Teaching Tips & Tools - Introduction

Deficiencies can be identified in any CanMEDS roles. The most common are addressed here. A number of these issues can be viewed as inter-related across domains. Four primary domains that are most often flagged for remediation are:

  • Medical Expert

  • Communicator

  • Professional

  • Collaborator

Medical Expert

Common areas of difficulty identified in learners:

 MEDICAL EXPERT 

- Inadequate knowledge base

- Application of Knowledge, Knowledge Translation, and/or Evidence-based Medicine

- Procedural Skills

- Clinical Skills (i.e. Patient Histories, Physical Exam)

- Clinical reasoning skills, data synthesis, generation of a differential diagnosis

- Clinical Decision-making

- Management Plan

- Cognitive Biases

 

 

COMMUNICATION

- Case Presentation Skills

- Patient-centred Communication

- Conciseness

- Accuracy of information

- Cultural Sensitivity/Competence

- Written communications

- Dictations

- Non-verbal Communication Skills

- Breaking difficult news and Empathy

 

 

PROFESSIONAL

- Recognizing Limitations, asking for help

- Accountability, professional responsibility

- Confidentiality & Consent

- Adhering to policies,  procedures, and expectations

- Managing job-related stress and anxiety

- Self-reflection and demonstrating insight

COLLABORATOR

- Inter- and Intra-professional interactions

- Effective handovers, Organized Clinical Presentations

- Conflict Resolution Skills

- Seeking and accepting feedback

- Demonstrating respect, respectful interactions

 

 

Interventions and Modifications

There are modifications and interventions programs can consider when developing a remediation or probation plan. Possible modifications include:

ROTATION MODIFICATIONS:

  • Protected Time for Remedial Activities
  • Being excused from additional academic activities (e.g. journal clubs, half days, etc.)
  • Being excused from specific mandatory program sessions
  • Access to and organization of extra teaching & learning opportunities
  • Predetermined specific preceptors
  • Modified rotation to maximize exposure to specific clinical cases.
  • Modified patient load, progressive responsibilities as per level of training
  • Removal from call duties

SUPPORT OFFERED BY THE PROGRAM:

  • Access to an impartial mentor (not involved with formal evaluation)
  • Weekly meetings with the Program Director

SUPPORT OFFERED BY PGME:

  • Funding support to pursue coaching as needed
  • Funding support to pursue educational assessment as needed
  • Sessions with Education and Learner Resource Specialist

MODFIED ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES:

  • Increased Frequency of Assessments and feedback
  • Additional assessment types
  • Modified assessments to target specific goals and objectives
  • Regular follow-up by program director regarding the resident
  • Assigned additional homework activities to the resident
  • Practice written tests, OSCEs, observed clinical cases