Clinical Educators Faculty Development Module (On-Demand)-Approach to Resident Remediation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Christine Black-Langenau, a family medicine program director, explains how to approach resident “remediation” as resident improvement. She emphasizes that the goal is not punishment, but helping struggling learners become competent, caring physicians while protecting patient safety and educational quality. She notes that most residents who struggle can successfully improve, especially when problems are identified early and supported with a structured plan.<br /><br />The talk outlines key steps: start by assuming the learner wants to improve, verify concerns with multiple data sources, and consider a broad differential diagnosis including knowledge gaps, communication issues, organization, burnout, sleep deprivation, mental health concerns, learning disorders, or external stressors. She stresses distinguishing academic problems from professionalism or conduct issues and using institutional policies and resources appropriately.<br /><br />She then describes how to design an improvement plan: set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals; use clear documentation; include expectations, consequences, and follow-up dates; and align goals with competency milestones. She provides case examples involving poor presentations, chronic lateness, unprofessional behavior, poor teaching, and absenteeism. Throughout, she recommends regular check-ins, support resources such as coaching or employee assistance programs, and careful documentation in case further action is needed.

Asset Caption

Approach to Resident Remediation

Keywords

resident remediation

resident improvement

family medicine

medical education

patient safety

competency milestones

structured improvement plan

professionalism issues

learner support