Frequently Asked Questions about iMAP

 

What is iMAP?

 

Interim Membership by Assessment of Performance (iMAP) is a portfolio based assessment for established GPs who did not become RCGP members at the end of their GP training. The RCGP developed MAP a number of years ago as it recognised that an exam designed for doctors who were completing their GP training was not appropriate for established GPs.  iMAP has now succeeded MAP and provides an opportunity for GPs to become members of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Gaining membership through iMAP confers the MRCGP and is the same as any other route to membership.

 

 

What needs to be done for iMAP?

 

iMAP requires you to complete a portfolio of activities that you carry out during the working day. The portfolio is a document which asks you what you have done and to explain why you have done it. The ‘why you have done it’ or the justification of your actions is very much at the heart of iMAP.

 

 

What needs to be documented?

 

The iMAP handbook specifies what you need to document. There are 19 separate activities or criteria (click here to view the iMAP criteria).  These should be achievable by GPs with a wide variety of work patterns, and so iMAP gives all GPs the opportunity to acquire the MRCGP.

 

 

How are these activities justified?

 

Much of what we do in general practice is guided by published evidence such as national or local guidelines or commonly used publications such as BNF. So, an episode of treatment we give to patients could be determined by reference to a particular guideline or publication. This would be all the justification you would need for iMAP. Sometimes you might vary guidelines to meet a particular patient's needs. You would be aware of the variation and know why, and again this might well justify your actions. There are occasions where there is no or little evidence for a particular management plan or treatment but being aware of this and knowing the pros and cons of a particular action is quite acceptable.

 

 

What is the standard for iMAP?

 

The standard for iMAP is set at good standard general practice. iMAP does not require swotting up factual knowledge as you might have done at medical school but asks you to reflect on your current clinical practice and to ask yourself ‘What have I done and why have I done it?’.  iMAP should give you the opportunity to re-examine and question aspects of longstanding clinical practice, the effectiveness of which you might have not considered for some time. iMAP does not expect perfection but wants evidence of a reflective practitioner who is willing to question and improve their performance.

 

 

How does iMAP fit with the annual appraisal for PCOs?

 

iMAP is modelled on the appraisal portfolio and an appraiser should accept the iMAP portfolio for appraisal with very little additional information.

 

 

How much work will iMAP involve?

 

127 GPs took part in the iMAP pilot. 72 GPs completed their portfolios within 4 months. Those who took part in the iMAP pilot reported that they thought an average GP could complete the iMAP portfolio with 3 – 6 months of fairly concentrated work.

 

 

How easy is it to organise the iMAP workload?

 

All information in the iMAP portfolio should not be more than 1 year old when it is submitted. For example, Criterion 6 asks you to produce a log of 20 patients with acute problems that you have managed. This means you could search back to 2 or 3 surgeries you did a week or two ago and use those patients for your log. Nearly all of the work for iMAP can be done by looking back on your activity and does not have to be ‘prospective’. This gives a lot of control of when you do your work for iMAP.

 

 

How is iMAP structured?

 

iMAP is described in the iMAP handbook which is free to download from the RCGP website. Each of the iMAP criteria are structured in the same way (click here to view an example layout). iMAP is  explicit with what is being assessed. Candidates from the iMAP pilot have said that the most important advice they can offer to prospective candidates is ‘follow the guidance in the Handbook’.

 

 

Are there local iMAP Advisors?

 

Unfortunately no! There may be some iMAP Assessors locally who may be able to offer informal help. We recommend that you contact your local RCGP Faculty Office for advice.  Contact details for the offices can be found by following the path relevant to you (http://www.rcgp.org.uk/).  Some also facilitate support groups but this is not universal region by region

 

 

What is the iMAP portfolio?

 

A blank iMAP portfolio can be found on RCGP website. This is a Word document which you can download and complete it as per the Handbook. When completed, this should then be e-mailed to the iMAP office at the RCGP.

 

 

How is iMAP assessed?

 

Once the iMAP office receives the completed portfolio it is sent out to two iMAP assessors who mark the portfolio independently and then confer. If the iMAP portfolio is assessed of being of an acceptable standard the candidate is then invited for an oral assessment. If the portfolio is not of an acceptable standard then the assessors indicate where the issues are and the portfolio is then sent back to the candidate who can then make the relevant alterations and resubmit the portfolio. Candidates are allowed up to two resubmissions.

 

 

Can I submit one or more Criteria at a time for marking?

 

No. All the Criteria (the complete portfolio) must be submitted together for marking.

 

 

How many times can written work be submitted?

 

A Criterion may be sent back for minor re writing (resubmit within one month). Sometimes a Criterion is judged by the Assessors to need redoing completely (resubmit within three months). There is a maximum of two re-writes of a Criterion (first submission and two re-writes), otherwise the whole Portfolio needs to be resubmitted.

 

 

I did an audit 18 months ago. Can I include this in my Portfolio?

 

No. All work for iMAP should be within 12 months prior to the date of SUBMISSION of your Portfolio. (Note: NOT prior to application or registering).

 

 

Work submitted has to be done within one year. If there are resubmissions, does it matter if the year is then exceeded?

 

No

 

 

What is the oral assessment?

 

The purpose of the oral assessment is to check your understanding of your portfolio and to be able to justify what you do in practice. It is very important to refresh your memory of your portfolio before attending the orals.

 

 

How is the oral assessment structured?

 

The oral assessment lasts for 90 mins and is divided into three separate sessions with three different pairs of iMAP assessors. There is a 5 min break between each session. The first session (Oral 1) lasts 40 mins and comprises a discussion around the portfolio you have submitted. The questions will be based around elements of the portfolio where the justification for your action might not be clear or require further explorations. Some of these issues will have been highlighted by the assessors who have marked your portfolio prior to the oral assessment.  You will therefore be aware of what these issues are before the oral assessment.

 

The second part of the oral is divided into two (Orals 2 & 3) and the questions are based on the criteria in the iMAP Handbook. The basis of the oral assessment is to discuss with you how you justify particular actions or approaches to your work. This is an opportunity for you to reflect on what you do and review the evidence that underpins your professional activity.

 

 

How many times can we do the Oral?

 

Once only.

 

 

What is the pass rate for iMAP?

 

There is no set pass rate. It is felt that many of the GPs who do not pass are perfectly able GPs but simply had not spent sufficient time in questioning their professional activity and considering how they might improve it.

 

iMAP should be an achievable goal for all established GPs.

 

 

How much will iMAP cost?

 

The total cost of iMAP is £2300 for Associate Members or £2530 for non-members of the College, and is payable in three installments. Please read section 3 of the candidate regulations to view full details of the fee structure for iMAP.

 

 

If you require further information, please email the iMAP Office at the RCGP (imap@rcgp.org.uk).

 

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