RESOURCES

Competencies in the THCME PSP Course

The faculty of the Indiana University School of Medicine developed a set of competencies which the faculty collectively expects the graduates of IU School of Medicine to master. These nine competencies are presented below. For each competency, there are three complete levels of mastery defined with explicit definitions, criteria for assessment, and a knowledge base that should be developed for each. For the THCME PSP course, we will focus on Level I attainment for the competencies indicated below. Information about the remaining competencies is also provided for comparison. Finally, several links to the IUSOM MSAA office are provided for those who want more complete information.

I. Effective Communication - Level 1 Leikert Scale
II. Basic Clinical Skills - Level 1 Leikert Scale
III. Using Science to Guide Diagnosis, Management, Therapeutics and Prevention (assessed in ALL THCME courses by final examinations and board scores)
IV. Lifelong Learning - Level 1 Leikert Scale
V. Self-Awareness, Self-Care and Personal Growth - Level 1 Leikert Scale
VI. The Social and Community Contexts of Health Care- Level 1 Leikert Scale
VII. Moral Reasoning and Ethical Judgement - (assessed during MS2 courses at the THCME)
VIII. Problem Solving - Level 1 Leikert Scale
IX. Professionalism and Role Recognition - Level 1 Leikert Scale

Likert Scales
Please note: only the Leikert scales that will be used in the PSP course have active links above. Use the MECA Competency Curriculum website for more details.

Likert Scales are the tools designed to rate student's achievement in each level of competencies I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX (competency III assessment is linked to courses and board scores), with criteria for assessment included. The Curriculum Council has approved these devices, and while their usage is not mandatory, they are suggested as a quick, convenient, standardized method for assessing student achievement. For a complete description of the IUSM Competency-Based Curriculum and evaluation instruments designed for the entire medical curriculum, please download the "The Indiana Initiative: Physicians for the 21^st Century", MECA Competency Curriculum Handbook.

Triple Jump Exam
At the end of the spring semester, first year students at all centers will be administered a standardized Triple Jump exam that will evaluate three of the nine competencies. This is a case study-based exam occurring over multiple days; designed such that students must document their through processes in solving a problem. In the course of solving the problem, they employ various research instruments, and are required to communicate their answers to the different sections of the exam by both hand-written and more formal methods. The exam thus allows the students to demonstrate their abilities in the Problem Solving, Life-long Learning, and Communications competencies. The Curriculum Council has approved this exercise for competency assessment.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Please note: this is not an issue for THCME MS1 medical students. The first time this examinationa is administered will be at the beginning of third year clinical rotations. THCME MS2 students will be given an opportunity to train for this examination near the end of the 2^nd year.

The OSCE is an assessment tool in which a student is observed during an encounter with a "standardized patient". The student’s performance is then evaluated using a set of predefined criteria. The encounter may be recorded as well, for later examination by the student and an instructor. This device may be readily adapted to assess multiple competencies, by the appropriate choice of patient conditions. For example, the 2000 fourth year OSCE assessed all nine competencies in an eight station experience. Students obtain their grades online, by logging onto a secure OSCE website. For more information contact the IUSM office for Medical Education and Curricular Affairs, Clinical Skills Education Center at: (317) 962-5588.

Competency Activity Report
The Competency Activity Report should be filled out and returned to the Curricular Evaluation and Assessment Office by any Course or Clerkship Director whose course or clerkship will be addressing a competency. It defines the method (s) by which the director proposes to present, and then assess a competency (or competencies) within a particular course or clerkship. The appropriate Competency Director and the Curriculum Council's designee must sign this form prior to implementation of the proposed activity.

Records for Student Assessment are maintained by the Dean's Office, Medical Student Affairs. It is located in the Medical Science Building, Rm. 162. For more information on any of the above resources, please contact the MSA office at 812-274-1965.

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