Screening the ambulatory care performance of family practice residents using a health information system

This paper describes uses of data from a health information system for evaluating family practice residents' performance and progress through their residency programs. Because this system captures limited data from patient encounters, emphasis was placed on working closely with clinical faculty to develop information displays that they could interpret and integrate into residency program evaluations. The data displays are designed to help faculty screen residents' performances and to identify patient care problems that can be pursued further through audits on the medical records. The uses of these displays require that faculty incorporate clinical judgments into the screening process.