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Assessment

Cardiothoracic Surgery trainees complete a variety of assessments which are detailed below.

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These assessments should be reviewed by the Supervisors of Cardiothoracic Surgical training at the Trainee's hospital on a regular basis and should also be submitted to the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery every six months. The Trainee will receive feedback from the Board as a result of the log book and assessment report review.

Logbooks

Each Trainee is required to maintain a detailed log book of their operative experience for the duration of training. RACS provides all Cardiothoracic SET Trainees with access to MALT (Morbidity Audit Logbook Tool) for this purpose. Further information about MALT for Cardiothoracic SET Trainees can be found in the link below.

Supervisor reports

Reports from the supervisor will be provided to the Board as another part of trainees' assessment. The Trainee evaluation form (DOCX 64.55KB) is used for this purpose.

Cardiothoracic Trainee on probationary training

The performance management form (DOCX 46.07KB) assists a Trainee to improve their performance if one or more significant deficiencies in performance have been identified. This form may be regarded as a performance contract.

DOPS - Direct Observation of Procedural Skills in Surgery

All Trainees are required to complete DOPS in conjunction with other assessments as per the table below and these should be submitted to the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery once each procedure has been completed. The Trainee will receive feedback from the Board at the time of logbook and assessment report review.

Effective from 2017 training year

 
SET 1
SET 2
SET 3
SET 4
SET 5
SET 6
Sternotomy/Thoracotomy x2    
Conduit Harvest (Saphenous Vein or Radial artery or Internal Mammary artery) 
 x2    
Exposure & Mobilisation of the long Saphenous Vein
   x3 x3 x1  
Median Sternotomy
   x3 x3 x2  
Harvesting of Radial Artery
      x2    x2 x2
Dissection of Internal Mammary Artery
      x3 x3 x3 x1
Aortic Valve Replacement
          x2 x2 x2
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
        x2    x3 x3 x3
Mitral Valve Surgery         x1 x2
Redo-sternotomy for any indication
         x2 x2
Total at each SET level
 4 11 13 13 9 9

 

The number of DOPS indicated above:

  • Must be assessed by separate trainers.
  • The Total must be number of forms by number of separate trainers.
  • The total number specified applies to satisfactorily completed DOPS.
  • In a unit with less than 3 surgeons, consideration will be given to the required number of DOPS.
  • *For SET 1 trainees: Please also refer to 3.7 of the training regulations (PDF 320.3KB) regarding the total number of assessments required by the end of SET 1.

DOPS guidelines and forms

Guidelines for Supervisors/Assessors completing DOPS (PDF 188.98KB)
Saphenous Vein (DOC 79KB)
Harvesting of Radial Artery (DOC 70.5KB)
Dissection of Internal Mammary Artery (DOC 78KB)
Aortic Valve Replacement (DOC 84KB)
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (DOC 83KB)
Mitral Valve Surgery (DOC 82.5KB)
Resternotomy (DOC 73.5KB)
Thoracotomy (DOCX 38.53KB)
Median Sternotomy (DOC 72.5KB)

For SET 1 Trainees

Trainees in SET 1 are required to complete all the SET 1 mandatory requirements by the end of rotation 2 as specified in 3.7 of the training regulations. (PDF 320.3KB)

Research report

A research progress report is required to be made on the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Progress Report (PDF 31.27KB) form.

Longitudinal requirements

Longitudinal requirements form (DOCX 32.42KB)

Examinations

All Cardiothoracic Surgery SET Trainees are required to undertake the following:

  • Clinical Examination
  • Cardiothoracic Surgical Sciences and Principles (CSSP) Examination
  • Fellowship Examination

Further information about these examinations can be found in the Examinations link below.

Eligibility to present for the Fellowship Exam

To present for the Fellowship Examination in Cardiothoracic Surgery Trainees must:

  1. be in SET 5 or SET 6
  2. have completed at least 75 per cent of the minimum log book requirements
  3. provide evidence of satisfactory completion of all other training requirements
  4. be, in the opinion of the Board Chair and their Supervisor, prepared to present for the Fellowship Examination
  5. not be on probation at the time of application.

Awarding of Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Admission to Fellowship is not automatically granted upon successful completion of the Fellowship Examination.

Upon successful completion of all aspects of the SET program, Trainees must apply to the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery for approval for admission to Fellowship. Application for admission to Fellowship must be made by submitting the appropriate form available on the RACS website and in accordance with the RACS Admission to Fellowship by Examination Policy.