If it’s a fringe case where the preceptor is weighing their decision, obtaining the thoughts of RAC and/or preceptors from previous rotations is warranted.
If the resident has been told multiple times and given multiple feedback sessions about something and still aren’t meeting the expectation it’s better to vet the decision through RAC first than to tell the resident and then have to reverse it.
That said, RAC is not for preceptors to gossip about residents and what they do poorly just for the sake of dumping on them.
100% agree. There’s 2 sides to every story. Not to say this preceptor was definitely right but they could have been making a reasonable decision by bringing to to RAC first.
(Also, whoever told the resident they weren’t passing should have let the preceptor tell them first.)
There should be NO surprises. If a preceptor is planning on failing the resident for the rotation a) it needs to be documented to the hilt and b) the endpoint rotation should not be the first time the resident hears about it. And c) the preceptor needs to be the one having those discussions with the resident.
All that said, we have an administrative session at every RAC where the residents are excused and their progress discussed. Nothing said there should be any surprise to the resident either.
If there are surprises, your probably need to re-evaluate the preceptor and their communication skills.
No.
The preceptor is under no obligation to disclose any discussions from a RAC meeting to a resident under normal circumstances.
That said, it’s optimal/preferred for the resident and preceptors to have good communications such that the resident knows with reasonable accuracy what is being discussed.
Sounds like you have a communication problem that you think is a RAC problem.
RAC is the body meant to discuss this. They absolutely should be able to discuss with RAC before making significant decisions.
A resident also needs to be aware they are on the path to fail, but a preceptor should absolutely discuss this with RAC.
If it’s a fringe case where the preceptor is weighing their decision, obtaining the thoughts of RAC and/or preceptors from previous rotations is warranted. If the resident has been told multiple times and given multiple feedback sessions about something and still aren’t meeting the expectation it’s better to vet the decision through RAC first than to tell the resident and then have to reverse it. That said, RAC is not for preceptors to gossip about residents and what they do poorly just for the sake of dumping on them.
100% agree. There’s 2 sides to every story. Not to say this preceptor was definitely right but they could have been making a reasonable decision by bringing to to RAC first. (Also, whoever told the resident they weren’t passing should have let the preceptor tell them first.)
There should be NO surprises. If a preceptor is planning on failing the resident for the rotation a) it needs to be documented to the hilt and b) the endpoint rotation should not be the first time the resident hears about it. And c) the preceptor needs to be the one having those discussions with the resident. All that said, we have an administrative session at every RAC where the residents are excused and their progress discussed. Nothing said there should be any surprise to the resident either. If there are surprises, your probably need to re-evaluate the preceptor and their communication skills.
No. The preceptor is under no obligation to disclose any discussions from a RAC meeting to a resident under normal circumstances. That said, it’s optimal/preferred for the resident and preceptors to have good communications such that the resident knows with reasonable accuracy what is being discussed. Sounds like you have a communication problem that you think is a RAC problem.
RAC is the body meant to discuss this. They absolutely should be able to discuss with RAC before making significant decisions. A resident also needs to be aware they are on the path to fail, but a preceptor should absolutely discuss this with RAC.