Evaluations

Renal Fellows will be evaluated in 4 ways.

1.      Attending evaluations of the fellow will take place following each of the clinical rotations.  This will consist of an assessment of the fellow’s performance in the six areas of general competencies as defined by the ACGME: Patient care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Professionalism, and Systems-based Practice.  This evaluation will be reviewed with the fellow at the end of the rotation.

2.      In-service examinations will be administered twice each year to assess medical knowledge.  The results will be reviewed with the fellow by the program director, noting especially areas of strength and weakness.  A passing score will be considered 70% or higher.  Non-passing scores may result in re-examinations, remedial training/counseling, repeating portions of the fellowship, denial of moonlighting privileges, or discontinuation of the fellowship.  A standardized national in-service examination will be given annually.

3.      Patient evaluation of the fellow.  A sampling of patients in the fellow’s continuity of care clinic will be asked to fill out an evaluation form on the fellow involved in their care.  This information will provide the fellow feedback as to their performance from the perspective of their patients.  The information from these evaluations will also be used by the program director in counseling the fellow.

4.      Portfolio.  Each fellow will be required to maintain a portfolio which is to contain minimally: 1) A Curriculum Vitae, 2) Notes from semiannual meetings with the program director, 3) Copies of Scholarly works written by the fellow (scientific articles, clinical reviews, letters to the editor, abstracts or posters), 4) A procedure log, 5) Supporting documentation for each of ACGME’s 6 core competencies.  This portfolio will be reviewed with the program director at the semiannual meeting.

In addition to the above evaluation of the fellow, each fellow will also have the opportunity to fill out an evaluation form on the attending supervising each rotation.  Additionally, the fellow will be asked for feedback regarding the fellowship throughout the fellowship but specifically at the semiannual meetings with the program director.  Following the fellowship the fellow will also be asked to fill out a summative evaluation regarding the fellowship.  Fellows will be asked for their input regarding the curriculum and overall experience of the program and this input will be used to guide continuous improvement of the fellowship.