ERAS token

The ERAS application includes the following documents:

• MyERAS Application, which is comprised of the information in both the Profile and Application
• Personal Statement
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
• Letter(s) of Recommendation (LoR)
• Medical School Transcript
• USMLE Transcript (optional)
• COMLEX Transcript (optional)
• ECFMG Status Report (International Medical Graduates only)
• Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) or “California Letter” (International Medical Graduates only)
• Fifth Pathway Certificate (International Medical Graduates only)
• Wallet-sized color photograph (optional)

ERAS will transmit these documents you designate to the programs to which you apply. Any
documents not listed are considered non-ERAS documents. You should contact the program to which you are applying directly and ask how they would like to receive non-ERAS documents.

Day 1 and Day 2

Step 3 is a two-day examination.
DAY 1:

7 Blocks [(48 MCQ/60 min) = 1 block, total 336 MCQ] = 7 hrs.
+
45 mins. break
+
15 mins. tutorial
=
8 Hours

DAY 2:

4 blocks[(36MCQ/45 mins.=1 block) total 144 MCQs]= Approxy. 3 hours
+
15-minute CCS tutorial.
+
45 mins. break
+
9 CCS, (1CCS/25 mins) approxy. 4 hours .
=
8 Hours

contents of MCQ in Step 3 exam

Step 3 is organized along two principal dimensions: clinical encounter frame and physician task.

I am writing here about its distribution of the content [ % ].

Scoring of the Step 2 CS Subcomponents

Examinees are scored in three separate subcomponents:

1. Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE),
2. Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS), and
3. Spoken English Proficiency (SEP).

The ICE subcomponent includes assessment of:

1. Data gathering – patient information collected by history taking and physical examination
2. Documentation – completion of a patient note summarizing the findings of the patient encounter, diagnostic impression, and initial patient work-up

Data gathering is scored by checklists completed by the SP. The checklists are developed

by committees of clinicians and medical school clinical faculty and comprise the essential history and physical examination elements for specific clinical encounters. The patient note is scored by trained physician raters. .

The CIS subcomponent includes assessment of:

1. Questioning skills – examples include:

• use of

- open-ended questions, transitional statements, facilitating remarks

• avoidance of

- leading or multiple questions, repeat questions unless for clarification, medical terms/jargon unless immediately defined, interruptions when the patient is talking

• accurately summarizing information from the patient

2. Information-sharing skills – examples include:

• acknowledging patient issues/concerns and clearly responding with information

• avoidance of medical terms/jargon unless immediately defined

• clearly providing

- counseling when appropriate

- closure, including statements about what happens next

3. Professional manner and rapport –

examples include:

• asking about

- expectations, feelings, and concerns of the patient

- support systems and impact of illness, with attempts to explore these areas

• showing

- consideration for patient comfort during the physical examination

- attention to cleanliness through hand washing or use of gloves

• providing opportunity for the patient to express feelings/concerns

• encouraging additional questions or discussion

• making

- empathetic remarks concerning patient issues/concerns

- patient feel comfortable and respected during the encounter

The SEP subcomponent includes assessment of:

1.Clarity of spoken English communication within the context of the doctor-patient encounter (eg, pronunciation, word choice, and minimizing the need to repeat questions or statements)

SEP performance is assessed by the standardized patients using rating scales and is based upon the frequency of pronunciation or word choice errors that affect comprehension, and the amount of listener effort required to understand the examinee's questions and responses.

** both scoring card are of unfortunate students who failed in exam.

this post's information is taken from www.usmle.org 2010

Searching for date of your choice for step 2 CS??

I found many of my friends searching for some specific dates on many forum sites.and asking for exchange with other. but even if you dont ask for date to some one else, you can easily find dates in 2-3 days.
follow this steps.

First Option:
Refreshing the page

• go to the ECFMG home page
• 
• select step 2 CS calendar and scheduling.
• enter your ECFMG ID and password.. follow instruction.
• this will lead you to the page of calender where you can select dates. open the month of your choice in your selected testing center on the calender. now wait and keep refreshing that page every 10-15 minute. you will surely get some dates on your favorite center in month of your choice in a day or two, for sure.
  

Second Option:
Step 2 CS Scheduling Email Notification System

The Step 2 CS Scheduling Email Notification System allows registered applicants to indicate their preferences for test dates and centers. When a testing appointment is canceled, all applicants participating in the email notification system who have expressed a preference for this date/center are notified immediately by email. but you often get this email some what late by 2-3 minutes and when you open the page it may happen that you will not get date. Thats why refreshing of page is very good option.

[you can alway edit or add your preferences of notification by “Add/Edit Scheduling Email Notifications.”

Even if you chose this second option keep your calender page open always while you are doing practice. whenever you get email just refresh the page. By doing this you can have immediate access to the date.

Choose yahoo email id for your email notification and keep yahoo messenger ON everytime. yahoo msngr gives you alarm sound on receiving any email. so you can immediately refresh the page of calender/date on ecfmg.]

Njoy....