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Performance/Competency and Retraining

Please Note: The RACMA Office is closed Tuesday 7 November 2023 due to a Public Holiday in Victoria.

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Approval Date: March 2016
Review Date: March 2018
Review By:
   Continuing Education Program Committee
   Education and Training Committee
   RACMA Board


Purpose 

The purpose of this regulation is to outline the conditions under which a retraining program is necessary. This is to ensure the competency of Fellows returning to active practice from protracted leave or who have identified themselves as requiring retraining, or have been identified by a Regional Health Board, Medical Board or Medical Council as requiring retraining.

Scope

This regulation applies to all Fellows of The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) and those who are re-activating Fellowship of the College.

Policy

Leave periods and Requirements for Continuing Education

Protracted leave may occur for a variety of reasons, for example, prolonged illness, maternity leave, long service leave, returning to work after retirement etc. All periods of leave beyond 12 months must be authorised by the Chair Continuing Education Program (CEP) Committee by applying in writing.

If a Fellow has been away from active practice as a medical administrator for up to a year, they may be granted exemption from CEP. If a member’s absence is between one and three years, they must complete a minimum of one year of CEP activities (as detailed within the RACMA CEP Manual) prior to recommencement/reactivation. If evidence of CPD appropriate for the medical administrator is presented, re-activation may be awarded within this 12 month period.

If the absence is for greater than three years, Australian Registered Fellows must provide a plan for professional development to the Medical Board of Australia (refer to 5(c) of the Board’s Continuing professional development registration standard) and participate in the College’s retraining program as detailed in the RACMA Performance / Competency and Retraining Policy and Procedure.

For New Zealand registered FRACMAs, The Medical Council of New Zealand specifies that if a practitioner has not had an annual practicing certificate for three years then the Medical Council requires that “the doctor must submit a detailed induction plan” .



External requests for retraining

The aim of a retraining program is to enable the Fellow to achieve the same standard of safe practice as their peers currently working in unsupervised practice.

External requests for retraining of RACMA Fellows must be made in writing detailing the reasons for the request.

Requests may be either lodged by the Fellow or by relevant authorities such as a regional health board, medical board or council. A Fellow may submit a request for retraining in order to satisfy the requirements of their medical board or council eg. after a prolonged period of leave. A medical board or council may submit a request for retraining in the event of adverse events, complaints, reports or unsatisfactory performance.



Retraining program

Once received, acknowledged and assessed, the Chair CEP Committee will oversight the process. If it is established that a Fellow must undergo retraining, they must complete the pathway to reinstatement as detailed in the RACMA Performance / Competency and Retraining Policy and Procedure.



Related documents
The following references were used to assist in the preparation of this RACMA policy:

  • RACMA Performance / Competency and Retraining Policy and Procedure
  • RACMA CEP Exemptions Regulation
  • RACMA Recording CEP Participation Regulation
  • RACMA Medical Leadership and Management Curriculum 2011
  • Continuing professional development registration standard- Medical Board of Australia
  • Recency of practice registration standard- Medical Board of Australia
  • Fact sheet – Information on returning to practice – Medical Board of Australia
  • Recertification and Continuing Professional Development – Medical Council of New Zealand
  • Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications for the Practice of Medicine in New Zealand – Medical Council of New Zealand
  • National Guidelines for Credentials and Clinical Privileges – Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care
  • Policy on doctors returning to medical practice after an absence from practice for three or more years- Medical Council of New Zealand
  • RACMA CEP Manual
  • Sections 11 and 12 Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003
  • Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the RACMA Constitution
  • RACMA website and eCEP platform