So, you’ve sat your exams and thanks to your hard work and dedication you’ve smashed it and passed! Now what do you do… Unfortunately, it doesn’t all end with passing your exams. This guide will get you on your way to become a fully-fledged, qualified Physician Associate.
This post was written with help from my good friend and fellow PA Claire, you can follow her on Twitter @Clairelathepa
To help you on this journey of understanding, here’s a bit of background information on the key players:
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is oldest medical college in England. It plays an important role in raising standards and shaping public health. The RCP hosts the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA).
The FPA is the professional membership body providing professional support to physician associates across the UK. The FPA are campaigning for progress and change in the profession, advising government, and taking part in national debates on medical, clinical and public health issues. Now onto the fun part…
#1 Join the PAMVR
PAMVR = Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register. The FPA oversees and administers the running of the PAMVR. Once you’re told you’ve passed your exams, you need to join the register and better do it quickly as it can take weeks for registration to go through. Most (if not all) employers will require evidence of registration before allowing you to work so this is a crucial step.
Membership costs £205 a year and gives you free access to the CPD diary (explained in #2), subscriptions to RCP publications, discounts on a range of RCP conferences and more. Once registered you’ll be given your unique MVR code, I use mine when writing in notes to identify myself. You can join on here https://www.fparcp.co.uk/join/pa-membership
#2 CPD
CPD = Continuing Professional Development. This part confuses so many people! The FPA requires all PAs to complete the CPD Diary in order for them to remain on the PAMVR. CPD involves continuing your learning both inside and outside of work. This can be clinical, non-clinical and personal.
You have to ensure you meet the minimum credits to pass your CPD. 50 credits are required per year and are broken down as follows:
External credits - Minimum requirement is 25. Examples – PA RCP conference, ILS
Internal credits – There are no restrictions. Examples - Trust/GP teaching, grand rounds etc.
Personal credits – Only 10 may count towards the total annual minimum credit requirement. However, you may record as many Personal credits as you have completed. Examples - RCP e-learning modules, private reading.
1 hour = 1 credit. Over 5 years you need 250 credits on a 5-year rolling basis in line with re-validation. The CPD year runs from 1st April to 31st March with a three-month grace period, up to the 30th June. You can submit your credits online or on the app and will need to complete a reflection for each submission. For more information check out https://www.fparcp.co.uk/your-career/cpd
#3 Portfolio
The FPA recommends a structured programme of specific educational goals be developed to help support the first year of employment. This means that you should set goals early on in your employment and identify opportunities to learn and get involved. They recommend meeting at regular intervals with your supervisor and establishing a list of patient cases to develop a case-based portfolio. This can involve Case Based Discussions (CBDs) and Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercises (Mini-CEXs).
CBDs = Discussing a case where the assessor will evaluate practice and judgement.
Mini-CEXs = Summarising a learning event where assessor comments on physical exam, clinical judgement, organisation/ efficacy, overall performance and what to improve.
DOPs = Direct observation of procedural skill- this will allow you to provide evidence of your competence in extended clinical skills e.g. lumbar puncture, ascitic drain insertion or tap.
So essentially your portfolio is a collection of CBDs, Mini-CEXs, DOPs and any form of feedback you’ve received. I keep a folder with my paper documents in and even took a copy of a patient’s letter that specifically named me as evidence of patient feedback!
More information here https://www.fparcp.co.uk/webapp/data/media/59312140ceb3e_PA_Internship_Year_Documentation.pdf
and here
#4 Indemnity
The FPA states that Physician associates require professional indemnity coverage in order to practice in the UK. In secondary care some form of indemnity may be provide by your employer but this should be discussed in employment. In primary care, PAs must take out professional negligence (indemnity) insurance unless provided by the employer.
My understanding is that employer cover will only apply if Trust policies have been adhered to, and given our new role in many Trusts, we aren't necessarily written into policies. Given this, I have my own indemnity cover and would advise other PAs to source this also. More information can be found on page 3 under Indemnity arrangements https://www.fparcp.co.uk/webapp/data/media/59fc48cfaa576_PA_employers_guide_WEB_REVISE_21SEPT.pdf
Fingers crossed that's made things much clearer for you and shed some light on the work that must carry on once qualified.
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