Assessing a doctor you've rarely worked with: The use of workplace-based assessments in a busy inner city emergency department.

Abstract

Historically, end-of-term assessments for Junior Medical Officers in our ED have been completed by nominated Consultants based on varying amounts of observation in addition to feedback from other health professionals. Our hypothesis is that this system of assessment is both inconsistent and unreliable. Our objective was to increase the validity of our assessment process using workplace-based assessments linked specifically to the domains set out in the Australian Medical Council intern assessment form. Current practice was established using an online survey. Workplace-based assessments were then performed on each junior doctor throughout the course of a term. A repeat survey at the end of term was used to audit the use of the workplace-based assessments and their effect on the adequacy of the assessments. Almost three quarters of our Consultants used workplace-based assessments as part of their end-of-term assessment. Overall, 80% of Consultants agreed that the Junior Medical Officers assessment process was improved when using workplace-based assessments as an adjunct. Workplace-based assessments improve the validity of end-of-term assessments for junior doctors in an ED as perceived by those performing the assessment.