CPD on the move!

A couple of months ago, I had to conduct a mental capacity assessment which would have important implications for my patient’s ability to manage their financial assets and was requested by their solicitor. The pressure was on! I had not conducted one for a long while and I felt a bit rusty! The appointment was several days away and I, therefore, did what most of us would do, I procrastinated! I clearly needed an update before I saw the patient. I had a vague recollection of the principles but I really needed to do this by the book!

So here I am just about to start my 25 minutes commute to work and starting my audible to listen to the book I was reading at the time when it occurred to me! 25minutes of driving! 

I quickly searched up the mental capacity act and a 16-minutes professional training podcast came up!

I listened to it on my commute and 16 minutes later I was “upgraded”! From vaguely remembering the principles to knowing the by the book guidance on how to conduct the assessment professionally and competently. This was hugely rewarding and felt like an “I know Kung Fu” moment from The Matrix! 

CPD can be daunting and even lead to anxiety. The days leading to appraisals are often laden with tension and worries about meeting all the requirements of a review on which our practice practically depends. Finding flexible ways to learn on the move and arranging for regular little bites from discussions, webinars or audible tutorials can not only alleviate some of the CPD pressure but also give us a sense of satisfaction from meeting our educational needs and mastering our field. I probably won’t swap my daily audible or music during my commute but I will probably use a similar way of CPD occasionally. There is also something to be said about the timing of this mode of learning. Provided we had a good night's sleep and are not stressed, we are most alert and focused in the morning. The act of driving especially if alone can also act as a catalyst for optimal concentration and retention.

So if you have a few DUNs, think before you next switch that radio on!

Amine Boughellam, GP Partner and Co-Founder of SimplyCPD

Allow me to take this opportunity to mention SimplyCPD. 

It’s a free app created by doctors, for doctors, to make finding and booking CPD easy. Our work is voluntary and free from any pharma funding. We aim is to soon feature webinars and online modules too.

It’s free and it’s got courses from the big names, all over the UK. Please support us by getting the app and using it.

Download it on the app store here: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1448711237  

Or on Google Play here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atomengine.simplycpd&gl=GB