New Evidence-Based Training Aimed at Changing the Way Medical Faculty Assess Student Skills

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2017 -- One of the most pressing challenges facing health professions educators today is how to effectively assess their students. Every faculty member wants to ensure that the next generation of health care professionals is fully prepared to protect the health of the public. But assessing a student’s knowledge and skills can be challenging, especially in a health care environment that is constantly evolving to include diverse competencies that are difficult to assess.

In response, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) launched a new tool – NBME U – that helps health professions educators create reliable, high-quality assessments that evaluate student knowledge, skills, and competencies.

“Most educators have extensive clinical experience, but lack formal training on the basic theory and practice of assessments,” Dr. Peter Katsufrakis, MD, MBA, President, NBME, said.  “With NBME U, faculty will have the tools they need to measure the performance and readiness of their students, who will be on the front lines of patient care. NBME U offers a flexible learning environment so educators can work at their own pace and focus on the topics that are most relevant to their professional development.”

NBME U includes 28 lessons focused on test design, scoring, and assessment. Each lesson can be completed anytime, anywhere, in 15-20 minutes. Educators will have continued access to the lessons so they can go back and review them at any time.

NBME U lessons were developed by experts in the assessment and medical education fields. The lessons will be updated to reflect new evidence and insights from the industry. Each successfully completed course earns 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits^TM for physicians, or a certificate of participation for other health care professionals.  

“As educators, we have a responsibility for high-quality care and safety. We need to make sure our residents are ready for a fellowship or medical practice. Confidence in judgments about competence comes from quality and consistent assessments,” said Eric Holmboe, MD, Senior Vice President, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

NBME anticipates that a focus on helping faculty improve student assessments will result in a more highly trained workforce.

“Preparing medical professionals for the field starts by focusing on the individuals educating our students,” said Dr. Katsufrakis. “This is NBME’s first step toward creating a roadmap for student-based assessments.”

To learn more about NBME U, visit www.nbmeuonline.com. To enroll in NBME U lessons, visit www.my.nbme.org.

About The National Board of Medical Examiners
The not-for-profit National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) is one of the leading assessors of health professionals in the world. Established in 1915, the NBME is an independent, objective organization that evaluates physicians, physical therapists, medical assistants, veterinarians and clinical research professionals through customized, state-of-the-art exams. The NBME develops the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE®), which provides a common evaluation system and established minimum standards for all doctors of medicine seeking an initial license to practice medicine in the United States. USMLE is a joint program of the NBME and the Federation of State Medical Boards. In addition, the NBME assesses physicians for board certification in various specialties.

Contact
Michelle Vroom
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610.228.0607