FM Fellowship Programme

Programme Brief Programme Syllabus Training Schedule Application Form

 

Fellowship of the College / FCFP(S)

The FCFP(S) is awarded to family physicians with MCFP(S) who have successfully completed the two year Family Medicine Fellowship Programme (FMFP). A total of six years vocational training (structured as three periods of two years each is hence required to attain the fellowship, the milestone for recognition as a Consultant in Family Medicine. However, intervals are allowed between the three periods to gain further experience in family practice and develop other aspects of professional and family life. So, in reality, FCFP(S) is usually attained more than eight years post-MBBS.

Application form to the programme can be found on the College website.

 

Aims and Objectives:

The CFPS Fellowship by Assessment is an advanced family medicine training programme that is offered to doctors who have successfully completed basic structured family medicine training in an approved training programme, namely the Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) at the National University of Singapore or its equivalent. The objective of this programme is to provide further advanced training in family medicine. On completion of the training programme, the advanced trainee is expected to be able to perform the following roles:

  • Manage a range of medical conditions in a family medicine care setting and provide a level of care that is consistent with best practices.
  • Work as a consultant/senior physician leader in a family medicine practice setting. 
  • Hold faculty position in professional development and academic activities in discipline of Family Medicine.

 

The expected areas of competency include:

  • clinical decision making
  • communication with patients, care-givers and colleagues
  • collaboration with colleagues in the health care system
  • lead a multidisciplinary team in care integration
  • health advocacy for patients and the community
  • scholarly activities including teaching and research
  • professionalism and ethics

 

The level of competency expected is that which is commensurate with the appointment of a consultant in a family medicine practice setting or the physician leader of a team of family physicians.

 

Eligibility:

The following are entry requirements to the programme:

  • Possess the MMed (Family Medicine) or the MCGP (Singapore) or equivalent qualifications (the acceptance of the equivalent qualifications has to be approved by the Censors' Board on a case by case basis); or
  • Has MMed (Int Med) or MRCP (UK) or equivalent internal medicine training, and

o          Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine (GDFM), and

o          At least 6 months experience working in a family medicine practice setting of which at least 3 months must be in primary care.

  • Has embarked on personal professional development, and training related to family medicine.
  • Is actively involved in postgraduate training and undergraduate education in family medicine.
  • Is in active clinical practice.
  • Is of sound professional and personal character.
  • Accepted for training by a training centre approved by the College of Family Physicians Singapore.

The eligibility criteria for the Summative Assessment are:

  • Satisfactory completion of all training requirements, and
  • Collegiate Membership of the College of Family Physicians Singapore.  Members without the Collegiate Membership may enter the training programme but will not be allowed to sit for the exit assessment without fulfilling this criterion.

 

Please note that the trainee must apply and sit for the exit assessment within 2 years from the end of his/her training period. Following which, the trainee is expected to re-apply and restart the FCFP(S) programme.

 

 Course Overview:

Mentor :

A mentor will be appointed for each Fellowship Trainee for the two-year period. The responsibility of the mentor is to guide the Fellowship Trainee, provide opportunities for reflective thinking and learning as well as to monitor his/her progress. A formative assessment report will be submitted every six months to the Censors' Board.

 

Logbook and Assessment:  
     
A logbook would be kept by the trainee and will consist of the following:

1.       Portfolio recording of the 4 case studies in the first 6 months and 1 for the subsequent 6 month periods.

2.       Produce 3 review papers on a clinical subject in the second, third and fourth 6-month period. The trainee is encouraged to submit these for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

3.       Attendance record of monthly fellowship meetings.

4.       Attendance record of the 3 skills courses.

5.       Attendance record of teaching responsibilities.

6.       Copies of all papers/articles contributed to the Family Medicine Training Programme Modular Course.

7.       Copy of own-authored original research article published in any of the College-approved Core FM Journals.

8.       Report of completed research and/or approved project which contributes to the advancement of Family Medicine.

The Fellowship trainee will submit his logbook to his Mentor for review once every six months. Failure of satisfactory progress may result in extension or termination of the Fellowship Programme.


Summative Assessment:

Trainees on completion of the above programme should apply to the College of Family Physician for the summative assessment with the relevant information.  A validated Logbook and a supporting letter from the supervisor are mandatory. Please note that the trainee must apply and sit for the exit assessment within 2 years from the end of his/her training period. Following which, the trainee is expected to re-apply and restart the FCFP(S) programme.

 

The summative assessment has 2 components:

1.       A formative clinical examination on patient care

2.       A summative structured viva assessment

 

The formative clinical examination on patient care

The candidates will be given a patient with complex care issues.  For each patient the candidate will be given a total time of 60 minutes including 10 minutes for discussion. Under direct observation of the examiners, the candidate must perform the following tasks:

1.       Perform a clinical assessment of the patient

2.       Identify all the major care issues

3.       Provide a management plan that includes :

a.        Care integration and co-ordination

b.        Involvement of a multidisciplinary team

c.        Cost effective use of available resources

d.        Identify any potential patient safety, and ethical concerns

 

In the discussion of the case, the candidate must perform the following tasks well:

 

1.       Communicate this plan to the patient (one of the examiners will role play as the patient)

2.       Hand off the care of the patient to one of the examiners who will role play as physician team member.

3.       Defend his management plan.

 

The summative structured viva assessment

It will consist of 4 segments. (Total time 75mins):

 

1. Review of the submitted case studies, clinical topic review papers, research paper and training log (15 mins). 

The objective of this segment is to assess the candidate’s competency in patient care.

 

2. Medical Knowledge (15 mins)

Questions relating to clinical scenarios will be asked. The objective of this segment is to assess the competence of the candidate in translating medical knowledge into clinical decision making and the management of complex medical conditions. 

 

3. Professionalism (15 mins)

Questions relating to difficult ethical and professional issues encountered in the practice of family medicine will be asked.  Objective of this segment is to assess competency in professionalism and ethics.

 

4. Critique of journal (30mins)

A relevant medical journal is given to the candidate to critique. The objective of this segment is to assess the candidate’s ability to incorporate evidenced based medicine into practice.

 

Panel of Assessors

The assessment panel of the structured viva assessment will consist of at least 3 assessors, one of whom should be an external assessor.

 

The assessment panel of the clinical bedside examination will consist of 2 assessors who must hold at least a consultant or equivalent appointment in a clinical family medicine practice.

 

A passing grade is awarded when the candidate has performed to the level that is expected of a consultant / senior physician in a family medicine care setting at the summative structured viva assessments.

 Fees:

The fee for the FM Fellowship Programme is S$3500 (excludes the short skills courses and exit fees) for the two years. A cheque for S$3500 payable to “ College of Family Physicians Singapore ” should be sent to the College together with the FMFP application form.  All Fellowship Trainees should have an email address as follow-up correspondence may be sent via email.

Summative assessment fee of S$1200 per trainee applies. On completion of the training programme and Summative assessment, the Fellowship trainee is required to pay the prevailing FCFP(S) entrance fee (S$500) and initiation fee (S$1000).