APPIC Membership Conference Portland, OR – April 17-18, 2009 Competency Problems: Managing Performance, Attitudinal, Ethical and Legal Issues with Interns and Postdoctoral Fellows

Presenters: IPR Consultants Jeff Baker, PhD: Former APPIC Board Member and CoA Chair Jeff Baker, PhD: Former APPIC Board Member and CoA Chair Sharon Berry, PhD: APPIC Chair-Elect Sharon Berry, PhD: APPIC Chair-Elect Karen Taylor, PhD: APPIC Vice-Chair Karen Taylor, PhD: APPIC Vice-Chair Eugene DAngelo, PhD: APPIC Board Secretary Eugene DAngelo, PhD: APPIC Board Secretary Mona Mitnick, JD: APPIC Board/Public Member Mona Mitnick, JD: APPIC Board/Public Member

Informal Problem Resolution Informal process Informal process Students, Training Directors, Graduate Training Directors, Faculty Students, Training Directors, Graduate Training Directors, Faculty Alternative to ASARC: formal complaint process Alternative to ASARC: formal complaint process Average: 100 consultations/year Average: 100 consultations/year

Disclaimer Information in this presentation is not exhaustive or definitive, and is intended to provide practical guidance. It represents only the individual views of its members, and not the official views of their organizations or boards. Information in this presentation is not exhaustive or definitive, and is intended to provide practical guidance. It represents only the individual views of its members, and not the official views of their organizations or boards.

Frequent Concerns: Due Process Procedures (including perceived competency problems) Due Process Procedures (including perceived competency problems) Requests for Release from the Match Requests for Release from the Match Possible Violations of Membership Criteria Possible Violations of Membership Criteria Probationary Status Probationary Status Intern Termination Intern Termination Illness/pregnancy while on internship Illness/pregnancy while on internship

Due Process Procedures Review your due process procedures Review your due process procedures Membership Criteria: Internship programs have documented due process procedures that describe separately how programs deal with (1) concerns about intern performance, and (2) interns concerns about training. These procedures include the steps of notice, hearing, and appeal, and are given to the interns at the beginning of the training year. Membership Criteria: Internship programs have documented due process procedures that describe separately how programs deal with (1) concerns about intern performance, and (2) interns concerns about training. These procedures include the steps of notice, hearing, and appeal, and are given to the interns at the beginning of the training year.

Match Issues Interns wanting to withdraw Interns wanting to withdraw Interns wanting to complete a second internship Interns wanting to complete a second internship Binding nature of Match Contract Binding nature of Match Contract

ADA Concerns Questions about discrimination Questions about discrimination Guidelines about what questions can be asked and what should be avoided Guidelines about what questions can be asked and what should be avoided on_Interview_Questions_and_Privacy_Con cerns.pdf on_Interview_Questions_and_Privacy_Con cerns.pdf

Probationary Status and Competency Improvement Plans Use the description of procedures for probationary status and development of improvement plans located in internship handbook. Use the description of procedures for probationary status and development of improvement plans located in internship handbook. Probationary status and improvement plans are active procedures on the part of both the intern and training program. Probationary status and improvement plans are active procedures on the part of both the intern and training program. Probationary status should be a direct result of and informed by formal competency assessments. Probationary status should be a direct result of and informed by formal competency assessments. The intern should have received formal feedback about problems in attainment of specific competences in advance of decision to place on probationary status. The intern should have received formal feedback about problems in attainment of specific competences in advance of decision to place on probationary status.

Probationary Status and Competency Improvement Planning Process The plan should be specific about what competencies need to be developed. The plan should be specific about what competencies need to be developed. Specify what particular steps will be taken by the intern and by the program and/or supervisor(s) to help facilitate competency. Specify what particular steps will be taken by the intern and by the program and/or supervisor(s) to help facilitate competency. Clearly state how the skill/competency will be measured. How will the program and intern know that progress or lack thereof is occurring? Clearly state how the skill/competency will be measured. How will the program and intern know that progress or lack thereof is occurring? State the period of time for the probationary status to occur and/or improvement to be demonstrated. State the period of time for the probationary status to occur and/or improvement to be demonstrated. Be clear about the next steps….if competency is not demonstrated, does it result in extending the training year, termination, extended probation? Be clear about the next steps….if competency is not demonstrated, does it result in extending the training year, termination, extended probation?

Intern Termination Follow your due process guidelines. Follow your due process guidelines. Update them routinely. Update them routinely. Plan for various situations that could happen. Plan for various situations that could happen.

Illness/Pregnancy During Internship Frequent IPR issue. Frequent IPR issue. Many solutions. Many solutions. Examples: Examples: Extended year of training. Extended year of training. Return to the Match next year. Return to the Match next year.

Discussion/Questions Keep in mind that we prefer questions that are not program specific or intern/postdoc specific - Please present hypothetical situations. Keep in mind that we prefer questions that are not program specific or intern/postdoc specific - Please present hypothetical situations.