Techniques for evaluating residents and residency programs

A comprehensive, functioning evaluation system is an important component of a residency program. It should focus on the residency program as well as on the residents and should provide feedback to the residents, their teachers, and the program director. Such a system allows residents and their faculty advisors to receive timely, ongoing, formative feedback concerning resident progress. Likewise, it can help the faculty recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the training program by providing data that can lead to the curriculum changes needed to improve resident experiences. Additionally, it can alert the residency program director to residents whose performance is significantly below that of their peers, allowing intensive faculty and advisor help for these individuals. The practical aspects of providing feedback and implementing an evaluation system apply no less to community-based educational experiences than they do to inpatient and outpatient training areas.