Multi-Purpose Time Off

Subject to the limitations described in more detail below, each student is eligible for 3 days away from RCEA duties. This time can be used for any reason, or for no reason at all. It will be referred to as multi-purpose time off or MPTO. It encompasses sick days, residency interviews, family events, and all other reasons for being absent from duty. Any day absent from duty during an RCEA will be subtracted from the MPTO balance, so careful stewardship of your MPTO would be wise. RCEAs may, at times during the ongoing evolution of the curriculum, be broken down into identifiable, named, blocks. As of this writing, these blocks are called clerkships. There are some restrictions on the number of MPTO days that can be taken during any single identifiable, named block. The maximum number of MPTO days allowed in any single named block of RCEA depends on its length, as shown in the table below:

Length of identifiable, named, RCEA	Days of MPTO available
less than 4 weeks	0
greater than 4 weeks but less than 8 weeks	1
greater than 8 weeks	2

MPTO cannot be taken on the day of or during the six calendar days prior to any exam, written or practical.

The smallest unit of PTO is the day; partial days off will be counted as whole days.

When you plan to take MPTO, you must obtain approval from the director(s) (or their designees) of all the RCEAs from which you would be absent from duty who will notify your supervising preceptor or attending physician. You should notify your supervising resident (if any). These are notifications, intended to ensure smooth operation of the curriculum, good care of patients, and courtesy among medical professionals. You should try to give as much notice as possible, but we understand that personal circumstances sometimes arise unexpectedly.