Program Letter of Agreement (PLA)
What is the purpose of Program Letters of Agreement (PLAs)?
- The ACGME states, “there must be PLAs between an accredited program and all participating sites to which residents/fellows rotate for required education or assignments. PLAs are not required for participating sites is under the same governance as the program’s Sponsoring Institution”.
- Required experience/ rotations = 1 month equivalent/ FTE.
Is there a PLA template and where can it be found?
- Yes, the PLA template is found in the New Innovations Intranet
When are PLAs required?
- Required education (Rotation Requests)
- Elective Rotations – Visiting Trainees
- Visiting Trainees
Who should sign a PLA?
- PLAs must include the signatures of the:
- Program Director, initiating the agreement,
- the Site Director and/ or Program Director at the facility, and
- Designated Institution Official (DIO).
- Where applicable, Senior Vice President for Academic and Faculty Affairs.
What is the timeline for getting PLA signed/ executed?
- Agreements can take a minimum of 60-days to be fully executed dependent on the required signatories (DIO and/ or the VP for Academic & Faculty Affairs)
When should a PLA be renewed?
- PLAs are required to be renewed every 10 years.
When should a PLA be updated?
- PLAs are updated whenever:
- there are change in program director or
- participating site director or in
- resident/fellow assignments.
Where are signed PLAs submitted?
- The partially signed PLA, by the Program Director, must be submitted to Kristelle Grant Deterville to obtain the DIO signature.
- The rotation’s Goals & Objectives also need to be included along with the PLA.
Who uploads/updates a signed PLA in NI?
- PLAs are uploaded/updated in NI primarily by the Program Coordinator.
- Copies are also saved to the Program files in GME.
- Instructions can be found on the New Innovations Intranet under Resources > INTRANET.