Objective: To provide background information and a rationale regarding the mandatory Maintenance of Professional Standards (MOPS) Program of the RANZCP.
Conclusions: MOPS has evolved over ten years and will continue to develop and change. MOPS programs have been viewed by Medical Colleges as a major force in unifying the profession against destructive outside influences. MOPS is not an assessment of competence or performance, and not equivalent to “recertification”. Rather, MOPS reflects the belief that participation in continuing medical education and quality improvement processes will maintain and improve standards of practice. There is every reason to be confident that, with ongoing adjustment, MOPS will continue to meet the professional development needs of all RANZCP Fellows.
Continuing medical education is successful when it results in improved outcomes for patients, but there may not be much connection between traditional didactic instruction and improvement in clinical practice. Greater emphasis could be placed on self‐directed learning. Using computer technology, doctors can audit their own practices to detect specific deficiencies and reveal individual educational needs. Learning and assessment can then be linked with improvements in practice. (Med J Aust 1994; 161:630‐632)
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