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RIME Framework Creator Demonstrates a Shared Mental Model for Evaluating Medical School Learners

Janice L. Hanson, PhD, EdS

​Providing and receiving feedback is essential for learners and educators alike. But inconsistencies in the delivery of feedback can cause confusion and render these efforts ineffective.

​About RIME


The RIME framework helps evaluate a student or resident’s performance based on how they assume the following roles:

R: Reporter of data (to be evaluated based on how he/she collected and communicated clinical information)

I: Interpreter of data (evaluated based on answers to “why?” questions and the level of critical thinking involved)

M: Manager of patients’ care (evaluated based on how the learner addresses the problem)

E: Educator of patients, self and others (evaluated on commitment to self-learning and education of team)

Students and faculty recently attended a series of discussions led by renowned medical educator Louis N. Pangaro, MD, MACP about the evaluation of medical school students and residents, using the framework he developed called RIME.

Prior to the event, SOM students identified their concerns related to feedback inconsistencies. Pangaro incorporated these concerns into his presentations, sharing how the RIME framework is most effective when students, residents and faculty communicate based on a shared mental model.

Because the approach is similar to the way that physicians are trained for diagnostic assessment, many educators and learners find the framework to be intuitive.

Pangaro challenged SOM faculty to explore the implementation of a system-wide feedback mechanism.

A small group of faculty has accepted this challenge and will be working on how we can better implement RIME-based feedback with learners and educators at the SOM.