Policies for MSIII and MSIV Clinical Years

Policies for MSIII and MSIV Clinical Years

Clinical courses (required and electives) vary by area of specialty, direct vs. indirect patient care and day to day activities, i.e. patient care, didactics, and research will be different in each specialty area. However, all specialty clerkships adhere to ACGME Competencies and students are expected to familiarize themselves with these areas of competency: Patient Care (PC); Medical Knowledge (MK); Professionalism (P); Interpersonal & Communications Skills (ICS); Practice-Based Learning (PBLI); and Systems-Based Practice (SBP).

Needle Stick Protocol

Should you sustain a needle stick or splash with infected blood or body fluids, you must immediately notify your Resident and Attending, regardless of the time of day. If the incident occurs between 8 AM and 4:30 PM Monday-Friday, you are to report to the Occupational Health Clinic within 2 hours after you have notified the above parties. If an after-hours incident occurs, you should report to the Emergency Room within 2 hours. The clerkship director also must be informed of the incident.

Grading and Progression for all MSIII Courses

1. The grade in an MSIII Course is based on the student’s overall performance in the educational program objectives.
2. A mid-course assessment for each student is required for all core courses (not elective courses).  The student’s performance must be reviewed in a face-to-face meeting with a clinical teacher, and the student and clinical teacher must sign the Mid-Course Assessment form prior to the course midpoint. The signed forms must be stored and available for review.
3. The final grade will be determined based on a composite score derived from the clinical score, exam score, and score(s) from other required activities.
4. The course director is responsible for final determination of each student’s final grade.
5. The grading scale is:
   1. H: overall performance greater than, or equal to 90%,
   2. HP: overall performance greater than or equal to 80%, but less than 90%
   3. P: overall performance greater than or equal to 70%, but less than 80%
   4. F: overall performance less than 70%
6. The student will fail the course if he/she:
   1. receives a failing score on the clinical performance evaluation (refer to the Clinical Evaluation section of the catalog for specific requirements),
   2. receives a failing score on the professionalism performance evaluation (refer to the Professionalism and Code of Conduct sections of the catalog for specific requirements),
   3. fails the final exam retake, or
   4. receives a total course score of less than 70% (fail).
7. Course Directors will report final grades to the Registrar within four (4) weeks of the end of the course.

Course Grade of Incomplete

1. A letter grade of Incomplete may be assigned by the Course Director if: 

a. The student has not completed all required activities.

b. The student has passed clinically, but has failed the final examination and not yet completed the retake.

1. A letter grade to replace an Incomplete will be posted within two weeks after receipt of the following:
   • Evaluation from the course preceptors.
   • Completion of the required activities.
   • Receipt of the score on the retake of the final exam.
2. A student who retakes an examination due to failure on the first attempt is not eligible for a final Course grade of H or HP.

Final Examination Failure and Remediation

1. A student who fails a course final exam on the first attempt must schedule a retake and successfully complete the exam within the semester of the failed attempt.A student will fail the course if he/she fails the final exam retake.
2. If a student fails a course, the student will be required to repeat the entire course; the student must complete satisfactorily all components and requirements for the course (i.e., exam and all clinical requirements).  A failing final grade in any two medical school courses or two failing grades in the same course is grounds for dismissal.
3. A student who fails a final exam in a second course BEFORE remediating the first failure must stop his/her academic progress and meet with the MSIII Promotion Committee to agree upon a plan for the student to complete the Retake Exams.  If a student must schedule multiple Retake Exams, she/he must pass all of them before resuming his/her clinical training.  All retake examinations must be completed before the final day of the semester in which the initial failed exam was taken.
4. A student who fails a final exam in a second course AFTER successfully remediating the first failure must meet with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
5. A student who fails a final exam in a third course (even if the first two failed exams were successfully remediated) will be required to repeat the entire MSIII Year of medical school.
6. All MSIII Courses must be successfully completed before progressing to the MSIV Year.

MSIII Absence Policy

• Students are expected to attend all aspects of every clerkship except in case of illness or other causes of absence beyond the student’s control.
• Any absence must be reported to both the team and the clerkship coordinator as soon as possible.
• Absences due to illness require documentation from Student Health and/or a physician.
• Anticipated absences for any other reason, personal or professional, must be discussed with and approved/denied by the course director PRIOR to beginning the course.
• Unforeseen absences e.g. death in the family, should be discussed with the course director immediately.
• Make-up requirements for all absences are at the discretion of the clerkship director.
• Excessive absence, defined as 20% or more of a clerkship (2 days in a 2-week course or 6 days in a 6-week course), regardless of cause, will necessitate repetition of the clerkship. 
• For 2-week courses that include Thanksgiving or Easter Holidays, any absence may require remediation or repetition of the entire course.
• Remediation for all clerkships must be completed by December 31st for courses in the first half, and by the final day of MSIII classes in June for clerkships in the second half of the academic year.

MSIV Absence Policy

• During the main interview months of October first through January thirty-first, a student will be allowed one excused absence per week of instruction. This applies to both two week courses and four week courses.
• In all other blocks and dates, a student is allowed one excused absence for every two weeks of instruction, in two week rotations one day is allowed and in four week rotations two days are allowed.
• Make-up requirements (types of assignments-clinical assignment or presentation, locations -clinics or wards, dates- weekends or evenings, etc) are at the discretion of the course director.
• Remediation for all courses must be completed by December 31st for courses in the first half of the year and by the final day of MSIV classes in May for course in the second half.

Religious Practices Accommodation of Scheduled Educational Activities

Understanding that the religious diversity of its students may result in conflicts between students’ religious practices and educational activities, the LSUHSC-S School of Medicine will make accommodations wherever possible while maintaining the primacy of its commitment to patient care and education. Students who have a need for religious accommodation shall notify the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs prior to the start of the academic year in July. If it is established that there is a legitimate need, then, where possible, the student(s) shall be provided reasonable accommodation, including the opportunity to make up the missed academic activity.

Final Exam Absence or Tardiness

If a student will be absent or more than 15 minutes late for the Final Exam due to illness, injury, acts of Mother Nature, etc. (s)he is required to call, text and/or email the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs immediately. Failure to do so will result in an F on the exam.

Work Hours

Student duty hours will mirror those of upper level residents as outlined below:

• Maximum 80 hours per week, averaged over 4 weeks
• Minimum of 1 day off per week, averaged over 4 weeks
• Call is not to exceed 24 hours PLUS 4 more hours to adequately transfer the care of your patients.

Clinical Evaluation for MSIII

• Each student must have satisfactory performance in ALL categories on the Clinical Evaluation form to receive a passing grade for the course.
• The Clinical Evaluation form consists of 6 items scored as follows:

>/=90% Honors

80-89% High Pass

70-79% Pass

<70% Fail

• A failure score in any category can carry the potential for further penalties up to and including failure of the course, even if the student has accumulated sufficient points to pass the course. Refer to the Professionalism and Code of Conduct sections of the catalog for specifics.

Professionalism

Professional behavior is required at all times and will be aggressively monitored, documented, and addressed.  Students should respond to all communications from clerkship administrators promptly and professionally. Professional citations carry the potential for further penalties up to and including failure of the course, even if the student has accumulated sufficient points to pass the course. Students who are notified of a potential professional citation are encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for guidance immediately.  Students who fail a course for unprofessional behavior will meet with the LSUHSC-Shreveport Professionalism Committee and opportunity for remediation will be dependent on the recommendations of that committee.

Code of Conduct

Students are expected to act as responsible adults at all times. Responsible conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Be on time!
• Pay attention, act interested, be proactive.
• Treat all patients as you would want others to treat you or your family members.
• Treat co-workers with respect.
• No personal phone or computer usage. You may only use your personal phone or computer for patient care.
• No offensive language.
• No food or drinks in patient care areas.
• No chewing gum or tobacco products while caring for patients.
• Complete all assignments by the due date. Read the syllabus and any materials sent to you before the course/throughout the course
• Complete all assigned evaluations by the end of the course.
• Check your LSU email daily.

Dress Code

• You may NOT wear fingernail polish, false nails, or have French manicures. Your nails must be trimmed to ~1/4 inch length or shorter.
• When not in designated scrub areas, dress in business casual attire.This includes:
  • MEN: Slacks or khakis; dress shirt, polo shirt, sweater; loafers or dress shoes.
  • WOMEN: slacks, khakis, knee-length or below skirt or dress; dress shirt, blouse, knit shirt, sweater; dress shoes or loafers
  • Check the course syllabus PRIOR to the first day for course-specific requirements or restrictions.For example, some courses REQUIRE a tie while others PROHIBIT a tie.
• No shorts, jeans, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, hats, or revealing clothing
• Your underwear must NOT be visible above the waistline of your pants (check in the mirror when bending over).
• Your bra should NOT be showing, especially when bending over a patient.
• Hair MUST be kept off of your face and should not fall in your line of view (or on the patient) when bending over.
• Facial hair must be neatly groomed at all times.
• Perfumes and colognes are not allowed.