Giving Feedback and Filling Out Evaluations for Medical Students and Residents

In the Common Program Requirements (Residency), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defines feedback as “ongoing information provided regarding aspects of one’s performance, knowledge, or understanding. The faculty empower residents to provide much of that feedback to themselves in a spirit of continuous learning and self-reflection. Feedback from faculty members in the context of routine clinical care should be frequent, and need not always be formally documented”. This chapter will review various types of feedback, the timing of feedback, as well as a brief overview of what is required when in training. The provision and receipt of feedback also overlaps greatly with elements of learner evaluation, so we will touch on various elements of resident and medical student evaluations as well. How one gives feedback is important, but equally important is how one receives feedback and responds to evaluations. These are important skills that will impact the remainder of your career as a practicing physician.