General
UAB is committed to upholding ethical, professional, and legal standards in its tri-part educational, research, and patient care mission. UAB expects all members of the UAB community to adhere to the UAB Enterprise Code of Conduct. UAB is also committed to promoting and maintaining equal employment and education opportunities, and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or genetic or family medical history. UAB’s Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment and Title IX policies further describe UAB’s commitments.
Listed below are options for reporting concerns related to the clinical and learning environment at UAB. Residents and fellows are always encouraged to first reach out to their program leadership (program director, associate/assistant program director) if they feel comfortable and/or safe doing so. If another option is preferred or necessary, please see the list below with descriptions. Please note that all methods provide the opportunity for confidential reporting, and some provide the opportunity for anonymous reporting. For anonymous reporting, some options provide a mechanism for back-and-forth communication. If reports are submitted completely anonymously, there is limited opportunity to obtain additional information for investigation as needed and no opportunity for feedback about results of the investigation.
Definitions
GMEC: Graduate Medical Education Committee. The committee with ultimate oversight of the Graduate Medical Education Program.
Pathways for Grievances
Concern regarding the Program, the clinical learning environment or faculty: Grievances regarding the program, the clinical learning environment or faculty should be brought to the program leadership including the program director, associate/assistant program directors, Administrative Chief Residents/Fellows and/or the program coordinator. Additional mechanisms include reporting concerns at the department level to include the core program director (if a fellowship program), the Vice Chair of Education, other Vice Chairs in the clinical department and/or the Chair. Resident/fellows have the opportunity to provide written feedback through the annual program evaluation. Concerns may be brought forward to the Designated Institutional Official (DIO)/Associate Dean for GME by contacting the DIO/Associate Dean for GME or one of the Assoc. DIOs through the GME Office, email or by the methods detailed in the “Ways to Report” section of this policy.
Concerns Regarding the Program Director:
Residents/fellows are asked to first discuss concerns with the program director to resolve the issue. If the resident is not satisfied with the resolution or if the resident/fellow is not comfortable discussing the concern with the program director, the resident/fellow should bring the concern to other program or department leadership that may include Associate/Assistant program directors, Administrative Chief Residents/Fellows and/or the program coordinator. Additional mechanisms include reporting concerns at the department level to include the core program director (if a fellowship program), the Vice Chair of Education, other Vice Chairs in the clinical department and/or the Chair. Concerns may also be brought forward to the DIO/Associate Dean for GME or one of the Assoc. DIOs by contacting the GME Office, email or by the methods detailed in the “Ways to Report” section of this policy.
Concern with another resident/fellow:
Step 1: Attempt to discuss the concern with the colleague. (Resolving issues individually provides both parties an opportunity to develop their interpersonal and communication skills.)
Step 2: If attempts to resolve the concern through mutual discussion have not resolved the issue, the resident/fellow should bring the concern to the Administrative Chief Residents/Fellows or program director.
Mechanisms to Report Concerns, Unprofessional Behavior, and Discrimination: “Ways to Report”
GME Hotline: 205-934-5025
A resident/fellow hotline is provided as a mechanism by which individual residents/fellows can report concerns in a confidential and protected manner. Reports may include concerns regarding supervision and accountability, work hours, and/or unprofessional behavior of faculty and/or residents/fellows may be reported to the GME Hotline. All inquiries will be investigated in a confidential manner and reported to the DIO and monitored to ensure concerns are addressed.
“Report It” button
Trend Tracker – To access the system, look for the red icon on the desktop of a UAB Medicine computer or click the direct link.
Trend Tracker is provided by the Office of Risk Management as a mechanism to primarily report incidents in the clinical and working environment that may affect patient care. Any incidents may be reported through the system. Reports are investigated by the Chief of Staff Office. Reports related to patient safety submitted here are investigated by Risk Management and the Chief Medical Office.
UAB Ethics Line – 1-866-362-9476 or file a report online at UAB Hotline - Office of Compliance & Risk Assurance
UAB welcomes information about instances in which ethical standards may not have been upheld so that the institution can do the right thing by correcting deficient past practices and improving processes moving forward. This includes concerns related to unprofessional behavior. If you see or suspect unethical or illegal behavior, you may report your concerns anonymously to the UAB Hotline number above.
This is not an emergency service. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response. After the report is processed by an outside agency, Navex, information will be provided to the designated university official for appropriate action. Since Navex is an outside agency, reports submitted anonymously have the option for two-way communication to clarify issues.
UAB Medicine Compliance Office (205) 975-0585 or 205-731-9863
The UAB Medicine Compliance Office investigates reports related to patient privacy (HIPAA violations), patient transfer issues (EMTALA), conflicts of interest, vendor relations, identity theft related to patient care, and other compliance issues.
Discrimination Issues
Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
UAB’s Commitment to Nondiscrimination
UAB is dedicated to providing a community where everyone feels respected and welcome. We strictly prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic or family medical history, and religion, UAB does not tolerate harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. We uphold all federal laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 which requires all entities receiving federal government funds and financial assistance to prohibit sex discrimination in their programs and activities.
Any person (whether the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of Prohibited Conduct) may make a Report, including anonymously, of Prohibited Conduct to the persons below in person (during business hours) or by mail, by telephone, or by email using the contact information below at any time, including during non-business hours:
Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator
Andrea McDew, Ed.D
AB, Suite 330
701 20th St. South,
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 934-5493
amcdew@uab.edu
Title IX Coordinator
Kasey R. Thomas, JD, MPA
AB, Suite 330
701 20th Street. South
(205) 996-1340
Kaseyr@uab.edu
Anonymous Reports may be submitted online at: https://www.uab.edu/titleix/ or UAB Ethics Hotline at 1-866-362-9476.
For additional reporting options, please see the Title IX policy.
Reporting Mechanisms at our main affiliates (BVAMC and COA)
Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center
Contact
Marian Tademy, Birmingham VA Medical Center
Equal Employment Opportunity Program Manager
Email: VHABIREEO@va.gov
Office: (205) 933-8101 x336970
Mobile: (659) 346-4650