Addressing Problems of Insufficient Competence During the Internship Year

Addressing problems of insufficient student competence during the internship year takes on special importance at this penultimate step in the trainee's entry to the profession. The gravity of gate-keeping functions at this late stage of training requires internship faculties to accurately identify the trainees lacking sufficient competence, and to be mindful of errors resulting from assessments of competence that lack adequate sensitivity and specificity. This process occurs within larger systemic and legal contexts described in companion articles contained in this issue. This article serves as an extension of the issues raised in this special section as they apply to the internship year.