Principle

Overview

Practice Ready Assessment – Newfoundland and Labrador (PRA-NL), (the “Program”) is administered by the Office of Professional & Educational Development (OPED), Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. The purpose of PRA-NL is to observe and assess PRA-NL Candidates under the direct supervision of physician assessors during a 12-week Clinical Field Assessment (“CFA”) to assess readiness to practice in Canada. There is no training component.

Purpose

To document the reasons for, and the process by which, a PRA-NL candidate’s CFA can be terminated early (prior to completion of the 12-week CFA).

Scope

This policy applies to the PRA-NL program and PRA-NL candidates as stated in the Purpose.

Definitions

Clinical Field Assessment (CFA) Dashboard — The password-protected online system via which assessors submit the required assessment forms and candidates can view their completed assessment forms and feedback.

PRA Result Letter — The letter which PRA-NL candidates receive disclosing the result of their 12-week assessment and which is provided to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPSNL) and the candidate’s sponsoring Regional Health Authority (RHA).

PRA-NL Academic Committee — A committee comprised of representatives from the Faculty of Medicine and RHAs to advise on candidates’ initial eligibility for the program and to make recommendations based on candidates’ educational assessment results.

Policy

1.0 A PRA-NL candidate’s CFA can be terminated early (prior to the end of the 12-week CFA) under circumstances including, but not limited to:

• the candidate is demonstrating significant deficiencies with the expected level of competence (practice readiness) to enter independent medical practice under a provisional license;

• the candidate’s assessor reports, and the University investigates, a critical incident and/or boundary violation as defined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPSNL) (https://cpsnl.ca/standards-of-practice-and-practice-guidelines/), safety issues, and/or concerns;

• there are concerns surrounding the safety of patients, assessors or associated staff members;

• there is unprofessional or unethical behaviour by the Candidate;

• there is failure or refusal to comply with the assessor(s) or the assessment process. 

2.0 PRA-NL assessors are obligated to notify the Director of PRA-NL, or their delegate, with any concerns as noted in Section 1.0. 

3.0 The Program reviews all assessment forms submitted via the CFA Dashboard on a continuous basis.

Procedures: