The Red Book - The College of Family Physicians Canada

STANDARD B.3: THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTThere must be an organized program of educational experiences, both mandatory and elective,designed to provide each resident with the opportunity to fulfill the educational requirementsand achieve the competencies defined by the program.1. The program must be organized such that residents are given increasing professionalresponsibility, under appropriate supervision, according to their level of training,ability/competence, and experience.2. Service responsibilities, including educational experiences provided by other clinical servicesor departments, must be assigned in a manner that ensures residents are able to attain theireducational objectives, recognizing that many objectives can be met only by the directprovision of patient care.Service demands must not interfere with the ability of the residents to follow theacademic program.3. The program must provide an equivalent opportunity for each resident to take advantage ofthose elements of the program best able to meet his or her educational needs.4. The program should provide an adequate opportunity for residents to pursue electiveeducational experiences.5. The program must provide a learning environment that is safe and supportive of itsresidents. Faculty/resident interaction and communication must occur in an open andcollegial atmosphere, such that the tenets of acceptable professional behaviour and theassurance of dignity in the learning environment are maintained at all times.Discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of a program must occur freely and in amanner that is without repercussions to residents. An accessible and non-threateningmechanism must be in place to ensure that allegations of unprofessional behaviour hindering thelearning environment can be investigated impartially. Program directors, faculty, other teachers,and residents must be educated about appropriate behaviour in the learning environment andspecifically, against intimidation and other abusive behaviour.12