Updated advice on how to pass your ARCP/PYA 2014

Despite Dr Bhowmik’s best attempts to ensure we were all aware of the requirements for ARCP sign off, there were a number of trainees who unexpectedly received Outcome 5s (including at least one of the reps….). So, here is a revamped list of things to consider in order to smoothly navigate the ARCP/PYA process. Also see the ARCP/PYA page for up to date information

Please note that requirements change, and will continue to change. We hope that future changes will reduce, rather than increase the assessment burden. We hope to create a Resp/GIM ARCP checklist that will be available in time for next year, incorporating any new requirements/changes.

GIM

• The acute take logbook is to confirm that you have seen a minimum of 1000 acute medical patients in your training. You can use the cases in the logbook as evidence for various aspects of the GIM curriculum e.g headache, paralysis, abdo pain etc. There are no rules as to exactly how you should structure it but people have been expected to present anonymised information for all the 1000 medical take patients. A date, the condition that the patient had and a note about any challenges or learning points would be recommended. Make sure you don’t have patient-identifiable data on anything you save to USBs or upload to your ePortfolio. (see ARCP/PYA page for example template, and remember to label clearly in your personal library so the panel can find it easily).
• ACATs are focused on showing your ability to run an acute medical take (or possibly an ITU/HDU take). You should complete 6 per year of GIM. An ACAT must contain multiple patients. We would usually expect a minimum of 6 patients’ cases listed on any single ACAT.
• GIM CPD – as far as Dr B is aware 15 hours of online CPD may be used to count towards the total of 100 hours. After a gap, GIM training days are now up and running again so trainees should be able to accumulate more hours more easily. Other options are highlighted elsewhere.
• In relation to procedures such as knee aspiration, evidence from Core training is considered too remote for the purposes of your StR ARCP and PYA. Dr B suggests you find a friendly Rheumatology StR (they often have elective lists for knee aspiration) and get signed off during your StR training. Fingers crossed this requirement will be removed from HST GIM curriculum to reflect a change is practice but you cannot rely on this…
• You should have a record of 186 non-specialist-Respiratory clinics undertaken during the whole training period (no-one knows the calculation behind this number). For most, this will not be difficult at all. People have not at present been asked to present anonymised information of all the patients seen in these clinics so a log with dates and numbers of new and follow-up patients seen would be acceptable. ‘Non-specialist’ means general Respiratory (ie not Professor X’s super-sub-specialised clinic).
• ES GIM report: a separate GIM ES report in required, in addition to a Resp ES report for all jobs that include GIM. The rationale is that you will have a separate GIM PYA at the end and they will only look at GIM specific portfolio entries. This has been a frequent reason for outcome 5s so don’t get caught out!
• Linking with the curriculum is currently required for every curriculum item, every year, by both you and your ES. This is clearly madness, but that is no excuse for not doing it and you should expect an outcome 5 if you don’t. This requirement is likely to change in the future and we will try to keep you up to date on this.
• MCR: should cover GIM as well as Respiratory, so either ensure that your Resp consultants can also comment on your GIM performance, or ask at least 1 GIM Consultant to complete a MCR (ie someone you have done several takes with). Remember you need a minimum of 4 consultants in total.

Respiratory

• Respiratory ES report: a separate report is required in addition to GIM.
• Linking with the curriculum is required in the same way as it is for GIM by both you and your supervisor.
• Procedures: the need to keep refreshing DOPS for things like Bronchoscopy is clearly stated in the ARCP decision aid, so make sure you comply with this in those jobs that include Bronch.

If anyone has further queries please do not hesitate to contact one of the trainee reps: Alex, Zaheer or LJ.