Guidelines for general and short-visit

• Undergraduate medical student: Currently enrolled in an undergraduate medical program. Maximum of three months.
• Postgraduate medical/dental: Residents and fellows. Maximum of ten working days.
• Physician: Completed post-graduate training. Maximum of twelve months.
• Nurse: Nursing students associated with an academic or professional institution, or licensed/registered nurses. Maximum of twelve months.
• Health professional: For learners associated with an applied health profession education program, or licensed health professionals. Maximumof twelve months.
• Non-clinical professional: For PhDs, engineers, or other credential-carrying individuals with postgraduate education or professional training indirectly related to the provision of health care. Maximum of twelve months.

Information

• All observers must be in good standing at a recognized undergraduate/postgraduate/fellowship/professional affiliated training program or institution.
• The departments of medical education, nursing education, health professions education and the VP education office do not routinely engage in finding supervisors for observers.
• Approved observers and their supervisors must sign documentation which acknowledges that:
  • No patient contact can occur while being an observer. For clarification, this also implies that the observer cannot scrub in the operating room.
  • The observer will adhere to the confidentiality guidelines stated on the observership application form.
  • It is understood that informed consent will be obtained prior to every observership and it is within the rights of the patient to refuse requests for observation during visits.
  • The observer must display photo identification, which will identify the individual as an observer. The photo identification must be worn at all times in the hospital.

The supervisor

• Must attest to the fact that the presence of the observer will not detract from the teaching of other registered learners.
• Is accountable to ensure the observer acknowledges and adheres to hospital policy and procedures as it relates to the observership and access to patient information.
• The supervisor is responsible for coordinating the observership application process. Observer applications must be reviewed by the department chief, director, or manager to confirm that existing commitments to learners are not compromised.

Observers

Observers will be responsible for their own:

• Accommodation, transportation, and food
• Health, liability, and personal safety insurance

High school, college, and university students interested in observerships should contact their supervisors to complete a “student educational observership application”. No fee for students.

The Vice President, education (or delegate) will review all educational observer applications. The application is required to be submitted to medical education at least 30 days in advance of the start date of the observership.

Documentation checklist

• Completed observership application Form*
• Current curriculum vitae/resume
• Completed immunization form
• Observership application fee (by cheque OR money order payable to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (if applicable))
  • $35 for short visit observers (1 day or less)*
  • $125 for general observers per month
• Undergraduate medical, nursing, healthcare professions, and non-clinical professional students must provide a letter of registration from their academic institution.
• Licensed/registered nurses, healthcare professions, and non-clinical professionals must provide:
  • Copy of license
  • Proof of an affiliation with a professional institution

* Short visit observership applicants are only required to submit the application form and the $35 fee

To apply

Please return completed forms to: 
Observership coordiantor

Postgraduate medical education office E324