by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to the Resident. The decision of the Education Committee Chair shall be final and conclusive upon all parties.