Advanced clinical practitioner role in the emergency department

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Clinical Competency Assessment

Background:

• The role of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) in UK emergency departments has evolved without a standardized national framework.
• This lack of a national structure necessitates localized approaches to ensure ACPs meet required standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a specific NHS trust's system for certifying the clinical competence of ACPs in emergency departments.
• To detail a portfolio-based method for assessing ACPs' ability to perform medical clerking.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a certification process involving the completion of two portfolios by ACPs.
• Portfolios focus on history taking, clinical examination, and interpretation of basic investigations.
• Inclusion of evidence of learning and direct observation by senior medical staff (middle-grade doctors and consultants).

Main Results:

• The described portfolio system provides a structured method for evaluating ACPs' clinical skills.
• Evidence gathered demonstrates ACPs' capability to undertake comprehensive medical clerking.
• The process integrates learning and supervised practice for robust competency assessment.

Conclusions:

• A portfolio-based approach can effectively certify clinical competence for ACPs in emergency settings.
• This model offers a viable solution for trusts lacking a national registration framework.
• The system supports the professional development and recognized practice of ACPs in emergency care.