Resident Performance Assessments

In June 2012, the ABS approved a new requirement for assessment of operative and clinical performance as part of a broader ongoing effort to standardize the knowledge and skills expected of general surgery residents.

Assessment Requirement

• Applicants who complete their general surgery residency training in the 2015-2016 academic year or thereafter will be required to obtain during residency at least 6 operative performance assessments and 6 clinical performance assessments, conducted by their program director or other faculty members.
• When signing an individual's application, the program director will be asked to attest that these 12 assessments have been completed. However the applicant bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring these assessments are performed while in residency. The completed assessment forms will not be collected by the ABS.
• Posted below are evaluation forms that may be used to fulfill this requirement. While no specific form is mandated, programs are strongly encouraged to use either these forms or an equally validated form.

Assessment Forms

• Programs that use New Innovations residency management software can have electronic versions of the SIU forms exported directly to their system at no cost. To use this service, contact Melissa Smock at msmock@siumed.edu. Please include your New Innovations institution ID with your request.

Additional Materials

• Supporting Materials
• SIU - OPRS User Manual (pdf)
• ABIM Website - Guidelines for Using Mini-CEX

• Related Literature
• Williams RG, Sanfey H, Chen XP, Dunnington GL. A controlled study to determine measurement conditions necessary for a reliable and valid operative performance assessment: a controlled prospective observational study. Ann Surg. 2012;256(1):177-87.
• Larson JL, Williams RG, Ketchum J, Boehler ML, Dunnington GL. Feasibility, reliability and validity of an operative performance rating system for evaluating surgery residents. Surgery. 2005;138(4):640-7.
• Kogan JR, Conforti LN, Bernabeo EC, Durning SJ, Hauer KE, Holmboe ES. Faculty staff perceptions of feedback to residents after direct observation of clinical skills. Med Educ. 2012;46(2):201-15.
• Kogan JR, Holmboe ES, Hauer KE. Tools for direct observation and assessment of clinical skills of medical trainees: a systematic review. JAMA. 2009;302(12):1316-26.

For questions regarding this requirement, please contact the ABS coordinator.