An Internet-based residency assessment application that fulfills the outcome project's requirements

Purpose: The acquisition and organization of information about surgical resident performance, as well as the assessment of the educational value of different rotations, is cumbersome and time consuming. The additional requirement by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to assess General Competencies in the Outcome Project has multiplied the paperwork and workload demanded from each program director and residency coordinator. The purpose of our study was to simplify the collection of information and to organize it in a way that would fulfill the requirements of the Outcome Project. Methods: We developed an Internet-based application for maintaining a database of residents, faculty, rotations, and their evaluations. Results: The modular design allows flexibility in the selection of different tools that can be added at the discretion of the program director. The use of this application has facilitated the assessment process. Evaluations are instantly available for review. Conclusions: The General Competencies of any resident can be easily demonstrated, compared, and presented in an organized fashion that allows quick reaction to problems and facilitates compliance with the Outcome Project with little additional work for the residency staff.