Jul 22, 2024 • By Dean Langfitt

Simply stated the primary focus of PLAs are to ensure an appropriate educational experience and to protect residents from undue service requirements that do not enrich their education. The ACGME states, “there must be PLAs between an accredited program and all participating sites to which the learner rotates for required education or assignments”. PLAs are both necessary and required for sponsored learners (based on the aforementioned information) and for visiting learners. Generally, the PLAs are established for a given assignment and/or rotation.

Components

The PLAs should articulate the educational goals and objectives of the program. It’s important that it emphasizes the importance of aligning these objectives with ACGME requirements and specialty-specific milestones. It should delineate the clinical responsibilities of the learner within the sponsoring institution. The roles and responsibilities of faculty members in supervising and mentoring trainees ensuring adequate supervision to ensure patient safety and quality education. The PLAs outline the mechanisms for evaluating learner performance and providing feedback. Work hours and assignments should be outlined emphasizing the commitment to promoting learner well-being and preventing fatigue-related errors. PLAs are required to be signed by each representing party.

AAMC AURRA

The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has pioneered efforts to streamline the process through the Uniform Resident Rotation Agreement(AURRA). Its aims are to standardize and streamline the negotiation process surrounding resident rotations. By providing a template with common terms and conditions, AURRA mitigates the complexities inherent in negotiating individual agreements, thus freeing up valuable time for educational pursuits.

Conclusion

PLAs are intended to be short, less formal documents. The PLA can be a simple letter or memo, signed by the program director and the official
at the participating site who is responsible for supervising and overseeing learner education.

References

https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/PDFs/commonguide/IB_Institutions_ParticipatingSites_Explanation.pdf
https://www.aamc.org/career-development/affinity-groups/gra/uniform-resident-rotation-agreement
https://med.uth.edu/gme/program-leadership/guides-and-common-questions/program-letter-of-agreement-pla/
https://www.siumed.edu/gme/program-letters-agreement-pla