Professional Development

 

Your education and professional development is increasingly becoming your own responsibility. Whilst you receive study leave and teaching afternoons as a VTS trainee you will find that this structured teaching dries up once you become a fully-fledged GP.

You have probably heard the word "appraisal" and perhaps seen GPs and consultants alike quake at its mere mention. In future you will be responsible for proving that your education is up to date and of a sufficiently high calibre.

During your time on the VTS you will be expected to maintain your ePortfolio and ensure that your learning is effective and documented. Revalidation and recertification seem to be a certainty for the future and it pays to get into good habits now.

The original VTS Survival Guide and Educational Portfolio formed the basis for this website. Below is Dr Penny Trafford's original introduction to the Educational Portfolio:

 

 

Continuing Medical Education (CME) for GP Principals is changing. GPs are encouraged to write Personal Education Plans (PEPS). Each doctor reflects on her clinical practice, assesses where she is and identifies the learning needs or areas into which further study or skills acquisition would be useful. After this process, an individual plan is devised to appropriately meet those needs. We are encouraged to document and keep a portfolio.

This Education Portfolio is to help you start on that process, so that when you become a GP Principal you will be well used to directing and documenting your own educational journey.

Penny Trafford
Nov 2000.

There are several tools to help you identify your learning needs and develop your own educational plan.

eg.

nPEP - online self assessment for MRCGP, access is included in your AiT package