This document outlines the requirements and guidelines for the Professional Competence Scheme operated by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Surgeons must complete a minimum of 50 credits each year from activities in several categories: external activities (20 credits), internal activities (20 credits), personal learning (5 credits), research and teaching (2 credits), and one audit (12 credits). Credits are earned by participating in various professional development and quality improvement activities. Surgeons record their activities and hours in an online portal, and may be audited to ensure compliance with the scheme's requirements.

1. Professional Competence Update
February 2013
Sean Tierney
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

2. Activities
Research
Personal
External Internal &
learning
teaching
Audit
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3. Activities
Research
Personal
≥20 ≥ 20
External Internal ≥5
learning ≥2&
teaching
Audit
1 audit ( 12 hours)
≥ 50
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

4. Competence domains
Specialist
General Supervised
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5. External activities
Maintenance of Knowledge and Skills
20 credits per year (min.)
• International/National Meetings Annual Millin Meeting
RCSI
2011
• Courses accredited by Training Body *
• College/Society meetings
• Medically related advanced degrees
• Online Courses
http://www.rcsi.ie/pcs
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

6. Evidence
Provided by RCSI Added to portfolio
automatically
Approved by Certificate
Training Body upload
Annual Millin Meeting
RCSI
2011
Approved by other Certificate
agency upload
other documentation
upload
1 hour = 1 credit; 6 credits per day
http://www.rcsi.ie/pcs
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

7. Internal activities
• Practice Evaluation & Development
• 20 credits per year (min.)
• Morbidity and Mortality • Peer Review Groups
Meetings • Activities related to analysing
• Clinical Risk Meetings patient and/or department
• Case Presentations outcomes
• Chart Reviews • Activities related to patient
• Grand Rounds satisfaction surveys
• Multi-disciplinary Meetings • Activities related to the
organisation or review of surgical
• Committee work services
– 5 credits p.a. max
– e.g. Head of Department
and Clinical Unit meetings
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8. Evidence
Attendance Certificate
records
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9. Evidence
Attendance Certificate
records upload
Schedule
upload
Letter
upload
other document
upload
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10. Personal learning
5 credits minimum
• Self directed education, training or assessment
activities (eg Journal reading)
• Participation in professional development
workshops/courses
• Volunteer or outreach activities
• ? Journal clubs
• ? E-Learning
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

11. Evidence
• Record
• Reflection
• Document ?
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12. Research & training
2 recommended
• Lectures, tutorials
• Examiner for Postgraduate Training
Body
• Publishing articles
• Scientific Presentation
• Question Setting
• Participation in the mentoring &
counselling of surgical trainees
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

13. Evidence
Paper
upload
Abstract
upload
Programme or
schedule
upload
Letters etc.
upload
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

14. Audit
1 audit annually (equivalent to 1 hr per month)
• Measurement
– specific elements of clinical practice such as frequency of day
case, average length of stay, number of bed days
– Recording outcomes (frequency of occurrence of adverse
events or complication rates)
• Comparison
– with the recognized standard or literature proven outcomes
• Evaluation
– reflecting on outcome of audit and how learning is built into
practice development or improvement.
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

15. Evidence
Certificate
National Audit
upload
Summary doc
upload
Abstract/paper
upload
• NOCA (RCSI)
– IASM
– Joint registry
• Other national audits
• International
– Cardiothoracic
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

16. Recording
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17. Recording
Colles Portal
email address
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18. Recording
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19. How to record
pcs.rcsi.ie http://vimeo.com/53012147 pcs@rcsi.ie

20. Timeline
• 2011-12 cycle ended 30/04/2012
• 2012-13 cycle ends 30/04/2013
• …
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

21. Each Year minimum
Research
Personal
≥20 ≥ 20
External Internal ≥5
learning ≥2&
teaching
Audit
1 audit ( 12 hours)
≥ 50
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

22. Timeline
• End of year returns
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23. Timeline
• Certificate available y/e 30/04/2012
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24. Non-compliant
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25. Verification
3%
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26. Audit (medical council)
5%
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27. Below target
• One year
– counselled
– offered assistance within available
resources
• Second year
– counselled
– offered assistance within available
resources
– ± verification audit
• Third in five years
– ± notification to the Medical Council
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29. Complaints
pcs.rcsi.ie http://goo.gl/ky140 pcs@rcsi.ie

30. “Supporting surgeons…”
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31. Newsletter (events)
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32. Audit compliance
PCS Medical
(RCSI) Council
NOCA
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35. Professional support
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37. “Supporting surgeons…”
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38. Future developments
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39. Feedback
• Why do we have to do this?
• Aren’t retired doctors different?
• Technical issues
– Passwords
– Adding records
– Can I use my iphone?
• I can’t find/access suitable activities
• Helpdesk - over 70% satisfied.
pcs.rcsi.ie pcs@rcsi.ie

40. pcs@rcsi.ie
@school4surgeons
http://www.slideshare.net/stierney