FAQ and Examples

 When entering attendance at a major conference, I would like to be able to do it just once for the entire conference. Currently the system is configured to only accept 5 credits for each day of the conference, and each day has to be entered separately.

Quite a few people have made this point and the website now allows for this. You just need to enter that you did the activity 5 times (5 days), every 1 day. See the examples below for further instructions.

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First Timer Hints

On the "Add activity" page, there is an info box next to the category drop down menu which gives information about the type of activities it contains.

Once you select the activity from the drop down menus, the quantity will change to be specific to that activity ie number of papers or number of hours.

Repeat activities can be added together by specifying how many times the activity occurs and how many days, weeks or months apart the activities are.

Remember to enter the correct date so that the points count towards the correct year.

If you are not sure whether a meeting is scientific or informal just give it your best guess.

Check out the examples section below for common activities.

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FAQ

I attended an ESTRO conference which I am trying to enter credits for. The "Quantity" to enter is surrounded with considerable ambiguity. I have entered 20 as the maximum number of points for the conference due to it being held over 4 days (4 x 5/day = 20), however I see in the credit box I have only been allocated 5 credits.

The allocated credits are calculated by the program automatically based upon the data that has been entered by yourself. The program does not allow to to enter credits yourself. Next, for every conference day the data should be entered seperately (see question above).

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I was a little confused when entering CPD points, and when it said 'quantity' I wasn't sure whether it meant quantity of points or events. Would there be some way to make that clearer?

Quantity means different things depending on the activity type, but doesn't mean credits. E.g, in case of hours spent at a conference it means hours, but in case of serving as officer for the ACPSEM it is 1 by default. Clicking HELP should help you out.

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I am currently chairperson of an ACPSEM Branch working party. I had thought that I might be able to enter that in the "Professional" category of CPD, but clearly the three options do not cover it. What do you think is most appropriate here? Should this activity receive 0 credits, and perhaps gain credits later on from a publication? Should it be recognised as having similar standing to the branch committee meetings? Is there another alternative?

You can claim points for this - 10 points for "ordinary membership of professional committees". This category applies not just to branch committee membership, but all committees of ACPSEM and similar professional bodies. Just include some text in the Description section to clarify what the committee is.

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I would like further guidance on exactly what records are required in order for a person to claim "reading a journal article" as "structured self study".

At the moment the three ways to satisfy this are to either participate in the AAPM's Remotely Directed Continuing Education Program, to read the article and prepare a written abstract or to seek prior approval for what you intend to do from the PSB via the CPD coordinator.

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Examples

How to add EPSM 2009 conference

  • Go to the "Add activity" tab on the top of the CPD tool website
  • Select "approved scientific meeting" from the category drop down menu.
  • Select "attendence" under the activity drop down menu.
  • Select "EPSM" from the Meeting drop down menu.
  • Enter the number of hours you listened to talks and looked at posters each day (for example 6) into the quantity box
  • Enter "4" times every "1" days from "11 Sep 2009" (assuming you attended all 4 days of the conference)
  • Press register
  • You will receive 20 CPD points (maximum 5 hours/day ´ 4 days)
  • If you presented work, chaired a session or helped to organise the conference you can claim additional points for these activities.

 

How to add a University course

  • go to the "Add activity" tab on the top of the CPD tool website
  • Select "Educational" from the category dorp down menu.
  • Select "M.Sc. or Ph.D: part time registration" from the activity drop down menu.
  • Enter the number of months (11) you are enrolled in the course this year into the quantity box
  • Enter "1" times every "1" days from "1 Feb 2009" (the first day of semester)
  • Enter a quick description "USyd masters"
  • Press register
  • You will receive 11 points
  • You can add other years of enrolment to gain additional points (with the correct starting date so they contribute points to different years)

 

How to add a Journal club meeting

  • Go to the "Add activity" tab on the top of the CPD tool website
  • Select "informal meeting" from the category drop down menu.
  • Select "attendance" from the activity drop down menu.
  • Enter the number hours (1) the meeting goes for
  • Enter "12" times every "1" months from "20 Jan 2009" (meeting held every month)
  • Enter a quick description "Sydney Hospital Journal Club"
  • Press register
  • You will receive 12 points