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Quality Training
Volume 12 No 3 I June 2016 35
The issue of workload for clinical
radiology training site accreditation
stems back to at least 2007, when the
upper individual metric was increased
from 7,500 to the current 12,000
examinations per annum, per FTE
consultant radiologist. Concerns have
been raised regarding the value of
this metric as an indicator of workload;
particularly as it does not consider the
complexities of various reports. A new
metric, designed to more accurately
reflect clinical radiologists’ workload
has been developed—your opinions are
now sought on the methodology.
Background
In 2014, the College agreed that
the development of a workload
measurement method, in the context
of supervision and teaching of trainees,
was needed to replace the existing
metric. A working group was convened
under leadership of Prof Mark Khangure
(Past Chief Accreditation Officer) and
Dr Greg Slater (Past Dean, Faculty of
Clinical Radiology) to consider and test
the various methods of measurement.
A New Metric
The working group agreed that the
existing metric is no longer valid. A new
metric was agreed by the working group
that proposes to replace the number of
examinations with the following time-
based requirements:
• Half-hour per trainee per day of formal
teaching within the trainee’s own
department or training network
• One hour of consultant radiologist
time per trainee per working day for
apprenticeship model teaching.
The proposed change will be presented
to the Clinical Radiology Education and
Training Committee for consideration.
Methodology
A methodology has been developed
for clinical radiology training sites to
use to determine the ability to fulfil
the recommended requirements. This
methodology requires a variety of
inputs, including non-reporting times
(procedures, meetings, teaching,
administration) and reporting times.
Consensus Reporting Times
For the first time, reporting times have
been developed that can be applied
across both Australia and New Zealand.
These consensus reporting times were
developed by the working group, largely
using the work of Prof Alex Pitman
(Body Systems Framework) and Dr Ian
Cowan (Christchurch Hospital). Times
were compared alongside reporting
times made available by members
of the working group. Any identified
discrepancies were discussed by the
entire working group before agreement
was reached. Nuclear medicine / PET
consensus times were developed
later following additional work by
a sub-group.
Next Steps
All members of the Faculty of
Clinical Radiology are invited
to comment on the proposed
amendment to the Accreditation
Standards for Radiology Training
and the methodology developed
for determining the workload of
clinical radiology training sites via
Current College Consultations
at
professional-documents/
consultations.
Consultation closes July 31.
For more information on the clinical
radiology training site accreditation
workload project contact Philip Munro,
Manager, Quality and Safety at the
College on
or +61 2 9268 9763.
Bi-national reporting times
Following the extensive work
undertaken by the working
group, the new consensus
reporting times will be an
integral part of the methodology
developed to determine the
capacity of a training site to
deliver adequate teaching.
What you can do
Provide feedback on the
proposed amendment to the
Accreditation Standards for
Radiology Training and the
training site accreditation
workload methodology via the
College website.
Clinical Radiology Training Site Accreditation:
What is an acceptable workload?
RANZCR’s innovative development to support training sites