Elective rotation policy
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University of Ottawa Psychiatry
Elective Protocol (Draft)
Background
The RCPSC has outlined a fairly strict Specialty Training Requirements (STRs) for psychiatry,
leaving little option for electives prior to senior training (PGY-4,5). For electives and selectives
they outline the following:
The PGY IV and PGY V years serve to consolidate the role of Medical Expert, including
the attainment of proficiency in a range of treatment modalities and promote
independent consultant practice across the life span and must include:
3.2.
Six (6) months of selectives preferably in one content area but may be comprised
of two content areas with experiences of no less than 3 months each. Content
areas are limited to child and adolescent Psychiatry, geriatric Psychiatry,
Psychiatry and the law, Psychosomatic Medicine, psychiatric research, the
psychotherapies, addictions, developmental disabilities and Psychiatry in rural
and/or remote locations
3.3.
Six (6) months of electives in any aspect of training relevant to contemporary
psychiatric practice, including research approved by the residency training
committee. The elective may consist of an approved rotation in Internal Medicine,
Neurology or other branch of medicine relevant to psychiatry. More than 1
practice area may be chosen but the duration of any experience must not be less
than 2 months each
Relevant issues
In arranging electives, residents and faculty must be aware of a number of issues including:
 A priority is ensuring all residents get their core rotations, trumping any elective
 The rotations completed in senior residency compose the bulk of the FITER; thus
supervisors MUST have sufficient interaction to comment on resident skills and
knowledge relevant to the FITER
 The RTC wants to provide maximum flexibility to all residents to ensure pursuit of career
goals & interests or to focus on areas to increase skills
 If a resident commits to a rotation, this will often result in
 Supervisors turning away other learners from within and external to psychiatry
 Supervisors arranging workload to enhance resident learning (eg taking on new
consults/patients/etc)
 Other residents having fewer choices
 Call schedule commitments
 Attainment of basic clinical skills and knowledge must be prioritized by the RTC to
ensure success in training
 Senior residency rotations are to hone skills and application of knowledge for
independent practice; thus rotations must allow for sufficient independence – residents
are to take a leadership role and function at the level of a junior consultant
 Given the need to evaluate residents and perfect skills, generally rotations will be limited
to a maximum of two experiences (50% on each rotation/with each supervisor).
Elective rotation policy
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Protocol
1. Following the completion of the master rotation schedule in April/ May for core rotations
and after having met with the program director, residents will have time to confirm their
rotations for the upcoming year
2. Residents may meet with the Program Director and/or SED to discuss career goals and
what rotations may best meet needs; additional input may be sought from mentors and
resident colleagues
3. A resident must meet with the elective supervisor to discuss and complete the Elective
Confirmation form confirming:
a. Goals and learning needs on the rotation and how these will be met
b. Potential scheduling issues
c. Any planned absences from the rotation
d. Supervisor’s work expectations from the resident
e. Resident’s expectations for supervision and other needs (eg time to do research/
personal learning projects)
4. SEDs should also be notified of an intention to complete an elective, in case office
space is an issue (especially at TOH)
5. All residents must confirm their final choices of electives with the supervisor, Lynn
Bertrand and the SED at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the elective to ensure call
scheduling is facilitated. Residents beyond these limits will be assigned rotations by the
RTC.
6. Residents may confirm their rotation with the supervisor, Lynn Bertrand and the SED at
any point after the core rotation schedule is completed; however, residents will not be
allowed to change their elective choice except for medical reasons unless they are able
to find a replacement for themselves on the rotation including any scheduled call
7. As per the directive of the RCPSC, electives must be a minimum of 2 months, though
some experiences may be spread out (eg 1 month in PGY-4 and 1 month in PGY-5)
8. The RTC may delegate a resident to a specific rotation during elective time to meet
unmet training requirements (eg psychotherapy) or to address specific learning needs
identified (eg interview skills, professionalism issues, etc)
**Of note, the RTC does not give additional “formal study time” to residents. As per our policies,
all time outside of approved times (half day, holidays, post-call, etc) must be spent on their
clinical service. However, we are aware that passing their RCPSC is one of the highest
priorities for PGY-5 residents, particularly from late January to March when the examinations
are on the horizon. Thus we already give significant protected time to study.
The RTC is fully support residents attaining their learning needs through specific continuing
medical education strategies as they will do with the RCPSC upon graduation. This must
include participation in clinical work which will allow the resident to apply and consolidate the
information for the examination. In addition, this can include accredited group learning
activities, planned learning (personal learning projects, traineeships, formal courses), scanning
(journals, videos, podcasts), systems learning (QI, safety, curriculum development, examination
development), and knowledge assessment.
Elective rotation policy
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University of Ottawa Psychiatry
Elective Confirmation Form
Elective Name/Location: _________________________________________
Elective Start date: ______________________
Elective End date: ____________________
Supervisor(s): _____________________________________________
In signing this form, the resident and supervisor are confirming:
 That the resident:
o Has provided specific learning objectives for the rotation to the supervisor (with
assistance of supervisor) & reviewed with the supervisor;
o Has reviewed any planned absences:
 Holiday time
 RTC approved activities (study leave, conferences)
 Research time
 Administrative responsibilities (chief resident, CaRMS, teaching, etc)
o Has discussed any planned additional learning strategies that may decrease the
number of hours for direct patient care (eg personal learning projects a half day
per week, etc)
o Is aware that once they have committed to the rotation, they will be completing
this unless they can find a replacement or for medical reasons
 That the supervisor:
o Has reviewed the learning objectives giving input on how to meet these and is
aware of the supervision expectations of the resident
o Is aware of and can provide the usual minimal supervision and evaluation
requirements for senior residents including:
 Observed patient encounters (ie STACERs, etc)
 Regular meetings (usually once weekly for an hour) to discuss clinical
cases and rotation progress
 Ongoing open & honest constructive feedback so the resident is aware of
areas of weakness to improve on
 Evaluation of written documentation (reviewing consultation notes/
charting/ reports/ etc)
 Completion of timely mid-term and final evaluation including comments
(should book in advance of rotation) to allow completion of FITER;
** Senior electives from July PGY-4 to mid-February PGY-5 constitute the major data for the Final in-training
evaluation (FITER). The FITER attests that the resident has sufficient skills and knowledge (including CanMEDs
competencies such as professionalism and time-management) to safely practice as an independent psychiatrist.
Thus, supervisors must be able to evaluate and attest to these competencies.
Resident signature: __________________________
Supervisor signature: _________________________
SED signature: ______________________________
Draft May 12, 2011 B Booth
Edited June 12, 2012 B Booth
Approved: Sept. 6/12