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	shpacpd update  - April 2010 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  CE on CD  Other resources - non-SHPA CPD activities  shpacpd diagram  shpacpd activity record sheet (members only)    shpacpd summary record (members only)  Pharmacy Board of Australia - Guidelines on Continuing Professional Development

SHPA is strongly committed to supporting the efforts of members to develop professionally through lifelong learning and provides a range of products and services to stay:

• current - many knowledge services including face-to-face lectures, CE on CD disk, clinical seminars, journal articles to keep up to date, credentials for medication management reviews and an online recording system for CPD
• informed - via practice standards or guidelines, bulletins, conferences , journal re new policies and services, pharmacy practice changes
• connected - with opportunities to join email discussion groups, network with peers, role models  and mentors, leadership roles via branches, specialty practice

 current - with knowledge to keep up to date
 informed - with general information and ideas, professional development grants
 connected - with opportunities to network with peers, role models and mentors

Why shpacpd?

A demonstrable commitment to CPD and to lifelong learning principles is the most tangible and measurable sign of effort to maintain competence currently available.   The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) that commences on 1 July 2010 now includes a requirement for renewal of registration that a registrant has participated in a continuing professional development (CPD) program.   SHPA provides a wide variety of products and services to help members achieve their learning goals and has now developed a web-based system to assist members in recording their CPD for audit purposes.  The online system is based upon a framework which can assist members to chart the course of their professional development.  This framework encourages pharmacists to:

• Review and identify the knowledge needs of current practice
• Assess the knowledge gaps that they have
• Create a plan to fulfil the knowledge/ skills gaps
• Implement the plan by undertaking the necessary learning
• Evaluate and review the impact of CPD on your practice

The shpacpd model is designed for the workplace because it includes the spectrum of learning activities available to pharmacists including accredited and non-accredited activities.  This model categorises learning activities as:

Group 1:  Information accessed without assessment (e.g. attending a conference)
Group 2:  Knowledge or skills improved with assessment (e.g. exams or questions and answer activities)
Group 3:  Quality or practice improvement facilitated (e.g. give a conference presentation (paper or poster) that has changed practice or will promote practice change, having a paper published in a peer-reviewed journal).

How do I record shpacpd?

SHPA provides an online recording system free to members that can be used to record learning objectives, document learning activities and view a current CPD record. 

The CPD record includes the total number of CPD hours and credits achieved.   SHPA has also developed two forms ( shpacpd activity record sheet and shpacpd summary record (members only)) which can be used as manual alternative to the online system.  Members should also retain any

• attendance certificates for CPD events that were provided,
• relevant documentation of their CPD planning process.

What do I include in my CPD plan?

In designing their personal CPD plan, members should give consideration to the area in which they practice and the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia which may identify areas in which they should undertake further pharmacy education.   SHPA has identified templates for seven role/service definition grids based on the competency standards for the practice of pharmacy in the hospital and other settings

• hospital pharmacist with a general/multiple task role (members only) 
• hospital pharmacist with a clinical role (members only) 
• drug information pharmacist (members only) 
• project pharmacist (members only) 
• hospital pharmacist with a management role (members only) 
• community practice (members only) 
• hospital pharmacy technician (members only) 

Can my CPD activities be accredited by SHPA?

SHPA will accredit programs on request and give an indication of suggested hours that can be claimed.  In many cases, the hours may be in excess of the maximum claimable for each activity group above. However, members are still encouraged to record all of their CPD activities.  Go to the Accreditation of CPD Events page for information about having your event accredited by SHPA for inclusion in the CPD plan of SHPA members. 

Non-accredited programs

There will inevitably be a range of activities that you undertake from other providers, where it is impossible for SHPA or others to accredit them in advance. This does not exclude them as appropriate activities to achieve your plan. However, members should reflect on the activity and ensure that it will deliver aims and objectives at an appropriate standard to meet learning needs.

Need more individual help?

SHPA has set up a dedicated help line to answer member queries.  Send your queries to cpd@shpa.org.au.  If you have any suggestions for shpacpd, send these to the education reference group via cpd@shpa.org.au.