ASSESSMENT

The Core Internal Medicine Program provides assessment of resident learning through a variety of modalities, structured using the CanMEDS framework. 

The CIM Program conducts assessment of resident competence and progress over time through a thorough program of assessment that involves multiple tools and methods. All assessments are aligned with stage-based expectations outlined in our Competence By Design curriculum and the CanMEDS framework of internal medicine competencies.  All resident performance data is used to create a holistic portfolio for each resident that is used for both formative and summative intents. See the information and policy links below for more details about how assessment data is reviewed, adjudicated, and shared outside our program.

Information: 

• Core Internal Medicine Residency Program: Assessment & Training Experiences Guidelines

• How Is Assessment Data Used Within the CIM Program?

• Process for Major Learning Plans

• How is Assessment Data Shared Outside the CIM Program?

The most important assessments of your residency training are workplace-based assessments (on the wards, consult services, and clinics) and the two main forms of these in our program are the In-Training Evaluation Report (ITER) and the new EPA Observations which are housed in the new Portfolio.

A portfolio is not simply a collection of your assessments but has a reflective component for the learner to provide a commentary. A portfolio can serve as both a vehicle to promote reflective learning and as evidence of that reflection and of other learning.  Residents should be reviewing their assessment data in their portfolio frequently to identify areas for growth and ensure that they are on track in meeting the expectations of the program.  After each Competence Committee review of their portfolio, residents will be expected to meet with their academic advisor to formally review their portfolio data and engage in a coaching conversation about successes and areas for growth.

In-Training Evaluation Report (ITER)

ITER results can be reviewed in one45 under 'Evaluations'.
An ITER will be sent to any clinical preceptor who has worked with you for a week or longer, or in some cases to one physician that oversees a rotation that involves working with numerous clinical preceptors. The purpose of the ITER is to document the feedback clinical preceptors have given you regarding your progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. In order to view your ITERs in One45 WebEval, you first need to complete the evaluations linked to the rotation (evaluating the preceptors and the rotation), and these should be done near the end of or just after each rotation has been completed.

Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) Observations

EPA observations, exam results, learning plans, Academic Advisor meeting forms, and RPC resident progress decisions can all be found in DASH.MED (see video below or these pdf guides on using DASH.MED and filtering context variables).

A limitation of an ITER is that it is done once at the end of your exposure to a clinical preceptor so it is not well suited to assessing context-specific competencies such as how you managed a complex case of heart failure or how you broke bad news about a diagnosis of cancer. EPA Observations are similar to a Mini-CEX and are an ideal assessment method for these competencies and are documented very soon after an event unlike an ITER which may be filled out weeks later.

For more details, check out our page on EPAs here.

Portfolio

What is a portfolio? A portfolio is not simply a collection of your assessments but has a reflective component for the learner to provide a commentary. A portfolio can serve as both a vehicle to promote reflective learning and as evidence of that reflection and of other learning.