CPD Scheme
The Intensive Care Society’s CPD Scheme
Background
The Society has always advocated the importance of continuous professional development (CPD) and we now formally attribute CPD points to the learning and education we deliver including:
- ICS study days & educational webinars
- SOA programme sessions and hands-on workshops
- FUSIC®/CACTUS/ fTOE e-learning and ICS run FUSIC® workshops
Definition of CPD
The Society defines CPD as being a continuing learning process, outside of formal undergraduate and postgraduate training that helps to maintain and improve performance and ultimately patient care. It covers the development of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours across all pillars of professional practice. It includes both formal and informal learning activities. This aligns with the definition use by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) and The Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
What about CME credits?
The Society supports Intensive Care professionals and recognises that Continuing Medical Education (CME) is a part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). However, CME mainly covers medical regulations, legal updates, and specific procedures. Therefore, the Society does not provide CME credits for its learning programs.
Why have a CPD scheme at all?
Providing evidence of active learning and associated reflection that an individual has undertaken is important for a range of professionals working in ICU. This includes demonstrating that the professional has met some or all of the requirements that have been set either by their professional body or criteria that they are to be appraised on as part of their annual review. The scheme will allow individuals to evidence learning carried out through the Society as part of their CPD requirements.
What does the CPD scheme look like and what counts as CPD
It is important to note that the Society does not seek to prescribe or dictate what learning should look like for any of community of professionals, but rather aims to provide confirmation of the value that can be attributed to the learning that we deliver and/or approve.
The majority of learning that will be allocated CPD points by the Society fall under one of the two headings:
- Study days, webinars, workshop or other type of educational event
- e-Learning content.
How are CPD points calculated?
Fundamentally, the CPD points relate to the hours of active learning that are spent on professional development activities. Broadly, 1 hour of active learning = 1 CPD point.
Who manages the CPD scheme
The Society has a team of clinical experts who review the learning and determine how many points should be allocated. These experts report into the following committees:
Education Committee: for ICS study days & webinars
SOA Programme Directors: SOA Annual Congress Educational content and all related pre- congress workshops (except FUSIC®)
FUSIC® Committee: FUSIC®/ CACTUS/ fTOE e-learning & videos.
The Society provides guidance and training for all subject matter experts conducting CPD reviews to ensure that a consistent approach and standards are applied to the calculation of CPD points.
External organisations
Currently, we will not be formally attributing CPD points to any other learning or educational activity delivered by external organisations, however we recognise the potential need to extend the scheme, so will review things at a later date.