Internal Medicine Residency Program Curriculum: Evaluations

Evaluations are an important part of performance assessment and enable a structured mechanism for feedback. Multiple evaluation tools are utilized by the residency program and are provided individually and through collective feedback in meetings with administration. Throughout your training, you will be guided in a constructive and formative fashion to help you reach your highest potential. The evaluation tools include:

• Evaluations completed by residents: At the end of each rotation, residents evaluate their peers, their teaching attending(s), and the rotation. All evaluations are anonymously completed through the New Innovations residency software program. 
• Resident of faculty evaluation: Residents are asked to anonymously evaluate their attendings at the end of each rotation. A resident of faculty evaluation summary is then collated at the end of the academic year. Summary data including any written comments are provided to each faculty member and chief of the respective division at that time. These evaluations are part of the performance assessment and faculty development process for our core teaching attendings. 
• Peer evaluations: At the end of each rotation you are asked to complete a peer evaluation of all your peers on service. This is meant to be helpful in guiding any issues or providing support as you are moving throughout your residency program. 
• Rotation evaluation: At the end of each rotation you are asked to complete a rotation evaluation discussing what you liked or did not like of the rotation and how we may be able to improve the rotation.

Evaluations completed on residents:

Each month our Clinical Competency Committee (CCC), which has faculty representatives from all core rotations and each subspecialty Division, meet with the program director, residency administration and chief medical resident to review the performance of service residents.

360-degree nursing evaluations: A 360-degree nursing evaluation is performed by nurses on the inpatient floor. These evaluations are reviewed at our CCC meeting as each resident is reviewed. Nurses working in the continuity clinic at Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street also participate in-group evaluations of each of the residents.

Ambulatory evaluation: Quarterly evaluations are provided by the teaching faculty, nurses, and staff in the continuity clinic at Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th street. These evaluations review clinical performance and medical knowledge in the ambulatory arena. These evaluations are reviewed during the resident meetings with the program administration.

In-service examination: Medical knowledge is evaluated on a standardized basis through our ABIM in-service examination. This exam allows comparison amongst all peers nationwide at the same PGY-status. This exam is meant as an assessment guide for board preparation and is not used in any promotions criteria or any punitive manner within the residency program.

Meetings with the program director/administration: Semi-annual meetings are scheduled with program administration (program director, associate program directors, or assistant program director) to review summary evaluations and to ensure each resident is performing at an appropriate level. This is also a time to ensure all requirements are being completed as needed and to allow each resident a forum to express concerns, suggestions or positive feedback on the residency program and processes.