SouthEast Eye Specialists Residency Program Supervision Policy
Supervision of residents at SouthEast Eye Specialists is divided into separate stages that reflect increasing levels of responsibility for the resident based on demonstrated clinical competency. For a resident to advance to the next stage, the expected levels of technical and cognitive clinical proficiency and professionalism must be demonstrated by the resident in the prior phase. The residency supervisor will determine when the resident advances to the next level, based solely on demonstrated performance, not on the amount of time spent in the residency program. However, the resident is expected to progress at an acceptable rate. The residency supervisor will remain available to the resident for the complete duration of the program for consultation and additional training, as needed/requested. The stages are described below:
Initial Stage: This stage is intended as an orientation period for the resident to get familiar with the staff and the instruments. The resident will focus on becoming comfortable with SEES ‘s layout, policies, procedures, clinic forms, and electronic health records, in addition to understanding coding & billing and proper chart documentation. The resident will also become acquainted with the administrative staff at SEES and learn its referral networks. The resident will begin direct patient care and will discuss each case, including case management, with the residency supervisor or attending physician. The residency supervisor or another designated staff doctor must be physically accessible to the resident at any clinical location in which patient care is provided. In addition to providing direct patient care, the resident will begin to serve in SEES on-call rotation with a residency supervisor or designated staff doctor physically present at each on-call encounter. In addition, the resident will begin training in advanced procedures pertinent to the residency program emphasis (e.g. foreign body removal, corneal cultures, ordering outside testing such MRIs, CT scans and blood works).
Intermediate Stage: The resident will be given increased autonomy in patient care. With regard to the on-call service the resident may perform initial triage and examine patients as necessary but must telephone the residency supervisor (or their designee) regarding each case in order to ensure standard of care has been met. The residency supervisor must make the ultimate decision that a patient’s symptoms do not designate an emergency appointment if a patient will not be examined after hours. The residency supervisor (or their designee) must be physically available to the resident for consultation. Feedback will be provided to the resident as necessary. The accessibility level will be determined by the Residency Supervisor and based upon the clinical competency of the Resident. Competence will be expected in advanced procedures learned in the prior Phase. To advance to the final stage the resident must demonstrate to the supervisor’s satisfaction the ability to successfully manage advanced clinical cases. Residents are expected to complete this phase stage before the halfway point of the program.
Final Stage: The resident will be given full responsibility with evaluation and management of patients with attending physicians providing guidance as necessary in compliance with payers’ obligation. When appropriate, the resident will also be given opportunities to precept student externs. The goal of SEES’s Residency Program is that our resident will successfully complete this final stage, being fully confident and well versed in all aspects of patient care, by the completion of the Residency Program.