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| Vocational Training Programme in Family Medicine | |
| I.1 Introduction | |
| The six-year Vocational Training Programme in Family Medicine of the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (hereafter referred to as the Programme) began in January 1995. It consists of 4 years of Basic training and 2 years of Higher training. The aim of the Programme is to prepare doctors to provide high-quality specialist care to the community as a family physician. | |
| A. Basic Training (four years) | |
| A minimum period of four years is considered necessary for the basic training in Family Medicine because this discipline has a broad knowledge and skill base. It also requires extensive clinical exposure in order to develop the necessary attitudes appropriate for a primary care physician. Two of the four years are hospital based and two years community based. The hospital and community based basic training can be done in any order. | |
| B. The Conjoint H.K.C.F.P./R.A.C.G.P. Fellowship Examination | |
| The written segments of the Conjoint H.K.C.F.P./R.A.C.G.P. Fellowship Examination can be taken after satisfactory completion of at least two years of basic training. The clinical segments can be taken on satisfactory completion of four years of basic training. | |
| C. Higher Training (two years) | |
The higher training consists of at least two years of supervised independent practice. Each trainee will be supervised by a clinical supervisor in Family Medicine throughout the two years of training. The clinical supervisor and trainee do not need to work in the same practice. There will be regular contacts between the clinical supervisor and the trainee to provide training and advice on patient care, practice management and professional development. |
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| D. Documentation of Training | |
| The trainee has to keep a detail training logbook which records all his/her training postings, work experience, training activities with clinical supervisors, structured educational programmes attended, certified check-lists of knowledge and skills, learning portfolio and other educational activities. The learning portfolio should consist of six-monthly learning plans and learning activities. The training logbook is reviewed by the clinical supervisors and mentors periodically. Formative assessment and feedback on the training between the trainee and his/her clinical supervisor should be recorded in the training logbook. The training logbook or the checklist of training endorsed by the clinical supervisors has to be submitted to the Board of Vocational Training and Standards for assessment annually and at the end of Basic and Higher Training. | |