PURPOSE
The XUSOM, Aruba has the responsibility to screen all extramural electives to ensure student safety by assessing potential risks to the health and safety of patients, students, and the community; the availability of emergency care; the possibility of natural disasters, political instability, and exposure to disease; the need for additional preparation prior to, support during, and follow-up after the elective; the level and quality of supervision; and any potential challenges to the code of medical ethics adopted by the home institution. To this end, the following policies and procedures will guide the oversight and approval of extramural electives.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Students are permitted to take certain electives at non-XUSOM Affiliated institutions. These electives may be completed during the during the clinical years of our curriculum. To receive credit, the school must provide oversight and final approval of these electives.
Applications for all extramural electives must be completed via the SMS
EXTRAMURAL ELECTIVES
- Students must request permission for extramural electives at least 3 months prior to the first day of the elective. Students must provide a course description and Syllabus to the clinical dean be considered for approval.
- The XUSOM will only approve electives taking place in a safe, academic or clinical environment. The XUSOM will not approve electives where the safety of students or patients is at risk including if the area is usually prone to natural disasters, poor availability of emergency care, political instability, exposure to disease (more than the expected at any clinical site), the level or quality of supervision is inconclusive or if there seems to be any potential challenges to the code of medical ethics.
STUDENT SAFETY
For extramural, the XUSOM requires an affiliation letter or agreement stipulating that the host institution is expected to commit to and provide evidence of:
- Mechanisms in place to ensure student and patient safety: The elective is not in an area prone to natural disaster, political instability or on highly infectious environment.
- System for level supervision that is adequate and appropriate.
- Availability of emergency care. The tenets of professional ethical conduct endorsed by the host institution and its clinical sites.
STUDENT AND ELECTIVE ASSESSMENT
- Student evaluations by faculty must be filled out in the approved XUSOM Student Evaluation Form and returned, directly from the host-institution, in either hardcopy or electronic format, to the clinical dean’s office. Evaluations handed in by the student will not be accepted.
- Students will be required to fill out an Extramural Course Evaluation at the end of rotation. The School of Medicine uses evaluation data provided by participating students to assess elective experiences in an ongoing fashion.