In some cases a program may submit a Rank Order List of applicants with the intention of filling its position(s) in the matching process, but the program may not ultimately be successful in filling all the positions. In this situation, the program may wish to move the unfilled position(s) to another related or affiliated program where the position(s) may be able to be filled, in order to increase the likelihood of filling all available positions. The decision to move the position from one program to another depends on whether or not the attempt to fill the position in the original program is successful. To address this situation, a mechanism is available within the matching process to move one or more positions that remain unfilled from one Rank Order List to a second Rank Order List, so that an attempt can be made to fill the available position(s) with applicants on the second list. This is referred to as "reverting" unfilled positions from one list (the "donor") to another (the "receiver").

Please note that reverting an unfilled position within the matching process is different from deciding before the Rank Order List deadline to move a position from one program to another. For example, an organization offering multiple programs in the Match may decide, in advance of the Rank Order List deadline, to move a position from one program (e.g., because it has an insufficient number of acceptable applicants) to another program (which has many acceptable applicants). In this case, no attempt will be made to fill that position in the original program. Program directors can adjust the number of positions to be offered by each program in the Match at any time prior to the Rank Order List deadline using the web-based Rank Order List Input and Confirmation (ROLIC) system when it is accessible, or by sending a request in writing to NMS before the ROLIC system is accessible. The option to revert an unfilled position within the matching process should be used only when the final decision to move the position from one program to another cannot be made in advance of the Rank Order List deadline, but depends on whether or not the position is filled in the original (donor) program within the matching process.

Any type of program can revert unfilled positions to any other type of program. Some situations where reversions of unfilled positions within the matching process might be used are described below:

• An organization with multiple residencies may wish to revert unfilled positions from the Rank Order List of one residency to the Rank Order List of another, in order to maximize the overall number of positions filled in the organization. For example, if a position remains unfilled on the Rank Order List for a PGY2 program, that position can be moved within the matching process to the Rank Order List for another type of program (either another PGY2 program or a PGY1 program) where the position may be able to be filled.
  
  
• A similar situation may occur within a single residency that offers multiple types of training or tracks, where each track is set up as a separate program in the Match. For example, a PGY1 residency offering both a regular PGY1 program and a PGY1-AMBULATORY CARE program can specify that any positions that remain unfilled on the Rank Order List for the PGY1-AMBULATORY CARE program should revert to the Rank Order List for the regular PGY1 program, and an attempt should be made to fill the positions moved to the regular PGY1 program with additional applicants on the Rank Order List for that program.
  
  
• Reverting unfilled positions from one Rank Order List to another can also be used by a single program in the Match that is submitting multiple Rank Order Lists in order to match with a particular "mix" or distribution of applicants based on specific applicant characteristics. Instructions for submitting multiple lists for a single program will be provided on this web site by February 6, 2009, including special instructions and forms that apply to the reversion of positions between multiple lists for the same program.

Rules For Reverting Unfilled Positions Between Lists

• Any position reverted from one list to another will be reported after the Match as if the position belonged to the receiver list to which it was finally reverted (even if the position remains unfilled on the receiver list). For example, suppose Program A enters the Match with 3 positions, Program B starts with 2 positions, and Program A is to revert all unfilled positions to Program B. Then if Program A fills only 1 position in the Match, the 2 remaining unfilled positions will revert to Program B. In that case, after the Match, Program A will be reported as having 1 filled position and no unfilled positions, and Program B will be reported as having 4 positions (whether or not all 4 are filled in Program B).
  
  
• A donor can revert some or all of its unfilled positions, and can revert unfilled positions to more than one receiver. For example, if Program A has 3 unfilled positions it can revert its first unfilled position to Program B, its second unfilled position to Program C, but not revert the third unfilled position to any other program.
  
  
• Reversions of unfilled positions can be "chained"; for example, Program A can revert unfilled positions to Program B, and if some positions remain unfilled in Program B, then these positions can revert to Program C, and so on.
  
  
• The only restriction in reverting unfilled positions is that a chain of reversions cannot "loop back" to the beginning. For example, if a reversion is requested to move unfilled positions from Program A to Program B, then you cannot also request another reversion that moves unfilled positions from Program B to Program A. Similarly you cannot request a chain of reversions that moves unfilled positions from Program A to Program B, then from Program B to Program C, and then from Program C back to Program A.

Requesting the Reversion of Unfilled Positions

To request the reversion of unfilled positions within the matching process, a program must provide written instructions to NMS (not through the ROLIC system). The request for a reversion must be submitted by the program that wishes to transfer some or all of its unfilled positions to another program - i.e. the Donor Program.

• To provide the necessary information to NMS on the reversion of unfilled positions between Rank Order Lists for different programs you should download and complete the form entitled Reverting Unfilled Positions From This Program To Another Program. Instructions for completing the form are also included in the download document. The document is in PDF format; click on the name of the form in the first sentence of this paragraph to download the form and instructions.
  
  To view and print documents in Portable Document Format (PDF), you will need the Adobe® Reader®, which can be downloaded for free by clicking on the PDF icon at the beginning of this paragraph. If you are unable to install the necessary software to view and print the document, contact NMS to request that NMS send a copy of the document to you by fax.
  
  The form providing reversion instructions must be completed, signed and submitted to NMS, preferably by fax to either 416-977-5020 or 716-282-0611. The instructions must be received at NMS by the Rank Order List deadline, March 6, 2009.
  
  After faxing the form to NMS, please wait at least one business hour (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday to Friday) and then contact NMS by telephone to confirm that the fax has been received and that it is legible. After the reversion information has been received and processed, NMS will send you a confirmation by e-mail. Please review the confirmation carefully, to ensure the reversion information on file for the Match is correct.
  
  
• To provide information to NMS on the reversion of unfilled positions between multiple Rank Order Lists submitted for a single program, use the form provided with the instructions for submitting multiple lists for a single program, which will be available on this web site by February 6, 2009.

© 2008 NMS