IBMS, RCPath and ACB release joint statement on Demonstrating Professional Proficiency in Pathology

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) have released a joint position statement: Demonstrating Personal Proficiency in Pathology.

The position statement and responses to the initial consultation on the position statement (Personal Proficiency in Pathology Update) have been published on the Royal College and IBMS websites. 

The Pathology Quality Assurance Review (PQAR), published in January 2014, advised that methodologies be developed that would give a fair and accurate indication of an individual’s competence to practice.  The review recommended that all practising individuals responsible for reporting pathology results and providing clinical advice should be registered with current external quality assessment (EQA) schemes and demonstrate regular participation. 

Since then, the Royal College of Pathologists, in collaboration with the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, developed a discussion document, entitled Demonstrating Personal Proficiency in Pathology, which has recently gone out for widespread consultation amongst Pathology professionals and related stakeholders.

The document has now been modified as a position statement in collaboration with the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) so as to incorporate guidance for biomedical scientists in addition to pathologists and clinical scientists.