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).