Administration Basic Sciences Clinical Sciences Centers of Excellence
 
Departmental Policy Concerning Lectures and Conferences

 

It is MANDATORY that all surgical clerks attend all lectures.  Even if the day is unassigned on the lecture schedule, there will be a lecture at that time.  Students are also expected to attend the Cohn's Conference (in New Orleans) as well as attend all departmental conferences, lectures, specialty conferences, and/or clinics.  Attendance will be taken for all lectures and for the Cohn's Conference.  These lectures and/or conferences take precedence over all other activities on the block, including surgery.

 

Simulation Labs

 

Students on the Surgery Clerkship are required to attend two simulation lab sessions with Dr. Kozmenko.  Students on rotations in Lafayette or Baton Rouge on the day of their scheduled lab session are not excused.  It is important that you do not miss your scheduled lab time, as it will not be easy to reschedule.

 

The current location of the simulation lab is in the Lion's Clinic, 6th Floor, Simulation Lab.  Please check your email before each session in case of last-minute changes or cancellations.

 

 

Departmental Policy Concerning Grading for Third Year Clerks

 

The surgical clerkship evaluation grade is based on evaluations provided by the chief residents and appropriate faculty on the general surgery services as well as the specialty rotations.  The National Board of Medical Examiners' Shelf Examination will be given at the end of the block.  A student must obtain a score of 70 or higher on the Surgery NBME to pass the course.

 

The final surgery grade is computed using the following percentages:

 

NBME Shelf Exam 35%
General Surg Evaluation 30%
Subspecialty 1 Eval 15%
Subspecialty 2 Eval 15%
Ethics Paper
TOTAL		 5%
100%

 

Evaluations based on performance while on the General Surgery service of six-week duration and the two specialty services of three-week duration will comprise 60% of the clinical evaluation grade.  The general surgery service component will carry a 30% weight and each specialty service will carry a 15% weight.  Your medical ethics paper will be worth 5%.  The remaining 35% will come from the NBME Shelf Examination given at the end of the block.

 

No grade change policy:

As a Department of Surgery policy, the clerkship director nor student coordinator changes evaluation grades. If you feel your evaluation was unfairly graded by a resident or a attending, you’re able to discuss the concern with the individual up to 2 weeks after evaluation was submitted.

 

Please Note: Failure to return your checked-out copy of Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen and turn in Case logs or evaluations will result in an INCOMPLETE for the rotation.  It is your responsibility to have your residents/faculty sign your case logs and fill out your evaluations.

 

The grade breakdown is as follows:

Honors = 94 - 100

High Pass = 88-93
Pass = 70 - 87

 


LSU Grading Policy for Third Year Clerkships

 

Grading Requirements:

To achieve a passing or higher grade in a third year clerkship, a student must have successfully completed all components of the clerkship.  Failure in any of the clinical components of the clerkship will result in a failing grade.  Failure on the NBME shelf exam will result in a grade of "I" providing that performance in all other components of the clerkship is judged satisfactorily.  Passing a re-examination will enable the "I" to be converted to a "P."  No more than two such I's will be allowed during an academic year.

 

Remediation:

Re-examination will be in the form of the clerkship final examination: NBME shelf examinations in the case of Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Surgery and departmental examinations in the case of Urology, Otorhinolaryngology and Family Medicine.  Students achieving "I" grades during their third year will be re-examined after completing the third year.  Remediation of all failing grades will be accomplished by repeating the clerkship

 

Student Status:

Failure of two clerkships or the receipt of I's in three clerkships based on failing 3 final examinations will be cause for placing a student on leave of absence for the remainder of the academic year, returning in the next academic year to take all clerkships on probation.  Probation means failure in any clerkship during the repeat year will result in dismissal from the School of Medicine.  It should be noted that the "I" grades not removed by the date of registration for the next school year will be recorded as F's.

 

A surgical clerk is allowed one week following notification of final evaluation for appeals to respective staff for possible grade change.   After this time period all grades will be final.

  

       LSU Duty Hour Policy

      

 

Students on clinical clerkships should not spend more than 80 hours per week (on average over the duration of the clerkship) in clinical and didactic learning activities.  Students who are assigned to overnight call in the hospital should not have patient care responsibilities after 1:00 PM on the following day.  Students will still be expected to attend mandatory didactic activities even after overnight call. In house call must occur no more frequently than every third night, averaged over a four-week period. Students should have at least 24 consecutive hours off/week averaged over the duration of the clerkship. This policy holds true for all required clerkship, including Neurosciences.

 

If a student has concerns that their duty hours have been exceeded, they should contact the Director of Clinical Sciences Curriculum (Dr. Robin English), the Associate Dean for Student Affairs ( Dr. Joseph Delcarpio), the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (Dr. Fred Lopez), or the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education (Dr. Richard DiCarlo).

 

 

    

LSU Grading Absence Policy for Third Year Clerkships

Adopted by the Ad Hoc Curriculum Oversight Committee 2/27/07

 

We understand that situations may arise when a student will need to request absence from daily responsibilities on a required clerkship in the junior year for a brief period of time.  The school has adopted the guidelines listed below to give you insight as to what might be considered an acceptable request.  Note that these are institutional guidelines and some of the clerkships may have more specific policies.

All requests for leave must be presented to the clerkship director; it is your responsibility to make certain that they are approved. 

Recognize, that some clerkships are shorter than others making absences for non-emergencies unacceptable.  

 

1) Emergent Absence:

The clerkship director should be notified as soon as possible.

 Illness:  Your illness will be excused.  An excuse from your physician must be provided if you are out for 2 days or more.  Serious illness of a family member may be an acceptable reason for leave depending on the circumstances.  Leaves of more than two days will require remediation prior to completion of the clerkship.

 

Funeral Leave:  The death of immediate family members which include spouse, child, parents, grandparents or siblings will be excused.  Other funeral leave may be acceptable depending on the circumstances.  Leave of more than two days will require remediation prior to completion of the clerkship.

 

2) Non-emergent Absence: 

 

Clerkship directors must be asked about these absences prior to the start of the clerkship.

 Wedding:  Requests for leave may be considered if the student is part of the wedding ceremony.  Requests of this type must be made in writing or via e-mail prior to the start of the clerkship.  Some of the required clerkships may not approve these requests.  Leave of more than two days will require remediation prior to completion of the clerkship.

 

Educational leave or School Business: Students may be asked to participate in conferences to present research findings or to represent the school at local or national meetings.  Requests of this type must be made in writing or via e-mail prior to the start of the clerkship.  Some of the required clerkships may not approve these requests if others can represent you or the school.  Leave of more than two days will require remediation prior to completion of the clerkship.

 

Extenuating circumstances may arise which do not fall in the categories as listed above.  As stated above, all requests should be made to the clerkship director.  Over the course of the clerkship, leave totaling more than two days may require remediation prior to completion of the clerkship.  Remediation may involve additional call nights, additional weekend responsibilities or clinical work on days normally set aside for shelf exam preparation.  Sufficient remediation will be established at the discretion of the clerkship director.  Additionally, absences for non-emergencies may be reflected in the evaluation of your work habits or professionalism.

 

Guidelines for Students on Clinical Rotations during an Emergency      

 In the event of an emergency closure of the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans:           

1)   Students on clinical rotations in New Orleans will be officially excused from school and their clinical responsibilities pending further notice through the emergency website. 

 2)  Students on clinical rotations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and other sites not listed should be excused from school and their clinical responsibilities for up to 48 hours (to care for their families or personal property in New Orleans).   Students on these rotations may choose to continue their clinical work uninterrupted. Students needing more than 48 hours to care for their personal property and family should contact both the school administration and their clerkship director to request additional time off. 

3)  All students should be familiar with the Chancellor’s Memorandum-51 on weather-related emergency procedures. In particular, note the following: “All employees and students are required to update their personal contact information on the LSUHSC-NO registry. The registry will become available on-line via the LSUHSC-NO website once a state of emergency has been declared by the Chancellor. Faculty staff and students failing to update their contact information on the registry will be subjected to disciplinary action up to and including being charged with an unauthorized absence.”  

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