Question to Residents/Attendings Involved in Ranking Process

[Dilaudid PRN]

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Obligatory “long time lurker, first time poster” statement!

I have a sort of technical question about the way information about any given applicant is displayed when his/her rank position is being determined. Basically, when considering EM clerkship/SLOE grades during the post-interview period, are you able to tell if a Pass (P) was from a rotation that uses a Pass/Fail only system? or if that Pass was earned from a rotation using the F/P/HP/H grading scale? Imagine that an evaluator is handed one of those frequently used residency interview evaluation forms and not actual copies of the SLOEs; pretend said evaluation form looks as follows:

APPLICANT NAME: xxxxxx xxxxxx
SCHOOL: xxxxxx
STEP 1 Score: xxx
STEP 2 CK Score: xxx

EM/SLOE GRADE
PASS | Rank: Top 1/3 | Rotation Site
PASS*** | Rank: | Rotation Site
HONORS | Rank: | Rotation Site

*** Denotes Pass grade using a Pass/Fail only grading system

INTERVIEW IMPRESSIONS
Communication Skills (1-10)
Intellectual Skills (1-10)
Specialty Mindedness (1-10)
Personality and Character (1-10)… etc. etc.

Now, I am perfectly aware of the fact that the SLOE makes it obvious if a Pass was one obtained from a P/F only clerkship and not from F/P/HP/H one. However, my question is if, in the process of going through hundreds of applications during the post-interview ranking process, a grade of Pass is viewed in the right context by the team or committee (PD, faculty, residents).

Some background: I rotated at a wonderful place that uses a P/F only scale, and two other places that use the conventional F/P/HP/H scale. I received a Pass from my P/F only rotation, and Honors at my other two rotations. I am concerned that my grades will be listed as “Honors, Pass, Honors” without offering the right context to the Pass grade. I know, I sound paranoid, but after seeing one of the ALiEM videos in which one of the PDs discusses the post-interview ranking process, it really seemed to me that unless they take the time to open up each SLOE and recheck the grading scale used (and where the applicant was ranked in the “Global Assessment” portion of the SLOE), I could be ranked lower than the applicant whose grades are displayed on a paper as being exclusively in the Honors and High Pass range.

Thanks in advance!

 

[racerwad]

You underestimate the amount of time and energy the PD's (and APD's) put into this process. By the end of the ranking period, the PD's know everything about those they plan to rank well. And, after doing this for XX number of years, they know which places are only pass/fail only.

It should not affect you negatively, and if it does, that means the program director does not put the time and energy into this process that is required (which to me as a resident means he/she does not put the required energy into the rest of the duties that directly benefit resident well being and education).

This is totally accurate. People who helped review applicants were given strict instuctions by our PD about what to look out for and this was one of those things. The SLOEs are also quite clear about what grading rubric they used. You can relax.

 

[dotcb]

[QUOTE="Dilaudid PRN, post: 17061404, I know, I sound paranoid, ![/QUOTE]

Yes.

Residency directors and education administrators are acutely aware of the grading norms given by particular EM rotations and it is taken into consideration in the ranking process.

 

[Cinematographer]

I think you need some dilaudid prn... In all seriousness, this is something that I was curious about too. If letter grades +/- other factors (e.g., steps, sloes, AOA, interview comments, sexiness...) are used to generate some sort of applicant score, then I can actually see the scenario described putting you in a less favorable spot.

Glad to hear that this isn't the case.

 

[gman33]

Some places my look closely at the grading scheme.
Others may weed you out incorrectly.

Nothing you can do about it, so just focus on doing the best you can with your interviews.

 

[Dilaudid PRN]

Some places my look closely at the grading scheme.
Others may weed you out incorrectly.

Nothing you can do about it, so just focus on doing the best you can with your interviews.

🙁

I hope that isn't a common occurrence. Although I can see how it could happen at a program with a new PD/aPDs. Thanks everyone for the helpful responses.