The new triennium for QI&CPD points for 2014-2016 has begun. Now is a good time to consider Small Group Learning (SGL) to gain points in Category 1. The requirement for the RACGP requires two instances of Category 1 points for the triennium which are worth 40 points each.
Experience at Goonellabah Medical Centre
At GMC, there has been a SGL group running for the last 6 years. This group is a general practice based learning group and the ideals of the group are to provide a basis for general practitioners, general practice registrars and medical students to share knowledge and to provide peer support in a safe environment. The group is called GEM (Goonellabah Education Meetings) and is also a metaphor for the "gems" of knowledge which are imparted. The group run two cycles each triennium which , not only provides the participants with 80 Category 1 points, but also allows for reflection about topics and the aims of the group at the end of each cycle. It is not only practitioners from GMC who attend but others from Lismore. The meetings are always robust and dynamic as a result of the enthusiasm from this style of medical learning.
Accessing information about SGL
Login to the RACGP and go to My CPD page and look for resources link top right.
The QI&CPD Program Handbook is available for download in pdf format here.
In the Handbook (on the page numbered 22), there is information about the requirements. A group can choose to have a focus, for example, Womens' Health. The GEM group has chosen to follow a general practice approach and the topics discussed are quite varied. Case studies are popular and practical. Case studies may provide examples which are more broad, such as hypertension, but can be very specific, such as Conn's syndrome. An evidence-based approach to discussion topics is important to the group but the networking of ideas and suggestions provides lots of discussion.
Criteria Specific to the SGL module (taken directly from the Handbook)
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a minimum of 2 GP participants and a maximum of 12 participants
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the duration of each meeting is at least one hour
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a minimum of 6 hours meeting time must be completed by all members for each SGL cycle in order to obtain Category 1 points ( excluding planning and review meetings)
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must have a facilitator
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must convene and document a planning meeting and a review meeting
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completed a quality improvement reflection
After establishing your group, appoint a facilitator who needs to keep a reflective diary about the meetings. When all members have reached their minimum of 6 hours of meetings (excluding the planning and review meetings), documentation needs to be sent to the RACGP QI&CPD section in order for points to be allocated. The GEM group try to finish the second cycle in about September/October of the last year of the triennium in order for the points to arrive in each member's personal CPD summary in a timely fashion.
Ref: QI&CPD Program 2014-2016 Triennium Handbook
