Internal Medicine Clerkship Evaluation

EVALUATION

Students may receive an overall clerkship rating of :

Honors
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory

The Department of Medicine faculty determines these ratings by evaluating a student’s performance in each of three categories (clinical skills, knowledge, and professional behavior). In each category, a student’s performance may be designated:

Exceeds Expectations
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory

Sources of information used for each category and percentage weights assigned in determining ratings are:

WEIGHT

CLINICAL PERFORMANCE

1. Review of Narrative Comments in Performance Evaluations
30%

2. Numerical Data from Performance Evaluations
30%

3. Clinical Skills Exam

Patient Encounters

Orders

Physical Examination write-up

15%
5%
5%

4. Ward Report Presentation
15%

KNOWLEDGE AND CLINICAL REASONING
60%

1. NBME Subject Test

2. Clinical Skills Exam

EKG’s

X-Rays

Differential Diagnosis

5%
5%
5%

3. Ambulatory Report Presentation
15%

4. Review of Comments in Performance Evaluations
10%

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR/NON-COGNITIVE BEHAVIORS

1. Review of Narrative Comments in Performance Evaluations
30%

2. Numerical Data from Performance Evaluations
30%

3. Attendance
20%

4. Peer Evaluation
20%

The clerkship director and the two associate clerkship directors review each student’s file independently and rate each student’s performance (S, U, E) in each category based on narrative comments written by faculty and resident evaluators. These three faculty members then meet together and discuss their ratings of student files, giving extra attention to those students in which their ratings were not in agreement; they come to a consensus regarding each student’s performance.

A SATISFACTORY rating is assigned in a particular category, if satisfactory or above average performance is indicated in comments on most of the student’s performance evaluations.

An EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS rating is assigned in a particular category, if an exceptional or outstanding level of performance is indicated in narrative comments on most of the performance evaluations.

The final rating is weighted in each category as previously outlined.

Each student is presented at a departmental faculty meeting for the faculty to review all students’ evaluations and to advise the clerkship director of the accuracy and completeness of evaluations contained in each student’s file. In exceptional cases, a consensus of the department of internal medicine faculty may change a student’s evaluation at the faculty caucus.

Overall clerkship ratings will be determined as follows.

CLERKSHIP HONORS – Students must “Exceed Expectations” in all three categories to receive an “Honors” rating for the clerkship.

SATISFACTORY – Students must receive “Satisfactory” or “Exceeds Expectations” ratings in each of the three objective categories to receive a satisfactory rating for the clerkship. In addition, students must score at or above the 11th percentile on the NBME subject test in Internal Medicine to receive a “Satisfactory” rating in the Knowledge category.

UNSATISFACTORY – Students who receive an “Unsatisfactory” rating in any of the three objective categories will receive an overall rating of “Unsatisfactory” for the clerkship. Recommendations to the Student Progress Committee will be based on the number of “Unsatisfactory” ratings received. A rating of “Unsatisfactory” in one category will result in a recommendation for up to a four-week remediation; an “Unsatisfactory” in two categories, an eight-week remediation; and “Unsatisfactory” in all three categories, an eleven-week remediation. For each of the categories, specific remedial activities will be suggested. While this plan is adhered to in almost all instances, the faculty of the Department of Medicine reserves the right to make exceptions.

Clinical Clerkship Grade Review Process – NOTE: This Policy shall apply to all Clerkships taken during Year 3 and Year 4, including the Medical Humanities Clerkship.

All students shall be entitled to ask for a review of a final clerkship grade by the department and receive a timely response. All departments shall be required to substantially comply with the following guidelines.

When the final grade for the clerkship is assigned, students will receive e-mail notification from the department indicating that the evaluations are complete and have been sent to the Office of Student Affairs. Students will receive a second e-mail notice when the final evaluations have been officially recorded; this notification will include a reminder of the Grade Review Policy.

If a student believes there has been an error in the grading process, or believes the final evaluation does not accurately reflect the performance, the student may speak informally with the faculty to find a resolution. However, the student is not required to pursue an informal review, but instead may request a formal review.

To begin the formal review process, a student must provide the Clerkship Director with a written document that outlines the basis for the request. Unless there are unusual or compelling circumstances, the written request, along with any supporting documentation, must be filed by the student within 30working days of the official recording of the final grade. The request for review will prompt a review of the student’s portfolio. The outcome of this review will be shared with the student before any change in evaluation is submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. The Clerkship Director, in writing, must respond to the student’s request within 10 working days of receipt of the request for review.

Should the student wish to have further review of the Clerkship Director’s decision, a written request for grade review will be submitted to the Chair of the Department within 10 working days of the decision of the Clerkship Director. The Chair of the Department must respond, in writing, to the request for review within 10 working days of receipt of the request for review. The decision of the Chair of the Department will be submitted as the final grade.

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