Are anonymous faculty evaluations really anonymous

[Phyozo]

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I know this seems silly, but I hear divided opinions on those medical student/resident/faculty evaluations that are handed out at the end of every rotation. Some say to be totally honest because they're completely anonymous and will help to improve rotations/provide feedback. Others say they're actually not anonymous and it's better to lie and pretend everything and everyone "gets along", lest you get a target on your back from the high ups. Still others say it doesn't matter because no one reads them anyway. Which is it?

 

[Boba Q Fett]

At my institution, you never see the name of anyone below your rank who evaluates you. However, I can always tell who filled out what evaluation, it's not difficult. I'm not trying to say you shouldn't fill out an eval honestly, but nothing is really anonymous.

 

[Phyozo]

At my institution, you never see the name of anyone below your rank who evaluates you. However, I can always tell who filled out what evaluation, it's not difficult. I'm not trying to say you shouldn't fill out an eval honestly, but nothing is really anonymous.

Would you mind sharing how? I could understand if there was only 1 person working under you then by process of elimination, but what if there were multiple people?

 

[FutureInternist]

Would you mind sharing how? I could understand if there was only 1 person working under you then by process of elimination, but what if there were multiple people?

If there really was a problem with a rotation & you specifically mention it on an evaluation it gets pretty easy. 🙂
At our institution all evaluations are automatically on a 3 month hold, to muddy up who wrote what, but again if the attending really wanted to figure it out it would be pretty easy
Luckily, here, as long as you have a valid issue you can say whatever you want, even to/about the Chair of the Dept.