MDPAs & EPAs

Workplace-Based Clinical Assessments

Students are assessed in the clinical environment based on Medical Doctor Performance Assessments (MDPAs), Clerkship Assessments and Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs).

MDPAs

Students need to be rated consistently as “At Expected Level for End of This Clerkship” or higher in all domains as they near the end of this clerkship rotation.

EPAs

A minimum of 18 assessments must be completed over the entire rotation, excluding the Midpoint and Final evaluations from this total. Ideally, these should be completed by week 5, with a recommended pace of at least four per week. Assessments may be completed by either the resident or the preceptor. Both the History (EPA 1a) and Physical (EPA 1b) components must be successfully obtained.

• History

• Physical

• Differential Diagnosis

• Initial Investigations

• Results (Interpret & Communicate)

• Management Plans

• Oral/Written Report

• Handover

• Urgent/Emergent Care

• Communication in Difficult Situations

• Safety & Improvement 

• Procedures

• Educate Patients

• Allied Health Interactions

Students must be observed doing at least one history and at least one physical exam during this clerkship (at least one EPA #1a & one EPA #1b must be completed). 

NOTE: Although the minimum requirement is 18 completed EPAs for the clerkship, it is strongly recommended that students try to obtain more than this for two main reasons. First, it provides students with additional opportunities for feedback on their performance. Second, suppose a student requests the minimum number of EPAs, and there are delays in a preceptor completing an EPA. In that case, the student may receive an incomplete in the clerkship until all the EPAs are completed.

Each of the above components must be passed to pass the clerkship.