The PEL is reviewed throughout the clinical curriculum to assess students' progress, ensure completion of required clinical experiences, and evaluate the quality and breadth of clinical training across affiliated hospitals.
Clerkship Oversight
The clerkship director or designated faculty member reviews students’ PEL during the mid-core (formative) and the final clerkship evaluations.
During the mid-core evaluation, the faculty member assesses the completeness of the PEL and determine whether students are encountering an appropriate variety of patients. Students whose PELs contain relatively few entries may not be fully participating in clinical activities or may not be maintaining the PEL appropriately. Either situation may affect the Professional Behavior component of the clerkship grade.
During these evaluations, students are expected to discuss the patient encounters documented in their PEL. Therefore, students should record only patients they have personally encountered and studied.
Assessment of the PEL is based on the quality of documentation rather than the number of diagnoses or encounters recorded. Students are evaluated on the accuracy, completeness, conscientiousness, and honesty of their entries, which are elements of professional behavior.
Uploaded case write-ups and other required documents are available to the clerkship director through the PEL as part of evaluation of student's performances.
Institutional Oversight
Because the PEL is web-based, all entries are available to the Office of the Dean for review and analysis.
The Office of the Dean uses PEL data to monitor the breadth and comparability of clinical experiences across affiliated hospitals and to ensure that students encounter the required symptoms, diagnoses, and patient care experiences expected during the clinical curriculum.
The Office of the Dean also reviews each student's PEL to identify gaps in required clinical experiences. Students identified with deficiencies are required to complete appropriate fourth-year electives to address those deficiencies.