DUE PROCESS
Faculty members work very closely and intimately with residents, and over the course of a resident's training, each faculty member interacts with each resident at numerous conferences, rounds and during operative procedures. Consequently, much of the evaluation of residents by faculty is an on-going and informal process. In addition to this, residents are evaluated approximately every two months at faculty meetings. Twice a year, residents are formally evaluated (CCC, Clinical Competency Committee), and the composite of these evaluations by the faculty is presented to each resident at a personal conference between the Program Director and the resident. Areas of strength and weakness and areas requiring improvement are discussed. These semi-annual evaluations are signed by the Program Director and by the resident.
The resident is evaluated according to the ACGME core competencies, including medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and systems-based learning. In addition, each resident is evaluated for basic strengths, weaknesses and problems that have been noted. It should be noted that most residents make remarkably good progress through the program and rank relatively high in all areas evaluated. When deficiencies occur these are discussed and a plan developed to overcome the deficiency. If deficiencies are not resolved and progress falters, the resident may be placed on probation. Any adverse action will be preceded by direct discussion and an opportunity for the resident to improve his performance and to seek counseling if needed. If sufficient improvement does not occur, the resident may be required to repeat a year or part of a year, or he or she may not be allowed to continue in the residency program.
The results of the resident and faculty evaluations are ultimately returned to the individual resident and faculty member, and there are discussions by the Program Director and the individual faculty member regarding areas of concern and areas that need to be improved.
The Resident
A. Will be notified in writing by the program director of any negative evaluations which may affect his or her standing or progress in the training program.
B. Has a right to appeal the evaluation if the resident feels he/she has been evaluated unfairly. The resident is allowed to appropriately address the questions of performance before various committees within the department or School of Medicine as specified by the policy below. Academic evaluations during a rotation and the assignment of a rating at the conclusion of a rotation are provided by the course director(s) and will be sustained unless found to be arbitrary, capricious, or not based on established criteria. The unsatisfactory rating may result in interruption of the normal sequence of rotations.
C. Has a right to provide additional or explanatory information to the body considering an appeal, as that body is receiving information. If the appeals body has requested the resident to provide or expand upon that information in person, he/she will be excused from committee deliberations after presenting his/her information.
D. Has a right to be accompanied by a faculty member or another resident to act as advocate during any personal appearance at an appeal procedure. A summary of proceedings will be made available to the resident. The resident may take notes at the meeting.
E. The resident will be informed, by the program director or the ACGME/DIO:
- of the decision of each committee or appeals body. This will be followed by written notification of the decision, at which time the time starts for the next level of appeal. Notification should contain information on the next level of appeal, if the resident is so inclined. The department will be sent a copy of the decision of each committee as well.
- that at each level of appeal, the party making the appeal, whether it be the resident, program director, or hospital, is responsible for providing evidence to convince the committee or appeals body to reverse the decision being appealed.
The Program
May appeal any decision made by any body subsequent to the decision of the program Grievance Committee, by filing a written appeal with the ACGME, as per the above resident procedures, substituting the word "program" for "resident".