Resident FAQs
Here you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions new residents have when they start with NOSM. Bookmark this page as we will be continuing to update this page as more questions are submitted to the PGME office.
PGME Office
Q: Do I have to get a criminal record check each year?
A: No, for re-appointment, residents are required to complete a Criminal Record Disclosure Form in lieu of submitting VSS.
Payroll and Benefits
Q: Where do I find Benefits information and how long it will take to get the Benefits cards.
A: The Manulife Benefit booklet was sent to all new residents via email prior to their start date. The booklet can also be found here. Manulife will mail out the benefit card and it will take about 3 to 4 weeks to receive it. If you require an electronic copy of your benefit card prior to receiving your card, please contact payroll@nosm.ca
Q: Is the card from manulife the same one used for prescriptions?
A: Yes! The benefit card is used for prescriptions, dental, and extended health benefits.
Q: Does our health/dental covers us all over Canada? Let’s say for services in Quebec or other provinces?
A: There is Out-of-Province or Out-of-Canada coverage. However, they differ from your regular coverage. Please see the Manulife Benefit Booklet for further details. You can also call Manulife to speak with one of their representatives at 1-800-268-6195.
Q: When can you view your pay stubs?
A: Pay advices are available on WebAdvisor 2 days prior to the pay date. The “How to View your Pay Advice” document was sent to all new residents prior to their start date.
Finance
Q: How will I know the status of my claim after submission?
A: You will receive email notifications at the email address entered on the Expense Reimbursement page at the time of submission
Q: When will I be paid?
A: The Finance Unit requires up to 10 business days for payment processing after receipt of an approved reimbursement request. Accounts payable payments are issued once weekly, typically on Thursdays.
Q: Who do I contact regarding an outstanding claim?
A: Include your tracking number in any communication:
- Prior to receiving the “received in Finance” email –contact your Program Coordinator
- After receiving the “received in Finance” email – contact Accounts Payable
- If you receive a “Processing Delay” email – if any other information is required by you, your coordinator will contact you directly
Q: What is the difference between Payroll and Finance?
A: Payroll – issues related to your pay, T4’s, on-call sheets, benefits, etc.
Finance – issues related to expense reimbursements (ie. travel, wellness, etc), T2202’s
Q: How do I update my personal information?
A: Updates should go to Payroll first. If you want the same information (ie banking) used for your pay and expense reimbursements, make sure to check off the “share with Finance” box on the personal direct deposit form.
Q: Where can we find out what are the eligible calls that we can claim?
A: For questions related to call eligibility please refer to the PARO contract or consult your Program Coordinator.
Housing, Electives and Schedules
Q: Is there any way to modify a leave request once it has been approved?
A: An approved leave cannot be modified, if the dates of the request need to change; cancel the request and submit using the new dates. However, if you only need to change the type of leave but your dates stay the same, your program coordinator can assist you in changing the type of leave without cancelling the leave.
Q: Do we contact our receiving site first to see if a preceptor will accept us? Or do we complete the application for approval before?
A: Learners should continue to complete the online elective application and allow the Community Relations Coordinator to reach out to the preceptor for review and status.
Q: Are residents limited to Ontario for electives? Is housing available outside of your homebase?
A: Residents are not limited to Ontario for electives. Should residents wish to seek an elective outside of Northern Ontario, this would then be classified as an “external” elective in which residents should communicate directly with their designated program coordinator to self-arrange an “external” elective.
Housing can be available for elective placements outside of your homebase within Northern Ontario, if available. Toronto and Ottawa can be requested for elective placements and if available we can rent to the learner at a cost of $125.00 per week. Your program must consider and approve elective placements anywhere else, however Housing will be at the cost of the learner.
Q: Is housing for electives the same as in undergrad – i.e. nosm housing is only available for 4-week blocks in the same community?
A: Funding for NOSM Accommodation or travel or both of one round trip will ONLY be applicable where the elective rotation(s) are a minimum of four consecutive weeks, within the same community. It is unlikely you will receive program approval to complete anything less than a 4 week elective placement. Housing will not be automatically requested for elective placements in Ottawa or Toronto. Housing can be requested from NOSM housing and if available will be allocated for a fee of $125.00 per week.
Q: Does that mean if we need to opt-out for our family to come with us for one rotation then we can’t stay in NOSM U housing for future rotations?
A: NOSM PG learners can request family housing (which means we allocate a whole unit to the 1 learner) and we will advise no more than 60 days prior to their start date if we are able to accommodate the request. Family housing will never be allocated in communities where we have only 1 unit and of course, it is never guaranteed. Equally, if we have multiple units in communities it is because they are busy communities.
Assessments
Q: Is the NOSM Elentra app only for iphone?
A: The NOSM Elentra app is available for both Apple and Android devices. The app is available for free download on the Apple iOS and Google Play stores. Further information on downloading and navigating the NOSM Elentra app is available in our online training module.
Q: Should the EPA’s be up in Elentra already?
A: Incoming PGY1 residents will be unable to trigger an assessment form until the official start of the academic year (July 1). If you continue to experience any issues following July 1, please contact the Evaluation and Assessment Team at pge.evalandassess@nosm.ca.
Q: Where can I find out more information on Elentra?
A: You can find additional NOSM Elentra training resources and information by visiting the Evaluation & Assessment webpage. Should you require further assistance, please contact pge.evalandassess@nosm.ca!
Q: Does Elentra separate mandatory from non-mandatory tests?
A: All forms generated to your account are considered mandatory. If the form was generated in error, please contact us at PGE.evalandassess@nosm.ca with the details and we will remove it for you. The *exception* is the clinical faculty form. Although you are still expected to submit at least one per rotation, you will actually receive one new form each week. Use what you need. The unused forms will purge from your account before the start of the next week. Again though – you are still expected to submit one clinical faculty evaluation for each preceptor you work with during a rotation.
Q: Will we receive an email to notify us when a new task has populated in our account or will we need to be checking this regularly?
A: You will receive an email notification anytime a new task is generated in your account.
Q: How come I can’t see any of my forms on Elentra right now?
A: Residents will only have access to forms once their initial academic year has officially started. In Postgraduate Medical Education, the academic year starts on July 1.
Resident Wellness
Q: How do I find a family doctor? Can my partner and children also get one?
A: At the start of each academic year, the Resident Wellness Program refreshes their list of Northern
Physicians who have agreed to take on residents as patients. Contact the Resident Wellness Program to
find the names of family doctors in your area who are willing to take on residents and their families as
patients. To request this list, residents can click the Find a Family Doctor section in the app to send us a
request for the list or residents can email us at pgewellness@nosm.ca. The directions accompanying the physician list are highlighted on the form indicating residents
should contact the physician’s clerical staff (or method that has been indicated on the list for each
physician) to book an appointment with a reminder to inform them that they are a NOSM resident.
Canadian Medical Association
Q: Who is the Canadian Medical Association?
A: The CMA is your national, professional association. We represent physicians and physicians in training. We advocate on issues that matter to the profession and the health of Canadians. Our goal is to drive positive change within the profession and Canada’s health care system.
Q: Where do I access CMA resident orientation information and resources?
A: Please visit cma.ca/newresident
Q: Why join the CMA?
A: Our key role at the CMA is to advocate for change at the national level. By joining thousands of resident members across the country we are able to advocate more effectively for improvements to our health care system.
Q: Is there a cost to join the CMA?
A: No, membership is complimentary for medical students and residents.
Q: How do I renew my CMA membership?
A: Please visit cma.ca/newresident. On the main page there will be a button called “stay in touch” where you can update your contact info.
Q: If I need assistance with membership, retrieving my CMA member ID #, the CMA website or registering for online courses, who can I contact for help?
A: Our Membership Service Centre team would be pleased to help and is available Mon-Fri 8am- 8pm EST Toll Free: 1-888-855-2555 or memberservicecentre@cma.ca