Reference files: Exit Assessment (Training Portfolio Review) – Guideline 

The Exit Assessment is a mandatory component for all candidates for Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine from 2025 onwards. Fellowship shall be awarded only after successful completion of this Exit Assessment, which is conducted in the format of a “Training Portfolio Review”.

This assessment serves as a formative evaluation and holistic review of the trainee’s entire Fellowship training pathway, assessing their experiences and growth throughout their career in Emergency Medicine (EM).

📋Eligibility for Application

A candidate is allowed to sit for the Exit Assessment only if all of the following criteria are fulfilled:

1. Passed the Final Examination in Emergency Medicine (FEEM).
2. Completed 6 years of accredited training.
3. Completed at least 3 years of higher training, including at least 2 years within an accredited emergency department.
4. Completed the higher training mandatory rotation to another accredited emergency department.
5. Completed the new mandatory Trainee Centre rotation (refer to Guideline for Mandatory Designated Trauma Centre and Non-designated Trauma Centre Rotation for Emergency Medicine Trainees).
6. Completed all the requirements of mandatory training courses, workplace-based assessments, service improvement projects, and College research as specified in the guideline of Training Programme for Specialists in EM of HKCEM.

🎯Objectives of Portfolio Review

The portfolio review is designed with two primary objectives:

1. To provide candidates with an opportunity to self-reflect on their own work, learning process, and growth in various areas of their training.
2. To allow the College to identify gaps and potential areas for improvement in the current training curriculum, infrastructure, and delivery.

📊Logistics of Exit Assessment

Presentation Content:
Candidates are required to prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their training portfolio that provides a holistic view of their learning journey. The content should cover mandatory topics and may also include optional topics.

📌Mandatory Topics:

1. List and elaborate on three training exposures (e.g., rotation, training course, project, coaching by mentor(s), etc.) that the candidate considers most useful during their A&E training period.
2. List two areas of potential improvement in the training programs.
3. A heartfelt reflection on periods of difficulty and under-achievement (if any), such as failure to fulfill training or examination requirements at certain junctures, and how these shortcomings were overcome.

💡Optional Topics:

• EM related training and working experiences outside the A&E vicinity.
• Teaching experience.
• Contribution to HKCEM or HKSEMS.
• Lessons learnt in the process of SIP, research, and department projects.
• Candidate’s future career trajectory.

Presentation Arrangements:

1. Candidates are required to submit their portfolio in both PowerPoint AND Word doc/pdf format before a deadline set by the Chairperson of Training and Examination Subcommittee.
2. These files must be submitted together with their Exit Assessment application.
3. The maximum number of slides for the PowerPoint is 28, and the number of words for doc or pdf files is limited to 1,000.
4. The portfolio review will be conducted by a panel of two members from the Education Committee, FEEM examiners, Council, or senior fellows.
5. Suggested time allowed for the presentation would be 10 minutes.
6. Suggested time allowed for Q&A would be 15 to 20 minutes. Panel members are welcomed to give formative comments in the Q&A session.
7. Time for panel discussion and writing remarks is around 5 minutes.

🏆Assessment and Award

A candidate may fail the Exit Assessment and be required to resit if:

• The PowerPoint is poorly prepared, or
• The presentation does not reflect a standard up to that of a Fellow upon completion of training.

There is no standard question setting and marking in the Exit Assessment.

• Comments from panel members and candidates on the College training programme and training provision will be considered by the Education Committee and Training Supervisors for future improvement.
• A candidate who has outstanding performance in their whole fellowship training may be awarded the Paragon of Emergency Medicine Trainee Award.

📝Application Procedure

We only accept applications through the E-portfolio website: https://e-portfolio.hkcem.com/

1. Please login and upload the required documents in E-portfolio.
2. The application will be verified by your hospital Training Supervisor.

The trainee shall receive an email stating the application has been verified and requesting them to select the payment method in e-Portfolio.

Payment Methods:

• Online payment: (Visa / Master) by Paydollar.
• Cheque: (‘Account Payee Only’ cheque payable to ‘Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine’ and send in by hand or mail, with your name and purpose of payment at the back side of the cheque) on or before the deadline to:

Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine, Room 809,
Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, 99 Wong Chuk Hang Road,
Aberdeen, Hong Kong
(Attn: Payment for Exit Assessment, Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine).

↩️Withdrawal from Examination

1. Candidates withdrawing from the examination must apply in writing to Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine. Candidates may be asked to provide evidence for their reason for withdrawal.
2. Withdrawal prior to the closing date: 10% of the application fee will be levied as an administrative charge.
3. Withdrawal after the closing date: 50% of the application fee may be refunded when written notice is received by the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine not less than 7 days before the commencement of the examination.
4. Candidates who withdraw less than 7 days before the commencement of the examination or fail to attend will not be eligible for a refund.
5. Applicants who are subsequently found to be not eligible to sit for the examination will have their fee refunded after a 10% administrative charge has been levied.

⚖️Appeal

1. Candidates who wish to appeal about the process of the assessment must do so in writing within 30 days of the examination.
2. The submission must state the details of the case including the nature of the complaint, the time, the place, and if possible the name(s) of the examiner(s) concerned.
3. Appeals will be considered if they allege misadministration, bias, or impropriety whether in the conduct or in the determination of the result of the examination.
4. Appeals disputing the academic judgment of the examiners will not be considered.
5. The administrative fee of $2,500 will be levied for the appeal request.
6. Candidates who make a complaint or appeal in good faith will not be disadvantaged in the current and future examinations.
7. The Education Committee or an appropriate committee as decided by Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine will review the complaint, assemble preliminary evidence, request statements from relevant parties and conduct an appropriate investigation on the issue.
8. Candidates will be notified in writing about the appeal.

🌧️Adverse Weather Arrangements

Please refer to the College website for adverse weather arrangements.