At one time appraisal was called a merit rating and was tied fairly close to salary increases. More recently it was termed staff evaluation, but because the term evaluation implies that personal values are being placed on the performance review that term is used infrequently. Most health care organizations use the term performance appraisal because it implies an appraisal of “how well employees perform the duties of their job as delineated by the job description.”.

It consists of setting standards and objectives; reviewing progress; having ongoing feedback between appraiser and the employee; plannng for reinforcement, deletion or correction of identified behaviours as necessary.