Continuing Professional Development in Medicine

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• CPD is the process by which professionals maintain knowledge and skills related to their career
• CPD in medicine involves education following formal training and helps professionals maintain and improve knowledge, problem-solving, technical skills, and professional standards to provide better patient care.

Aims of CPD

• CPD activities strive to maintain and improve care quality for patients and the public.
• They also aim to standardise teams and services.
• CPD keeps professionals up-to-date and competent in their work, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement, and exploring new knowledge, skills, and behaviours.

Responsibility for Personal Learning

• Individuals are responsible for identifying their CPD needs.
• They plan how to address those needs and undertake CPD to support professional development and practice.

Identification of Needs

• CPD activities should be shaped by assessments of both individual professional needs and the needs of the services and the people who use it.

Outcomes

• Reflect on learning from CPD and record any impact on performance and practice, including expected future impact.

Motivation for CPD

• Professionals are motivated by the drive to provide optimal patient care.
• They also feel an obligation to meet employer and societal demands.
• Professionals are motivated by the need to preserve job satisfaction and avoid burnout.

Nature of CPD

• CPD primarily involves self-directed and practice-based learning, rather than supervised training.

Providers of CPD Activities

• Medical schools/universities
• Postgraduate institutes
• Professional organisations
• National or international scientific organisations
• Local or national health authorities
• Pharmaceutical/medico-technical industry

Evaluation and Recognition

• Accredited hours
• Personal portfolio or log-book

CME vs CPD

• CME focuses on continuing education in medical knowledge and skills.
• CPD is a broader concept, encompassing multiple facets of medical practice, including medical, managerial, social, and personal aspects for high-quality professional performance.

Content of CPD Activity

• Good professional practice
• Maintaining good medical practice
• Relationships with patients
• Working with colleagues
• Teaching and training
• Probity and health

Standards of CPD

• Mission and outcomes
• Learning methods
• Planning and documentation
• Individual doctor
• CPD providers
• Educational context and resources
• Evaluation of methods and competencies
• Organisation
• Continuous renewal

Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)

• A PDP manages the process of keeping evidence and achievements (both personal and professional) in a convenient way for the individual.

Advantages of Using Portfolios

• Integrate individual achievements into the improvement process
• Provide effective CPD at minimal cost with maximum impact
• Encourage a culture of support and recognition
• Reveal unutilized talents and skills
• Build on existing resources
• Signal needs for change within the school
• Provide evidence for standards of Investors in People
• Provide evidence for Self Evaluation for Ofsted

Why Keep a Portfolio?

• Remind yourself of the quality of your work
• Renew your sense of self-esteem
• Create opportunities to manage your own CPD
• Use CPD as a learning means
• Be at the heart of professional discussion
• Support shared good practice
• Prepare for performance reviews

What Constitutes a Portfolio?

• Job description
• Up-to-date CV
• Certificates and qualifications
• Performance review details and targets
• Work observation reports
• Examples of own work
• Presentations
• Contributions to newsletters/publications
• Leadership activities
• Courses attended and evaluations
• Letters of thanks
• Thank-you notes
• Photographs

Reasons to Keep an Up-to-Date CPD Portfolio

• Reflect and develop
• Boost self-esteem
• Remind you of good work
• Record your CPD
• Collect and update personal data
• Self-audit strengths and areas for development
• Support sharing of good practice

Good Medical Practice

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