Creation and implementation of a remediation tool in a family medicine residency program

Problem being addressed As is true in most postgraduate medical education programs, about 10% of the residents in the family medicine residency program at Universite de Montreal encounter considerable difficulties in developing their skills. Objective of program In order to more adequately support the program's teachers in diagnosing these difficulties and in designing, planning, and following up on a remediation strategy, the Residency Program Evaluation Committee devised a tool consisting of a sample remediation plan and a guide to its use. Program description The remediation tool consists of 2 documents. The first is a sample remediation plan made up of a contract followed by 4 sections: diagnosis of learning problems, intention to improve, ways to improve, and evaluation of improvement with an interim and a final report. The second is a guide to drafting and systematizing the remediation plan. Conclusion The favourable response to the tool and the use that was made of it during the year in which it was implemented demonstrate that the processes we had chosen were a success. Support from the faculty, implementation of the co-construction method to create the tool, as well as training and support for users were all factors in this success. A research project is under way to document the impact that use of this tool will have on our residency program.