Perspectives

Hospitalist Readiness to Assess and Evaluate Resident Progress

Authors: Doris Lin, MD, MS

Abstract

The United States has more than 60,000 practicing hospitalists. As a result of the expansion of this field, hospitalists comprise a large number of physicians who attend on inpatient services with Internal Medicine (IM) residents and are therefore tasked with the important responsibility of assessing and evaluating these learners. The relevant literature focuses primarily on the quality of supervision, fostering autonomy, evaluation, and feedback delivery, as well as factors and perceptions that affect these domains. Faculty development centered on specific methods and practices to improve in these areas is lacking. In this Perspective, I reflect on my own strengths and weaknesses and consider whether I was ever adequately prepared to take on these responsibilities. The Perspective also explores the persistent challenges and provides strategies to help hospitalists assess and evaluate trainee progress.

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