Moonlighting Policies

COFM policy

Moonlighting is defined as: Residents registered in postgraduate medical education programs leading to certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada who provide clinical services for remuneration outside of the residency program. Moonlighting has been more recently called “restricted registration for residents”. The Ontario Faculties of Medicine does not support resident moonlighting. Moonlighting compromises postgraduate programs and undermines the educational environment.

McMaster Postgraduate Medical Education Policy on Resident Moonlighting

McMaster Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) supports the COFM policy on Resident Moonlighting. It is recognized that McMaster PGME cannot restrict, from a practical point of view, those residents with an independent practice certificate but feel that this activity must not interfere with the training program. The program director should be informed by the resident of this activity so that s/he can monitor its effect on the resident as well as the program.

It is recognized that there is a manpower problem within health care in Ontario but it is not under the mandate of McMaster PGME to solve this problem. The McMaster Postgraduate Medical Education Program wishes to maintain an environment in which there is

  1. A positive balance between education and service
  2. A strong academic focus in our training programs
  3. No confusion regarding the resident’s role in the clinical setting