ERAS 2019

EM Applicants: We Have Our SV-I on You!

How some program directors see it

What’s wrong with this picture…

Online ERAS Resource Center

https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residency/applying-residencies-eras/aamc-standardized-video-interview/

aamc.org/services/eras• ERAS for Applicants

What is the SVI?

The Standardized Video Interview is comprised of six questionsaround two ACGME competencies: knowledge of professionalbehaviors, and interpersonal and communication skills. Theinterviews are scored by trained third party raters, and thosescores (along with the applicant videos) are then provided to theemergency medicine residency program directors, to which theapplicant has applied, as an assessment of applicants’behavioral competencies. The Standardized Video Interviewscores are standard, objective, and triangulate with theStandardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) and other dataavailable within the ERAS application.

What Does the SVI Measure?

The questions are designed to be unrelated to clinical rotationexperience, therefore the amount of time in clinical rotationshould not impact your ability to answer questions:

Interpersonal and Communication Skills• Oral Communication• Emotional Intelligence• Teamwork and Leadership

Knowledge of Professional Behaviors (Professionalism)• Empathy and Altruism• Ethics• Cultural Competence• Conscientiousness

Interview Scoring• Six raters evaluate each interview (different rater

for each question)• Includes diverse, objective HR-trained

professionals• Rating scale of 1-5 for each question

(1 = Rudimentary, 5 = Exemplary)• Total score range is 6-30 (mean for 2018 = 19.1)• Score will be provided to each ACGME EM

program to which applicant applied

Interview Scoring (cont’d)

Interview Scoring (cont’d)

SVI TimelineJune 7, 2018: MyERAS portal opens; applicants register by indicating intent to apply inemergency medicineJune 7 - July 15, 2018: the Interview Window; rolling emails sent to applicants within 24 hoursof their MyERAS indication of interest in emergency medicine inviting them to complete thevideo interview onlineJuly 15, 2018, 11:59 p.m. ET: Deadline to complete the Standardized Video InterviewAugust 30, 2018: Deadline to submit a Request for Extension. Important if first EM rotationis after July 15!Sept. 1, 2018 (expected): Scores made available to applicants and U.S.-based medicalschools (with applicants' permission)Sept. 15, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. ET: Deadline to complete the Standardized Video Interview for allgranted extension requests and retakesSept. 15, 2018 (expected): Scores and access to videos will be made available to programsbased on whether the applicant has released the ERAS application to the program (by 7/15)Oct. 15, 2018 (expected): Scores and access to videos will be made available to programsbased on whether the applicant has released the ERAS application to the program, if completedby 9/15. Scores will also be made available to the applicant.

Getting Set Up

Technology• Confirm the digital interview environment’s technical specifications

(e.g., browser, webcam resolutions).

• Double-check your microphone and camera to make sure they’reworking well. Make a note of how they’re positioned so you canrecreate a setup that works when you log in to the system tocomplete your interview.

• Computer, tablet, or phone can be used—computer recommended!

** Raters will be trained to grade on content, not A/V quality.

Uh-oh…

Uh-oh…

Environment

Environment• Identify a private, quiet, and well-lit space where you can complete

the interview by yourself, you are free of potential distractions, andyou can speak freely (e.g., avoid the library).

• Avoid sources of bright light (e.g., sunlight, lamp) directly behind you.

• Make sure the background area that will be visible in thevideo/camera frame is clean, organized, and free from objects (e.g.,pictures, posters, diplomas). If possible, try to find a location with abare wall.

Completing the InterviewLogistics• Dress professionally, as you would for an in-person interview. Think about

what might be distracting on camera.

Yikes!

Completing the Interview (cont’d)Logistics (cont’d)• Dress professionally, as you would for an in-person interview. Think about what might

be distracting on camera.• Give yourself plenty of time to complete the video interview. Allow time at the

beginning to conduct a technology check, answer practice questions, and get used tothe interview environment.

• Try not to move around too much while you’re recording your responses. If you needto get up and walk around or eat or drink something, you can pause your sessionbriefly in between questions.

• Do the interview at a time when you’re rested and focused. As with any formalinterview, you want to be able to focus on understanding the questions, craftingcoherent responses, and presenting your best self.

• Use a chair that is stationary—that is, one that does not swivel or sit on rollers.• Make sure the device you use to complete the interview is fully charged and Shut

down all programs on your device so that no alerts, notifications, or other electronicinterruptions distract you.

Responding• Try to focus on providing specific examples of behavior that you engaged in from your

life and experiences when responding to questions, and try to avoid speaking ingeneralities. One strong example is better than several weak or tangential examples.

• Use clinical and nonclinical experiences to respond to questions as appropriate. Anote on patient confidentiality: some interview questions may ask you to describeprevious experiences with colleagues and patients. While it is important to providespecific responses to the interview questions, you should not provide any informationthat could be used to identify patients or colleagues (i.e., will nullify your scores!).

• You don’t need to take the full three minutes to respond if you feel you’ve answeredthe question effectively and comprehensively in less time.

• Read the entire question before you begin responding. Make sure you respond to allparts of the question.

• Do not repeat the interview question. Raters will have access to the questions.• If you have a rough start, take a deep breath and attempt to answer the question

again. You don’t need to apologize or explain if you restart—just focus on respondingto the question in the remaining time.

Completing the Interview (cont’d)

• Remember, you have one attempt to completethe interview. No do-overs!** Exception: if you have technical problems

• Cannot void, no re-scoring

• 30 Seconds to read each question and threeminutes to respond

• Can take untimed break between eachquestion.

One Take!

Total Communication

Words: 7 %Non-Verbal 55 %Tone of Voice 38 %

Body Language: Dominance

Body Language: Submission

STAR Method

• Situation• Task• Action• Result

Behavioral/Situational Questions

I. Interpersonal and Communication Skills• How have you handled dealing with some of your more challenging

patients? What specific actions did you take? What was the outcome?• Give an example of a time when you were successful in

communicating a difficult message. What was the message? How did you communicate it? What was the outcome?

• Imagine you are leading a multidisciplinary team composed of professionals with different areas of expertise. How would you make sure everyone works together effectively?

II. Knowledge of Professional Behaviors• One of your patients refuses treatment because it is incompatible with

the patient’s religious beliefs. How would you handle the situation?• Tell me about a time when you noticed a mistake or an error that had

been made. How did you identify this mistake or error, and what action did you take? (what was the outcome?)

• You have just received the test results for your patient that indicate the patient’s disease has progressed beyond any available treatment. How would you deliver the news?

Behavioral/Situational Questions

S-H-O-W-T-I-M-E

• Self – What do you know about yourself?• History – What is your work/educational background; how

did you decide upon this career?• Originality – What makes you unique?• World View – What is your outlook/attitude?• Tell – How are you presenting yourself?• Illustrate – Non-verbal communication• Manage – Well-placed questions/well-timed answers• Engage - Discuss what you are enthusiastic about.

From Iserson’s Getting Into A Residency (pp. 408-409)

Practice

• Practice interviews available

• Unlimited attempts

• Not scored

• No cost!

Prep Time

Influence of Location

https://unthsc.biginterview.com/

Contact Us

Career Center (Student Affairs)Student Service Center, Suite 200Jimmy Renfro James.Renfro@unthsc.edu (817) 735-2501careercenter@unthsc.edu / (817) 735-5020

TCOM Career DevelopmentMET Building, Suite 330EMelva Landrum Melva.Landrum@unthsc.edu (817) 735-5075careerdevelopment@unthsc.edu / (817) 735-5103

www.unthsc.edu/students/career-center/

On the Web / Social Media

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