 Dr Kim Hill
As part of the College's Continuing Education Program, an on-line system where Fellows and Members record and report their participation in CEP, and that facilitates CEP Coordinators, the National Director Continuing Education/Recertification and the National Secretariat in undertaking their roles in relation to approval and certification, is being developed.
At their meeting on 14 June 2007, Council endorsed the concept of on-line CEP as a priority for the College, based on proposals developed by the CEP Committee and the Chief Executive Officer. Following discussions at Council Executive, the first phase of the On-Line CEP Tool is expected to be available for review by attendees at the National Conference in August 2007, with provision to gain feedback on the online tool from conference attendees.
In relation to preparations for the Australian Medical Council Review in 2008, the CEP Committee held a workshop at the National Secretariat on 17 April 2007 to review progress, with particular reference to the standards relating to Continuing Education Programs. This workshop involved Dr Susannah Ahern, who has been appointed to assist with the development of the RACMA AMC submission. The outcome of this Workshop included identification of need for policy review around retraining and performance management and the development of a position paper for Council in relation mandatory participation in Continuing Education, as well as a plan for finalising the Continuing Education sections of the AMC Report. Dr Ahern was complimented on her progress to date, and has successfully captured the key developmental components of CEP as well as current practices.
As part of evaluating our Continuing Education Program, the 2007 CEP Survey was developed under the auspices of the RACMA CEP Committee to survey Fellows and Members of the College about aspects of the Continuing Education Program. The Survey was conducted through the College website in June 2007, and 177 responses were received from the approximately 450 Fellows and Members surveyed (~40% response rate).
The Report on the outcomes of the Survey will provide useful feedback about experiences of the College’s Continuing Education Program, and feedback about the outcomes of the Survey will be provided to Fellows and Members, with thanks to those who contributed, once the report is finalised. As the College is currently preparing for accreditation with AMC, the survey data, together with a more in-depth analysis of participation patterns, is being used in strategic development of the CEP program. This process of evaluation also reflects priorities within the College’s Strategic Plan 2006-2009 and the Council’s endorsement, through the 2007-2008 budget process, of resources to develop the CEP priorities.
As part of the annual subscription notices, the annual survey of participation in the RACMA Continuing Education Program was undertaken. Information received to date shows an overall participation rate of 63% (adjusted), which excludes honorary and retired Fellows, and 39% (unadjusted). The final report on 2007 participation rates will be completed in September 2007, once the date for subscription responses has been reached, and provided to the CEP Committee meeting in October 2007. This information is a guide of progress as the College moves towards its target of achieving 100% engagement in its Continuing Education Program by Fellows and Members.
In 2007, the RACMA Mentoring Program formally became part of the College’s Continuing Education Program. It aims to provide support in career development for new Fellows by the establishment of a one-to-one relationship with an experienced Fellow whose professional knowledge and management skills will assist in determining career development activities and provide the opportunity for new Fellows to identify their ongoing learning objectives.
The formal re-institution of the Mentoring Program will commence in 2007. This will occur as part of the Orientation session for new Fellows at the Annual Conference, and/or by letter to the new Fellows, with particular reference to new Fellows who complete requirements at other times during the year. A Guide for Mentors is under development, and participation as a Mentor in the College’s Mentoring Program contributes to the Mentor’s own Continuing Education Program activities.
The Mentoring Program complements other Continuing Education Program initiatives of the College, and will, in addition, enhance the development of collegial networks within the College. It is also hoped that new Fellows participating in the Mentoring Program will in time become Mentors for subsequent new Fellows.
The year has also been marked by substantial review of operational procedures relating to coordination of the Continuing Education Program. Progress has been made in improving systems and documentation in areas such as the three-year certification cycle, re-establishment of reporting on participation rates, review of the CEP Manual, issues relating to records management and procedures for approval of CEP certification. Operating procedures to guide these ongoing functions have been documented, to support operational sustainability.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the RACMA CEP Committee for their substantial contributions during the past year.The College is very much dependent on the voluntary time of its State/Branch/New Zealand CEP Coordinators, and I would like to acknowledge Dr Jennifer Baker and Dr Rod Lambert (ACT), Dr Eva Pilowsky (NSW), Dr Pim Allen (New Zealand), Dr Leonie Katekar (NT), Dr Gabrielle duPreez- Wilkinson (Qld), Dr Bruce Swanson (SA), Dr Helen McArdle (Tas), Dr Bernie Street and Dr Alison MacLean (Vic) and Dr Robyn Lawrence (WA), all of whom have been part of the deliberations and achievements of the CEP Committee in 2006-2007. I would also like to thank the College Secretariat, Mr Colin Dunn, Dr Karen Owen and Ms Kathy Griffiths, who provided their support and assistance in moving CEP initiatives forward during the past year.
I hope that you will all join me in looking forward to the next productive phase of development of CEP, and I wish you a happy and prosperous year.
Dr Kim Hill
2007 Annual Report of the National Director
Continuing Education/Recertification
The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
Dr Kim Hill, The Quarterly - Vol.40 No.3 September 2007, p18-19
racma.edu.au /index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=450
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