PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME

Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI

This Scheme is for doctors registered on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council, in the Specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD 3

1.

INTRODUCTION
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

Background Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI ...........................................................5 Background Continuing Medical Education (CME) ..................................................................................6 The New Professional Competence Scheme ..............................................................................................6 Process Map ...............................................................................................................................................7

2.

PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME

3.

OVERVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5

Governance.................................................................................................................................................9 Participants ...............................................................................................................................................10 Aims ..........................................................................................................................................................11 Domains of Good Professional Practice ...................................................................................................11 How to Enrol on a Professional Competence Scheme .............................................................................12

4.

SCHEME REQUIREMENTS
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5

13

Participation in CPD ..................................................................................................................................13 Approval of External (Category 1) Activities .............................................................................................18 Earning Credits..........................................................................................................................................19 Recording and Documenting Professional Competence Activities ..........................................................19 Participation in Clinical Audit....................................................................................................................20

5.

ANNUAL VERIFICATION AUDIT

21

2 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

FOREWORD
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) welcomes the introduction of statutory professional competence requirements as set out in the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007. The professional competence system is being introduced to help protect the public and improve patient safety and constitutes an important milestone for the medical profession and its commitment to enhancing patient safety. In moving from voluntary to statutory provision of professional competence, it marks an important advance in medical professionalism in Ireland and formalises existing commitment to continuous improvement. RCPI looks forward to encouraging and supporting doctors who enrol on the RCPI Professional Competence Schemes to reflect their scope of practice and enabling them to demonstrate the maintenance of their professional competence. Since the publication of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, and in particular since the announcement by the Minister for Health of the commencement of Part 11 of the Act in relation to Professional Competence Schemes, RCPI has engaged in extensive consultation with its Fellows and Members and other key stakeholders in the development of the Professional Competence Schemes to be offered by the RCPIs six training bodies. RCPI Professional Competence Schemes promote self-directed and practice-based learning activities. As well as promoting personal professional development, the Schemes aim to promote educational and professional activities directed towards developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and personal effectiveness necessary to meet the changing needs of patients and the healthcare delivery system. The Schemes will also encourage participants to plan, record and reflect on professional development needs, as part of their pursuit of lifelong learning.

Dr John Donohoe, FRCPI President Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Dr Mary Holohan, FRCPI Chair, Education & Professional Development Committee Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

3 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of how the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme will operate, outlining the governance, participants and aims of the Scheme and providing details on participation in CPD and Clinical Audit activities. If you have any questions relating to the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme please contact:

By Post:

Professional Competence Department Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Frederick House 19 South Frederick Street Dublin 2 Ireland (01) 8639739, Monday Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. professionalcompetence@rcpi.ie www.rcpi.ie

By Phone: By Email: Website:

4 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

1.
1.1

INTRODUCTION
Background Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF IRELAND (RCPI) Mission The mission of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally. About RCPI The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, through its six accredited training bodies, is the largest postgraduate medical education and training institution in Ireland. Its mission is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally. There are 6 training bodies within RCPI. These training bodies, which represent 25 specialties, form a vital and integral part of RCPI, and are recognised by the Medical Council as having responsibility for postgraduate medical education and training in Ireland.

INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG) was established by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 1976 and functions within and as an integral part of the College. The Institute is the recognised training body for postgraduate medical training in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Ireland and is the authoritative body on all matters of educational, professional or public interest concerning Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The Institute fulfills a wide range of functions including: Acting in an advisory capacity to government and statutory bodies in all matters relating to Obstetrics and Gynaecology Responsibility for postgraduate medical training and education in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Ireland Assisting in the maintenance of professional standards for doctors with regard to Continuing Professional Development in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology including the delivery of vibrant educational events Acts as a vital source of information for individuals practising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, sets professional standards and represents its Members and Fellows interests before legislative and regulatory bodies

5 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

1.2

Background Continuing Medical Education (CME)

RCPI has, since 1995, facilitated a process of recording and monitoring Continuing Medical Education (CME) for Fellows and Members of the College and its Faculties/Institute. The College has also provided the CME service to non-affiliates of the College who wished to participate in the CME programme, on payment of an annual fee. Participation in CME has been voluntary to date. With the commencement of the RCPIs Professional Competence Schemes on May 1, 2011 the RCPI Voluntary CME Programme will cease on April 30, 2011 CME activities for the period January to April 2011 may still be recorded with the RCPI free of charge. The deadline for receipt of all CME returns is August 31, 2011.

1.3

The New Professional Competence Scheme

The Medical Practitioners Act 2007 places a statutory obligation on all registered Medical Practitioners to maintain their professional competence by participating in recognised Professional Competence Schemes. As a body accredited by the Medical Council, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI has developed a Professional Competence Scheme, in accordance with Medical Council guidelines, to provide participants with a way of formally documenting their participation in professional development activities. The new Professional Competence Scheme is designed to promote self directed and practice-based learning activities rather than supervised training. As well as promoting personal professional development the Scheme aims to promote activities that maintain and develop the competencies, e.g. professionalism, knowledge skills and attitudes of the individual practitioner, which are essential for meeting the changing needs of patients and the healthcare delivery system. It will also encourage participants to plan, record and reflect on professional development needs, as part of their pursuit for lifelong learning. The Scheme will consist of two elements initially: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Clinical Audit

Multi-Source Feedback will be added to the Scheme at a later stage in accordance with Medical Council guidelines.

6 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

1.4

Process Map
RMP accepts Terms and Conditions of Scheme

RMP completes Online Application to participate in Professional Competence Scheme

RMP pays annual fee TB validates application and RMP enrolled onto Professional Competence Scheme

RMP records CPD and Clinical Audit activities

TB issues RMP with annual summary certificate

RMP makes annual declaration of PCS compliance to MC

TB conducts Annual Verification Audit

TB submits PCS Report to MC

RMP Registered Medical Practitioner TB Training Body MC Medical Council PCS Professional Competence Scheme

7 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

2.

PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME

The following principles underpin the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme and are the principles by which the Institutes Professional Competence Scheme will operate: 1. Each individual practitioner is responsible for the maintenance of their professional competence through meaningful participation in activities that enable them to do so. The activities should be planned in advance and should reflect and be relevant to his or her current and future profile of professional practice and performance. As practitioners may perform many roles for example, clinical, teaching, research, management, the activities undertaken should reflect all these roles. 2. The Scheme will include activities both within and outside the employing institution, where there is one, and a balance of learning methods which include a component of active learning. Participants will collect evidence to record this process, using a structured portfolio cataloguing the different activities. 3. The Scheme will be open to all doctors on the Specialist Division in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 4. Credits awarded for CPD will be based on one credit equating to one hour of educational activity. To achieve compliance participants are required to earn a minimum of 50 credits per year. 5. Formal accreditation of the quality of educational activities will be achieved with minimum bureaucracy and with complete reciprocity between Colleges/Faculties for all approved activities. The accreditation process and criteria will be such as to ensure the quality and likely effectiveness of the activity. 6. Self-accreditation of educational activities will require evidence. This may be produced as a documented reflection. Evidence of attendance at accredited meetings must be provided. 7. Participation in a Professional Competence Scheme and compliance to its terms will be confirmed by an annual certificate issued to participants based on submitted returns. 8. Failure to produce sufficient evidence to support claimed credits may result in the participant being subject to the verification audit process. Falsification of evidence for activities will result in referral to the Medical Council. 9. Support and advice will be provided to participants who are having difficulty in complying with the terms of the Scheme.

8 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

3.
3.1

OVERVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME

Governance

Part 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 was enacted on 1st May 2010. From 1 May 2011 all doctors registered on the Specialist and General Divisions of the Medical Register will be obliged to be enrolled on a Professional Competence Schemes. These Schemes will provide doctors with a way of formally documenting their participation in professional development activities. At a ceremony held in the Medical Council on 30th March 2011, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI was formally accredited for the purpose of operating Professional Competence Schemes on behalf of the Medical Council. Full details of responsibilities in relation to Professional Competence Schemes for the Medical Council, Training Bodies, Registered Medical Practitioners and Employers can be viewed here. Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists , as a recognised Training Body and a constituent body of RCPI will provide the following in relation to its Professional Competence Scheme:Enrolment of Registered Medical Practitioners onto appropriate Professional Competence Scheme Provision of tools, documents and guides to support PCS participants Online ePortfolio for PCS participants to plan, record and monitor their professional development activities Provision of professional development activities designed to support the PCS participants in their maintenance of professional competence Provision of Annual Summary Certificates to PCS participants Provision of Annual PCS Report to Medical Council The Institute is represented on the RCPI Education & Professional Development Committee, which has oversight of all Professional Competence Schemes within RCPI to ensure co-ordination and collaboration across all Schemes. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as a constituent training body of RCPI, is supported by the governance, administrative framework and resources provided by RCPI.

Scheme Management and Administration The RCPIs Professional Competence Department will be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the Schemes.

9 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

The Professional Competence Department, which is part of the Operations Function of the College, is staffed by a Manager of Professional Competence and two administrative support staff. The Department will be responsible for:The ongoing development of policies, principles and procedures required to underpin the development and delivery of Professional Competence Schemes in the College The management and administration of systems and processes to facilitate the enrolment of participants and the recording, collation and reporting of compliance The provision of ongoing support to PCS participants The preparation of reports The day-to-day support to the RCPI Education & Professional Development Committee, Scheme participants etc Engagement with key stakeholders The staff of RCPIs Professional Competence Department will liaise with the Responsible Medical Officer and the Executive Council of the Institute with regard to the management and administration of the Scheme. The Responsible Medical Officer for the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme is: Dr Michael ODowd MD, FRCPI, FRCOG, DCH, DA Chairman, Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI

3.2

Participants

All Practitioners on the Specialist Division of the Register must enrol in an accredited Professional Competence Scheme. This requirement applies to all practitioners irrespective of their current status e.g. retired, working part-time, living and working overseas. The Institutes Professional Competence Scheme Specialist Division shall facilitate the enrolment of Medical Practitioners on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council Register in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

10 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

3.3

Aims

Aims of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme That participants are involved in continuing educational activities directed at enhancing clinical standards throughout their professional careers Demonstrate to patients, peers, government bodies and the community at large, that participants are committed to programmes of continuing professional development Provide a structured programme to support participation in professional development activities

3.4

Domains of Good Professional Practice

The Medical Councils eight Domains of Good Professional Practice set out the principles on which good practice is founded. These principles together describe medical professionalism in action. Practitioners enrolled on the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Competence Scheme will be required, using the Councils eight Domains of Good Professional Practice to: Reflect on their practice Identify areas of practice where they are required to stay up to date Identify areas of practice they wish to further progress and Develop their Professional Development Plan in line with the above Within the CPD and Clinical Audit framework practitioners will be best placed to choose the activities that reflect their educational needs and will be expected to make a judgement on the value of a particular activity. They will also be expected to map their activities against the relevant Domain(s) of Good Professional Practice and ensure that the activities undertaken during the course of a five year cycle encompasses all eight domains.

11 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

3.5

How to Enrol on a Professional Competence Scheme

Doctors will enrol on Professional Competence Schemes using an online application form. It is important that you choose the correct Scheme to enrol on. Please check the entry requirements for the Scheme before you complete an online application form. Once your enrolment is complete, you will be given access to ePortfolio for Professional Competence and instructions on how to use this tool to record and monitor your progress throughout the professional competence year.

Annual Fee The enrolment fee for a Professional Competence Scheme is 250. You must renew your enrolment each year and a notice will be sent to you when payment becomes due. If you already pay an annual fee to RCPI for a College or Faculty affiliation, you will be entitled to a small discount.

12 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

4.
4.1

SCHEME REQUIREMENTS
Participation in CPD

There is a five year cycle of accreditation and to achieve compliance participants must earn at a minimum: 50 credits per year 250 credits per five year cycle PCS participants will be required to meet the following requirements which are a common framework for all approved Professional Competence Schemes:

CATEGORY 1 External (Maintenance of Knowledge and Skills) 20 credits per year (minimum) 100 credits per five year cycle (minimum) This category includes attendance at regional, national or international scientific meetings; College, Faculty or Institute meetings; and specialty relevant courses, workshops or seminars, diploma or other courses. CATEGORY 2 Internal (Practice Evaluation & Development) 20 credits per year (minimum) 100 credits per five year cycle (minimum) This category includes case conferences, journal clubs and other educational activities that are departmentbased, hospital-based or practice-based. CATEGORY 3 Personal Learning 5 credits per year (minimum) 25 credits per five year cycle (minimum) CATEGORY 4 Research or Teaching 2 credits per year (desirable) 10 credits per five year cycle (desirable)

13 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

Table of CPD Activities for Obstetrics & Gynaecology Category External (Maintenance of Knowledge and Skills) Example Activities National meeting Examples: Institute, sub-specialities, perinatal Scientific Meetings Master classes Conferences Credits 20 credits minimum per year 100 credits minimum per cycle 1 credit per hour

Events/activities accredited by International meeting Training Bodies that meet educational Examples: standards (in person or virtually) Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) American Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society Other National Societies and Colleges Courses approved by the Institute National guideline development meeting National audit meeting Contribution to confidential enquiry (CMACE Ireland) Membership of MRCPI/Institute/RCOG committee with Educational Content MOET course or equivalent* RCOG Advanced Labour Ward Practice course / Senior Staff Conference* Accreditation in a CTG education programme* Planned learning projects e.g. MD, PhD 14 Version 2 30 April 2013

*Attendees may claim two credits per hour for these courses

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

Category Internal (Practice Evaluation & Development)

Example Activities Hospital/Practice O&G audits including the development or review of departmental guidelines Root cause analysis eg adverse labour outcomes, sentinel events, major adverse incidents Perinatal mortality/morbidity meetings Clinico-pathological meetings Multidisciplinary team meetings relating to patient care Grand Rounds Journal Clubs Study Days

Credits 20 credits minimum per year 100 credits minimum per cycle 1 credit per hour

Activities that develop and improve the quality of clinical practice

Personal Learning

CD-ROM/internet tests, eg DIALOG, StratOG.net RCOG MCQs General claim e.g. professional reading of texts and electronic media (Cochrane Library, Medline, Medscape, etc)

5 credits minimum per year 25 credits minimum per cycle 1 credit per hour

15 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

Category Research or Teaching

Example Activities

Credits 5 credits minimum per year 25 credits minimum per cycle

Formal presentations at conferences or meetings Publication of paper, book or book chapter

5 credits per paper

1 credit per hour to a maximum of 5 credits per publication

Reviewer of articles for scientific journals or medical publications

2 credits per review (points credited by College staff)

RCOG pamphlet review Teaching e.g., didactic lectures/tutorials, bedside tutorials, teaching rounds Clinical skills workshops ALSO / ACLS Mentoring (in house) 2 credits per day of mentoring 1 credit per hour

Registered trainer in BST, RTP, HST or FTTA programmes

1 credit per hour

Exam setting, correcting exam papers, OSCE examination (Undergraduate or postgraduate)

1 credit per hour to a maximum of 20 credits per CPD cycle

16 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

*Medically related advanced degrees Masters, PhD programmes sponsored by University, College, Institute or accredited Training Body. The number of credits is to be agreed in advance. ** Online Courses Courses will only qualify for accreditation by the Training Body in the External category if the following criteria are fulfilled: - Course provides for some type of learner interaction or self-assessment - Course objectives describe what the participants may learn or achieve by participating in the course - Course provides access to appropriate bibliographic sources that allow for further study; and that reinforce and clarify specific activity topics - Practitioner produces evidence of activity and/or completion e.g. a certificate of completion of a module Providers, when applying for accreditation, should establish a good faith estimate on the amount of time a physician will take to complete the activity and satisfy its purpose and/or learning objectives. ***Personal Learning Personal learning is recognised as an important element of CPD, however this type of learning is generally unverifiable. ****Question Setting The questions must be at a depth and scope that require a review of the literature and a knowledge of the evidence base to answer the questions. To qualify for CPD credits the questions should be peer reviewed.

17 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

4.2

Approval of External (Category 1) Activities

Educational events organised specifically for the purposes of CPD are eligible for CPD approval under Category 1 External, for example an academic or scientific meeting organised by a medical society. Providers of approved CPD activities should meet the Approval Quality Criteria set out below:

The event should be predominantly aimed at post-training physicians. The event should be of relevance to the pursuit of a physicians clinical, educational, research and other professional activities. Providers should list all of the sponsors that are involved with the meeting. Providers should list any commercial interests that the presenters or speakers have. The learning objectives should reflect measurable outcomes, and use action verbs such as evaluate, identify, review etc. Providers should include details about what the event hopes to achieve, and how this will be put into practice. Providers should include a detailed programme of the event. This should include an hourly breakdown and a brief description of the session. Providers should include a full list of speakers/facilitators. This must include details about the posts they hold, where they are based and what speaking experience they have in relation to the topic discussed.

CPD Activities which require approval: 1. Conferences, symposia, short training courses, workshops and seminars organized locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. 2. Long training courses, degree/diploma, research projects etc.

18 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

4.3

Earning Credits

Credits will generally be calculated as one credit for one hour of activity. Individual practitioners may claim less credit than the one credit for one hour guideline if they deem the particular activity worth lesser credits. When calculating the number of hours for attendance at meetings etc, the total number of hours should not include registration, opening address and breaks.

4.4

Recording and Documenting Professional Competence Activities

To facilitate the effective and efficient recording and monitoring of professional competence activities RCPI is undertaking the development of a new ePortfolio system. To this end, RCPI are engaging with NES (NHS Education for Scotland) to deliver the RCPI ePortfolio an online system to record data relating to professional competence activities. The new ePortfolio system will provide a platform for recording CPD and Clinical Audit activities against defined targets and it will also be used as a mechanism to provide evidence of compliance with the standards set by the Schemes. ePortfolio will be available to Scheme participants in Autumn 2011. In the interim, doctors are required to record their CPD and Clinical Audit activities using the following forms: Category 1 - External Form Category 2 - Internal form Category 3 - Personal Learning Form Category 4 - Research or Teaching Form Clinical Audit Form Maintenance of Records Participants are obliged to record their CPD and Clinical Audit activities on a regular basis and to retain documentary evidence to support credits claimed. Records should be retained for a minimum of 6 years or as advised by the Medical Council and are not to be submitted to RCPI unless requested as part of a Verification Audit Process.

19 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

Examples of documentary evidence include: Local/National/International meetings Attendance certificates Medically Related Advanced Degrees Copy of Diploma or final transcript Research Copy of published articles first page Poster Presentation Copy of page from Conference proceedings that lists the poster abstract and identifies the presenter Postgraduate Trainer/Examiner/Question Setting Confirmed by relevant Training Body Personal Learning Self-documented Internal category activities register of attendance/sign-in sheet

Good Professional Practice The Medical Councils eight Domains of Good Professional Practice set out the principles on which good practice is founded. These principles together describe medical professionalism in action. Doctors enrolled on Professional Competence Schemes will be expected to map their activities against the relevant Medical Council Domains of Good Professional Practice and ensure that the activities undertaken during the course of a five year cycle encompasses all eight domains. Annual Certificate A summary annual certificate will be issued each year to demonstrate that doctors are enrolled on a Scheme and setting out a statement of credits recorded.

4.5

Participation in Clinical Audit

All Registered Medical Practitioners must be actively engaged in clinical audit and at a minimum participate in one audit exercise annually that relates directly to their practice. It is recommended that practitioners spend at a minimum one hour per month in audit activity. Clinical audit is recognised as having three elements: 1. Measurement measuring a specific element of clinical practice 2. Comparison comparing results with the recognised standard (in circumstances where comparison is possible) 3. Evaluation reflecting on outcome of audit and changing practice accordingly It is recognised that the audit structure for Ireland will change over the coming years and Schemes will need to be adapted to reflect these changes.

20 Version 2 30 April 2013

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE SCHEME INSTITUTE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS, RCPI

Table of Clinical Audit Activities for Obstetrics & Gynaecology Category Clinical Audit Example Activities Personal Clinical practice Clinical outcome measures Departmental Guideline development and audit RCOG maternity dashboard National Guideline development and audit Confidential enquiry Perinatal morbidity and mortality Credits Minimum 1 audit per year. Recommended that practitioners spend 1 hour per month on audit activity

Audit activities should be focused on the practice of the practitioner and not on the processes.

5.

ANNUAL VERIFICATION AUDIT

The RCPI Education & Professional Development Committee will undertake an annual audit of a random percentage of Scheme participants to verify their supporting documentation. If randomly selected for audit, participants will be required to produce their Personal Portfolio as evidence of their professional activities. CPD records without appropriate verification evidence will be removed from the portfolio and the participant may be re-audited to ensure compliance with the requirements for the scheme.

21 Version 2 30 April 2013