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Reflective Practice
Many people would argue that all medical practice should be reflective. At medical schools, a reflective attitude to medical practice may be encouraged through student selected components/special study modules in other subjects such as humanities. Used more formally, the term reflective practice is also an aspect of experiential learning and involves thinking back to some performance and identifying what was done well and what improvements can be made. It can involve either ‘reflection in action’ or ‘reflection on action’. The reflection involves an assessment of what was done against other possible causes of action and how outcomes may have differed. This learning can then be applied to future situations to develop and enhance practice. Reflective practice allows both medical students and practicing doctors to continually review and re-shape their approaches and develop their skills to deal with situations [47].
Regional advisers
Royal colleges use regional specialty advisers to help coordinate post graduate medical education in their specialty. It is expected that regional specialty advisers will elect a chairman from amongst them who will act as a regional adviser. The role of the regional advisor is to provide a link between the royal college, the university or universities and the postgraduate dean. It is important for the regional adviser to be part of the regional postgraduate organisation and to have a close working relationship with regional specialty advisers, surgical tutors, hospital trust managers and the postgraduate dean. Regional advisers will normally represent their royal college at meetings of the postgraduate medical and dental board which is chaired by the postgraduate dean. This board will generally meet two or three times a year to review overall training policy in the region.
Research assessment exercise (RAE)
Universities’ research funding is determined by the research assessment exercise (RAE) which rates the research quality of universities’ departments. April 2003 saw the completion of a review of the research assessment process. The white paper The future of higher education called on the UK Higher Education Funding Bodies to identify the best research departments for further research funding. Visit the HEFCE site on RAEs here or refer to the BMA report Doctors as teachers (2006).
Revalidation
Revalidation is a process that has been long discussed but not yet introduced. The General Medical Council (GMC) has been awaiting the outcomes of the Chief Medical Officer’s report into regulation: Good doctors, safer patients.
The principle behind revalidation is patient safety in ascertaining a doctor’s fitness to practice. It is a combination of:
- The doctor demonstrating that they are up to date and have been practising medicine in line with the principles set out in Good Medical Practice
The GMC confirming that the doctor’s licence to practise will continue
The GMC has published Licence to practice and revalidation. This explains the revalidation process. The BMA has been working with the GMC on revalidation providing support and constructive criticism. BMJ Learning have some practical tips on how to prepare for revalidation.
Record of In Training Assessment (RITA)
RITA is the record of in training assessment. It is a record of the annual review of a specialist registrar’s progress through the training programme. RITA is part of the assessment process but is not in itself a means of assessment. It is concerned with regulating progress towards the attainment of the certificate of completion of training (CCT). RITAs should normally be completed by the trainee and the postgraduate dean or his or her staff. The postgraduate dean should maintain a training record folder for each SpR where completed RITA forms are stored. A copy of the completed RITA forms is also sent to the relevant Royal College and Faculty. RITA is applicable to all specialist registrars whose progress through a training programme is assessed. It comprises seven forms in total though a maximum of two will be completed during any single review. Parallel forms exist in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further information on RITA, including copies of the seven forms involved, can be obtained from the Department of Health.
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is an independent society founded in the 18th century. It aims to:
- provide a broad range of educational activities and opportunities for doctors, dentists, and veterinary surgeons, including students of these disciplines; and allied health-care professionals
- promote an exchange of information and ideas on the science, practice and organisation of medicine, both within the health professions and with responsible and informed public opinion.
For more information visit the RSM website here.
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