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Sir George Alleyne bats for recertification of doctors
Observer Tuesday, September 15, 2009
UNIVERSITY of the West Indies Chancellor Professor Sir George Alleyne has questioned the absence of any push in the Caribbean for the recertification of all categories of doctors.
Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Professor Sir George Alleyne (left) congratulates (from right) Professors Peter Figueroa, Terrence Forrester and Rainford Wilks who were honoured and presented with citations by the Association of Consultant Physicians of Jamaica at its Seventh Annual Banquet at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Saturday evening. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Professor Alleyne, who was the guest speaker at the Seventh Annual Banquet of the Association of Consultant Physicians of Jamaica (ACPJ) at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Saturday, said the need for this kind of lobby was "impatient of debate".
"My major message this evening is this to convey my perplexity as to why there has been no concerted move in the Caribbean to enforce recertification of all categories of doctors. I wonder if the physicians and your Association in particular, might not take the lead in arguing for and instituting it?" Professor Alleyne said, adding that since the medical profession was one in which knowledge grew in leaps and bounds, physicians must invest in lifelong learning.
"The growth of information is staggering and despite the availability of PDAs, computers and IPhones there is no substitute for ensuring a certain level of currency. The growth of medical knowledge is such that I would volunteer, no professional can remain current over a lifetime of practice," he pointed out.
Professor Alleyne further affirmed that the goals of recertification are to improve the care of patients, protect standards of the practice of medicine, encourage continued learning and to reassure patients and the public that doctors remain competent throughout their careers.
"In my discussions elsewhere, I've encountered expected resistance of those in practice, this is natural, the solution is to grandfather those already in practice and make a start with those entering practice," he told guests while urging them to commit to recertification and constant study.
On Saturday, Dr Amza Ali, founder and president of the Jamaican League Against Epilepsy and medical director of the Epilepsy Centre of Jamaica, succeeded consultant Cardiologist Dr Hafeezul Mohammed as president of the ACPJ. Professors Peter Figueroa, Rainford Wilks and Terrence Forrester were also honoured by the association.
Observer Tuesday, September 15, 2009
UNIVERSITY of the West Indies Chancellor Professor Sir George Alleyne has questioned the absence of any push in the Caribbean for the recertification of all categories of doctors.
Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Professor Sir George Alleyne (left) congratulates (from right) Professors Peter Figueroa, Terrence Forrester and Rainford Wilks who were honoured and presented with citations by the Association of Consultant Physicians of Jamaica at its Seventh Annual Banquet at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Saturday evening. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Professor Alleyne, who was the guest speaker at the Seventh Annual Banquet of the Association of Consultant Physicians of Jamaica (ACPJ) at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Saturday, said the need for this kind of lobby was "impatient of debate".
"My major message this evening is this to convey my perplexity as to why there has been no concerted move in the Caribbean to enforce recertification of all categories of doctors. I wonder if the physicians and your Association in particular, might not take the lead in arguing for and instituting it?" Professor Alleyne said, adding that since the medical profession was one in which knowledge grew in leaps and bounds, physicians must invest in lifelong learning.
"The growth of information is staggering and despite the availability of PDAs, computers and IPhones there is no substitute for ensuring a certain level of currency. The growth of medical knowledge is such that I would volunteer, no professional can remain current over a lifetime of practice," he pointed out.
Professor Alleyne further affirmed that the goals of recertification are to improve the care of patients, protect standards of the practice of medicine, encourage continued learning and to reassure patients and the public that doctors remain competent throughout their careers.
"In my discussions elsewhere, I've encountered expected resistance of those in practice, this is natural, the solution is to grandfather those already in practice and make a start with those entering practice," he told guests while urging them to commit to recertification and constant study.
On Saturday, Dr Amza Ali, founder and president of the Jamaican League Against Epilepsy and medical director of the Epilepsy Centre of Jamaica, succeeded consultant Cardiologist Dr Hafeezul Mohammed as president of the ACPJ. Professors Peter Figueroa, Rainford Wilks and Terrence Forrester were also honoured by the association.
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