Professional Competence Scheme

Background

The enactment of Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 in May 2010 meant that all doctors who were not on recognised Basic or Higher Specialist Training Schemes were required to be part of a Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) approved by the Medical Council.

Situation for Emergency Medicine

The Medical Council currently recognises the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) as the body under whose aegis Emergency Medicine falls. RCSI in turn recognises that the Irish Committee on Emergency Medicine Training (ICEMT) has the professional and EM expertise to manage EM training in Ireland on its behalf. Prior to May 2011, ICEMT was known as the Advisory Committee on Emergency Medicine Training (ACEMT).

Although the PCS for EM is a part of the RCSI's larger PCS project, the EM element of it has been created by ICEMT and is fit for purpose for EM in Ireland.

Explanatory information about the PCS for Emergency Medicine prior to launch

Below are a covering letter to all members of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine and others in EM to whom the requirements to be a member of a PCS apply, from Dr Gareth Quin, Chair of ICEMT/ACEMT and a document prepared by ICEMT/ACEMT on the PCS. This was issued in advance of the launch of the scheme.

• Letter from Dr Gareth Quin, Chair ICEMT/ACEMT 21st April 2011
• ICEMT/ACEMT Professional Competence Scheme for Emergency Medicine April 2011

Current Information about the PCS for Emergency Medicine

ICEMT issued a 2nd Edition of the Guide to the Professional Competence Scheme for Emergency Medicine in April 2012. This document includes more details about the process for obtaining accreditation for CPD credits.

PCS Website

The RCSI PCS Website has been accessible for doctors in EM to enrol and begin making their returns in the domains specified by the Medical Council since May 2011.

Accessible below are dowloadable versions of forms that may be used to record particular types of CPD activity.

PCS Forms

• Form for recording Personal Learning Activity
• Form for recording Audit Activity

Application for CPD Approval

RCSI has an online facility to aply for accreditation of an EM meeting or educational event for CPD credits. On the electronic form linked below, please select Emergency Medicine in the Academic Discipline Dropdown menu, complete the form and upload the relevant information required. CPD points will be issued by RCSI after review of the submitted material by ICEMT.

• Online Application Form for CPD Approval