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ACGME releases RC Notable Practices
Several program directors and coordinators have told me that their ACGME site visitors have praised their evaluations, pieces of their curriculum, annual review templates, etc and asked for copies of the documents to take with them.
Monday’s Poll: Coordinators on the GMEC
This topic sparked much discussion during the session on coordinator communication skills and the 2009 ACGME Educational Conference.
Several coordinators expressed that their position is not represented on the GMEC although their jobs are significantly impacted by many of the decisions the GMEC makes. At the conference, it seemed like the majority of attendees’ institutions do not include coordinators on the GMEC, but I thought a Monday’s Poll would give everyone a good idea of how common this is.
Open Mic: What are you doing with the IOM duty hour recommendations?
As you may have read in my previous post on duty hours, the ACGME says they’re approaching duty hour reform with open ears. They want to hear from programs who are conducting pilot tests or performing cost analysis to determine whether implementing the recommendations is feasible.
At the 2009 ACGME Educational Conference, a program director described the pilot test underway in his program. It had only been a week, but the results already gave a picture as to how schedules needed to be arranged and the cost associated with implementing recommendations.
Another program director explained that it took his program five years to perfect a scheduling system to meet 2003 requirements. They started their planning in 1998.
I’m assuming many of you are taking a look at how possible changes to duty hour standards will impact your program. I would like to open the blog up to you, readers. . . Are there plans at your institution, at the program or institutional-level, to test some of the recommendations? If you’re not testing them, are you performing any cost analysis or looking at any other data? Share in the comment box below.
Listen up: Using podcasts in GME
While I was surfing the Web looking for the latest and greatest in GME, I came across the University of California San Francisco’s podcast library and thought it was a cool idea.
Podcasts are audio files uploaded to the Internet, which listeners can download and listen to on their computers or MP3 players, such as iPods.
UCSF’ posts grand round and orientation presentations to the library so residents and fellows can catch them if they were unable to attend the lecture or refer to them for a refresher on the topic, says Bobby Baron, MD, DIO at UCSF.
This is a great, inexpensive, effective way to convey important information to residents who may otherwise miss the lectures due to scheduling and duty hour limits. And, as I wrote about in an issue of Residency Program Alert, programs can also use podcasts as a recruitment tool.
Additionally, it gives institutions a permanent archive of the presentations, Baron says.
However, it’s important to note that Baron says residents who miss orientation have to go through a more formal process than simply just listening to the podcast presentations, including passing a post-test on all of the information presented.
I did a quick search to see if other residency programs are using Podcasts, and they are. Check them out (Note: You may need iTunes or other audio software installed on your computer in order to listen to the files):
University of Arizona College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Pedcast
University of Tennessee Health Science Center Internal Medicine Residency Program Podcasts
University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine Podcast on why a resident chose the program
Southern Regional Area Health Education Center in North Carolina’s RadioAHEC
Johns Hopkins University Radiology
Does your program or institution use podcasts or video in any creative ways? If so, tell us about it in the comment box below-feel free to include links, too!
Soundbooth Friday: Creating a new resident manual
Besides interview season, a coordinator’s office doesn’t get much busier than at the start of the academic year. Your office is like a revolving door of new and senior residents coming in with questions about paperwork, parking, and policies, just to name a few.
Fighting for a new program coordinator job description
Yesterday was the day that we coordinators look forward to each year. . . our annual performance evaluation with our supervisors. During this meeting, coordinators have the opportunity to list all of the projects we accomplished over the previous year and describe what we do on a day-to-day basis.
Although showing off my successes is satisfying, performance evaluations are also frustrating. They’re an in-your-face reminder that the coordinator job description, pay grade, and salary range remain outdated.
Introducing guest blogger: Franklin Medio, PhD
Editor’s note: After hearing how much attendees of our 3rd Annual Residency Program Management Workshop enjoyed Franklin’s presentations, we had to bring him on board as a blogger for Residency Manager. I’m sure his blog posts will be just as informative and entertaining. Look out for his future monthly posts.
The semi-annual performance review: An opportunity for summative evaluation and self-assessment
It is the time of year for programs to conduct the semi-annual performance review of residents and fellows. This one-on-one meeting between the resident or fellow and the program director (or his/her designee) not only provides the time for a formal summative evaluation of the individual’s performance over the previous six months, but also offers a valuable opportunity for the trainee to develop his or her self-assessment (or self-evaluation) skills.
Spook-tacular photos from readers
Enjoy a few pictures of readers celebrating Halloween!
Money saving strategies in a tough economy
You can’t turn on the TV or open a newspaper without seeing a story about the economic crisis. The current financial climate is taking a toll at my institution, and I have to assume it’s doing the same at other academic institutions across the country.
Streamline your administrative structure
Our clerkship coordinator just returned home from last week’s Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine meetings in Florida. She’s brand new to this position and was full of all sorts of insight to share with us!
The most startling revelation to her was how fragmented the arms of medical education were at many other institutions.
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