STACERs

STACER FAQ and Tips

STACER Forms

Foundations STACER Assessment Form(PGY2 practice and FOD STACERs)
Core STACER Assessment Form (PGY3+ practice and COD STACERs)

Procedures and Guidelines

STACER coaching

STACER Coach Job Description

Please don't hesitate to contact us at psych.stacer@utoronto.ca. if you have any questions or concerns.

Differences between FOD and COD STACER Exams

1. Interview Process

		Foundations	Core
Item	Expectation	Criterion	Criterion
Rapport	Establishes relationship	Introduces self Explains interview Respectful Open, explorative beginning	Introduces self Explains interview Respectful Open, explorative beginning
Rapport	Develops and sustains rapport	Remains respectful and non-judgmental Genuine interest displayed by verbal and nonverbal responses Acknowledges patient’s distress with empathic responses	Remains respectful and non-judgmental Genuine interest displayed by verbal and nonverbal responses Acknowledges patient’s distress with empathic responses
Control of process	Maintains control of the interview	Interrupts politely when required Attempts to redirect when required	Interrupts politely when required Redirects when required Facilitates organization of disorganized patients
Cultural sensitivity	Demonstrates cultural sensitivity	Engages patient in a culturally safe manner	Engages patient in a culturally safe manner
Ends the interview	Smoothly closes the interview	Attends to timing Provides a pertinent closing statement	Attends to timing Provides a pertinent closing statement

2. Interview Technique

		Foundations	Core
Item	Expectation	Criterion	Criterion
Information gathering	Maintains an open, explorative process	Non-verbal behaviour encourages patient to tell their story Listens attentively Note taking does not distract from the interview	Non-verbal behavior encourages patient to tell their story Listens attentively Note taking does not distract from the interview
Information gathering	Uses a facilitative questioning style	Questioning follows a logical sequence Asks clear questions in plain language Avoids leading questions Avoids stacked (multiple)questions Attempts to move between open and closed questions Facilitates expression of emotions	Questioning follows a logical but flexible sequence Asks clear questions in plain language Avoids leading questions Avoids stacked (multiple)questions Moves effectively between open and closed questions Facilitates expression of emotion
Information gathering	Pursues important information	Appropriately responds to informational and affective cues Attempts to pursue and clarify symptom detail	Appropriately responds to informational and affective cues Pursues symptom detail Asks for clarification
Maintains Flow	Maintains Flow	Reframes when required Summarizes when appropriate	Supportively confronts inconsistencies Appropriately deals with unusual, difficult, or distressing content Comfortably allows silence to facilitate further expression Reframes when required Summarizes when appropriate

3. Interview Content

		Foundations	Core
Item	Expectation	Criterion	Criterion
Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history	Identifies the person	Obtains demographic information	Obtains complete demographic information
Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history	Identifies the presenting complaint(s) or problem(s) and its/their history (History of Presenting Complaint)	Obtains data on presenting complaint(s) or problem(s) Assesses pre-morbid state Assesses stressors related to presenting illness Inquires about previous illness episodes Inquires about past and present treatment interventions and response	Obtains data on presenting complaint(s) or problem(s) Assesses pre-morbid state Assesses stressors related to presenting illness Assesses previous illness episodes if relevant, and determines similarities with/differences from this episode Identifies treatment interventions and response for this episode
Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history	Screens for symptoms relevant to the differential diagnosis and identification of comorbid symptoms Ensures safety	Screens for symptoms of relevant co-morbid illnesses, including mood, psychotic, and anxiety symptoms Inquires about substance use Completes an appropriate risk assessment (suicidal and homicidal ideation) Reviews current medication(s), dosage(s) and response Reviews use of over-the-counter products Assesses side-effects Inquires about allergies	Reviews primary criteria of other relevant diagnoses Reviews substance use and abuse Assesses impact of substance use on person and others If appropriate, assesses motivation to change current substance use Completes an appropriate risk assessment (self-harm, aggression, self-care, and competency) Reviews current medication(s), dosage(s) and response Reviews use of over-the-counter products Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history of side effects Defines allergy status
Elicits a complete, relevant ad Elicits a complete, relevant and accurate history curate history	Identifies relevant past history	Reviews past medical history including family history of medical disorders Reviews past psychiatric history Reviews family psychiatric history	Reviews past medical history including family history of medical disorders Reviews past psychiatric history Reviews family psychiatric history Reviews forensic history
	Identifies the developmental and psycho-social history	Reviews family history Reviews birth history if relevant Inquires about childhood and adolescent development Reviews occupational history and current functioning Inquires about relationship status Inquires about abuse history Assesses current supports Inquires about other relevant social or cultural factors	Review and assesses: Family history and dynamics Gestational and perinatal history Childhood and adolescent development Occupational history and current functioning Relationship history Past and current history of abuse Current supports Relevant cultural identities, migration history, and associated trauma and stressors Spirituality Identifies social and cultural supports including family, kin networks, and communities Identifies social and cultural stressors and systemic inequities Explores patient’s explanatory model of illness
Conducts a formal Mental State Examination as indicated	Conducts a formal Mental State Examination as indicated	Assesses mood symptoms Assesses anxiety symptoms Assesses psychotic symptoms Assesses insight Assesses cognition if relevant Considers intellectual function if relevant	Appropriately adapts the Mental Status Examination to be culturally competent Assesses mood symptoms Assesses anxiety symptoms Assesses psychotic symptoms Assesses insight and judgment Assesses cognition if relevant Considers intellectual function if relevant

4. Case Presentation

		Foundations	Core
Item	Expectation	Criterion	Criterion
Defines limitations of the data	Identifies issues in the information gathering process	Reflects on patient reliability if indicated Identifies deficits in the interview and their potential effect on the data collection	Reports on the reliability of the patient (with examples) Reports on the accessibility of the patient (with examples) Identifies deficits in the interview and their potential effect on the data collection
Presentation skills	Provides a coherent, accurate summary of the case	Uses descriptive terms correctly (e.g., delusions) Presents case in an organized manner that is sufficiently detailed Accurately reports the Mental State Examination Accurately reports the risk assessment (suicidal, homicidal, and self-harm ideation) Considers relevant comorbidities	Uses descriptive terms correctly (e.g., delusions) Presents case in an orderly, concise, systematic manner that is sufficiently detailed Accurately reports the Mental State Examination Accurately reports the risk assessment (self-harm, aggression, self-care, competency) Identifies relevant comorbidities
Synthesizing skills	Synthesizes all the clinical information into a diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and case formulation	Presentation includes information to support the preferred diagnosis and differential Provides a probable working diagnosis including co-morbidities supported by evidence from the interview Provides a differential diagnosis supported by evidence from interview	Presentation emphasizes the necessary information to support and defend the preferred diagnosis and differential Provides a working diagnosis including co-morbidities supported by evidence from the interview Provides a differential diagnosis supported by evidence from interview Discusses co- morbidities and interplay between diagnosis Provides a realistic prognosis Describes barriers to compliance or optimal treatment for this patient
Synthesizing skills	Presents a formulation covering the rudimentary biopsycho-social factors influencing the patient and their disorder	Identifies some contributing: Biological factors Psychological factors Social Cultural factors Starts to consider the interplay between these components	Identifies contributing: Biological factors Psychological factors Social factors Cultural factors Provides a sophisticated and accurate account of the interplay between these components that enhances the understanding of the patient Identifies prominent internal conflicts and/or cognitive distortions that influence the patient’s presentation

5. Treatment Plan

	Foundation	Foundation	Core	Core
Item	Expectation	Criterion	Expectation	Criterion
Presents a coherent, safe and appropriate treatment plan	Identifies information required to consolidate the diagnosis	Identifies bio- psycho-social investigations required to confirm the diagnosis or provide optimal care to the patient	Identifies information required to consolidate the diagnosis	Identifies further, appropriate, and cost effective bio- psycho-social investigations required to confirm the diagnosis or provide optimal care to the patient
Presents a coherent, safe and appropriate treatment plan	Communicates a safe multimodal treatment plan	Presents an immediate and short term treatment plan Suggests specific biological therapies for the patient Suggests specific nonpharmacological interventions for the patient, including psychotherapeutic approaches and social and culturally safe interventions	Communicates a comprehensive treatment plan	Utilizing a bio-psycho-social matrix defines an immediate,short- term, and long-term treatment plan Recommends specific biological therapies (pharmacotherapy, ECT, TMS, etc.) for the patient Recommends a specific psychotherapeutic approach for the patient Considers social and cultural factors in all aspects of treatment planning Identifies appropriate collaborations with family, community or other service providers Provides evidence for the efficacy of treatment plan Identifies the expected benefits and risks of the treatment plan Identifies the follow-up procedure