Look and Listen: Developing Faculty Competency in Direct Observation

Abstract

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that residency programs assess performance in order to guide learning and improvement. Direct Observation, where a faculty member observes a resident conducting part or all of an actual patient encounter and debriefs with the resident afterward, is an essential method for faculty to assess residents and has been shown to increase learner confidence and improve the meaningfulness of performance ratings. Despite these benefits, it has been underutilized in our program. The primary goal of this assessment project is to increase faculty competence, confidence, and engagement in performing Direct Observation by leading a faculty development workshop on this topic. Post workshop surveys demonstrated improvements in faculty confidence, preparedness, and skills. Next steps include piloting a rubric to use for assessment and implementing a system across the program to work toward the ultimate aim of increasing and enhancing Direct Observation of residents.