Principle

The supervision of Postgraduate Learners within the Faculty of Medicine is a shared professional responsibility aimed at ensuring appropriate patient care. This policy aims to support the development of postgraduate learner competencies by defining the roles of Supervisors, Learners, Program Directors, and the PGME office. The policy serves to delineate those responsibilities and uphold the rights of learners to work and learn in an inclusive and supportive setting that facilitates the achievement of necessary competencies and educational objectives.

Purpose

To outline the responsibilities of those involved with supervision of postgraduate Learners. To promote a safe and healthy learning environment for all those involved in postgraduate medical education.

Scope

Postgraduate Supervisors and Learners in the Faculty of Medicine.

Definitions

Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) — The senior faculty officer, appointed by the Dean of Medicine, who is responsible for the overall conduct and supervision of PGME in the Faculty of Medicine or delegate as appointed from time to time.

Clinical Chair — A senior clinical academic and administrative leader who is responsible for overseeing a clinical discipline within the Faculty of Medicine (FoM).

Clinical Supervisor — The Physician to whom a Learner reports during a given interval of time such as an on-call shift. Learners or clinical fellows often serve in the role of Clinical Supervisor, but do not act as the Most Responsible Provider (MRP) for patient care.

Competence — An observable ability of a health professional, integrating multiple components, such as knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Postgraduate Learner (Resident) — An individual registered in a Postgraduate Training program at Memorial accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

Postgraduate Training Program — A period of training in a specific program of medicine with a set of Educational Objectives prescribed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) leading to certification by one of these bodies.

Program Director — The faculty member assigned responsibility for the overall conduct of the postgraduate training program in a given training program.

Required Training Experience (Rotation) — A pre-identified period of time in one (1) training program with a specified timeline that has a set of Educational Objectives and/or Competencies to be successfully completed. Referenced in the University Calendar as a Rotation.

Residency Program Committee (RPC) — A committee established to assist the Program Director in the planning, organization and supervision of the Postgraduate Training Program. Residency Training Committee (RTC) in Family Medicine.

Supervisor(s) — The individual(s) (e.g., teaching staff, senior postgraduate learner) responsible for documenting their observation of a Postgraduate Learner’s performance.

Policy

1.0  The following Guiding Principles apply to the supervision of Postgraduate Learners in the Faculty of Medicine:

1.1  Learners have the right to a safe, inclusive, and fair working and learning environment which enables Learners to meet necessary competencies and educational objectives.

1.2  Open communication between Supervisors and Learners regarding strengths and limitations of Learners is a cornerstone of the educational mandate. This is a shared responsibility of all parties.

1.3 Supervisors are responsible for ensuring Learners are only assigned new tasks appropriate for their current level of Competence.

1.4 Tasks may be delegated by the Supervisor, as appropriate,  to ensure effective oversight of the Learner's decisions and actions. 

1.5 As per Memorial’s Conflict of Interest policy, the Program Director must be notified if there is a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest with the assigned Supervisor for a Required Learning Experience.

1.6 Supervisors and Learners should be aware of relevant policies and procedures such as the Fatigue Risk Management policy,  Safety policy and the Assessment, Promotion, Dismissal and Appeal policy.

2.0 Responsibilities of the Supervisor:

2.1 Ensure that Learners understand their roles, responsibilities and expectations during a Required Training Experience.

2.2 Ensure patients are informed of a Learners’ status as a Postgraduate Learner, in situations where the Learner has not already identified themselves.

2.3 Must respond in an appropriate and timely manner to a Learners reasonable request for assistance in the care of their patients.

2.4 Must be immediately available under circumstances in which urgent judgment by the most responsible physician is typically required.

2.5 Must provide Learners with a debrief following critical patient incidents.

2.6 Must provide Learners with support and direction in addressing educational needs.

2.7 Must model professionalism at all times.

2.8 Participate in timely evaluation of Learners.

3.0 Responsibilities of the Learner:

3.1 Strive to be aware of the limits of their knowledge and clinical skills when providing patient care.

3.2 Communicate with their Supervisor. Learners must specifically declare any concerns to their Supervisor if they are asked to perform tasks they believe are beyond their abilities.

3.3 Inform their Supervisor prior to admitting or discharging a patient, in a timely manner.

3.4 Report concerns to their program if their Supervisor is not responsive to their reasonable requests for assistance in the care of delegated patients.

3.5 Participate in timely evaluations of their Supervisor and training experiences.

4.0 Responsibilities of the Program Director and the RPC

4.1 Ensure Learners are aware of the process to report concerns regarding inadequate supervision to their program.

4.2 Program Director must report instances of inadequate supervision by faculty for appropriate follow up action to the Associate Dean, PGME and to the Clinical Chair in a timely manner.

4.3 Ensure Learners are aware of applicable PGME policies.

4.4 Participate in timely evaluation of Learners.

4.5 Develop program-specific supervision guidelines to supplement this policy. In any situation in which a program-specific supervision guideline conflicts with this policy, this policy shall prevail.

5.0 Responsibilities of the PGME Office

5.1 The PGME Office has a duty to promote a safe learning and work environment for Learners. This includes appropriate supervision of Learners in all PGME programs and learning sites.

5.2 The PGME Office will work collaboratively with appropriate senior leadership, and relevant health authority, where appropriate, to support Programs in identifying, addressing, remediating and monitoring instances of inadequate Learner supervision.

5.2.1 PGME may contact the medical regulatory authority should inadequate supervision impact patient safety.

5.3 Sponsor the revision of this policy and related procedures.

5.4 Communicate this policy to Learners, Supervisors and Program Directors.

Related Documents

Conflict of Interest policy

Fatigue Risk Management policy

Prevention and Resolution of Learner Mistreatment in the Faculty of Medicine policy

Promotion, Assessment, Dismissal and Appeal policy

Professional Feedback guidelines

Safety policy, 

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault policy

Statement of Professional Attributes

Procedures:

There are no procedures associated with this policy.