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Summary of LEAC concerns and actions - 7/1/2022 - 9/30/2022

Since the 2020-21 academic year, the LEAC committee has used a process for reviewing and addressing reports received for review by the LEAC committee. 

Beginning with this current academic year, the committee categorizes learning environment concerns into five categories:

  • A: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were reviewed, founded, and egregious.
  • B: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were reviewed, founded, and not egregious. 
  • C: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were not found.
  • D: Insufficient information to follow up on the incident.
  • E: Unprofessional Behaviors that are not a learning environment violation were reported. 

For the July 1 through September 30, 2022 period, the LEAC committee reviewed and acted on seven concerns that were received through BEACON and ONE45.  

The summary of concerns includes 0 Category A concerns, 2 Category B concerns, 2 Category C concern, 0 Category D concerns, and 1 Category E concern. The learning environments where the concerns occurred included: OBGYN Clerkship (4), Pediatric Clerkship (2), and Surgery Clerkship (1).

  1. One concern was about residents gossiping about other residents and medical students when multiple individuals were present. This was deemed Category B: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were reviewed, founded, and not egregious. The OBGYN Clerkship Director provided feedback to the residents about content, delivery, and location of sharing information. They were encouraged hold conversations in private if not work related.
  2. One concern was about a resident’s response to questions making a medical student feel trivialized. There were two additional comments (3 total) about this same resident of similar content all resulting in one determination of Category B: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were reviewed, founded, and not egregious. The OBGYN Clerkship Director provided feedback to the resident who related multiple contributors to this behavior. Tools were provided in how to engage learners at their level.
  3. One concern was about the content and style of a lecturer, specifically stating things were definite when there was no data provided to back up the statement. The lecturer was noted to come across as aggressive when asked questions. This was deemed Category C: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were not found. The Surgery Clerkship Director will attend the lecturer’s next presentation and provide feedback. If needed the lecturer will be referred to the TEACH program.
  4. One concern was about a resident physician who repeatedly confused patients and patient details. The resident was described as disorganized and possibly performing unsafe actions. This was deemed Category C: Mistreatment or Unprofessional Behaviors were not found. The Pediatrics Residency Program Director met with the resident who is receiving feedback and attending the EAP, Employment Assistance Program. Follow up has shown improvement.
  5. One concern relates to a resident physician not following appropriate isolation procedures such as gowning, masking, etc. for patients with this indication. This was deemed Category E: Unprofessional Behaviors that are not a learning environment violation were reported.  This was a resident from Emergency Medicine rotating on the Pediatrics Clerkship. The Emergency Medicine Program Director was asked to counsel the resident in appropriate infection control techniques and professional behavior.