Accreditation practice pointer: qualifications, education and training

GP3.1 C Our clinical team is trained to use the practice’s equipment that they need to perform their role safely and effectively.

RACGP Standards for general practice.

General practice can avoid medical errors and optimise patient care when the clinicians are trained to use the practice equipment. To meet the Criterion, general practice must be able to demonstrate that the practice team has been provided with training on the safe use of equipment.

Practices can achieve this by: 

  • keeping training logs that record training that practitioners have completed, particularly in the use of specialist or emergency equipment

  • keeping a training and development calendar, showing when refresher training needs to be completed

  • conducting annual performance reviews that identify learning and development goals

  • storing documents that record training needs and completed training of each member of the practice team

  • educating clinical team members so they know how to use the practice equipment relevant to their role

  • registering any issues, near misses or adverse events related to the use of equipment in your practice’s incident or event register (as per Criterion QI3.1 – Managing clinical risks)

  • recording any discussions, actions and/or quality improvement taken in response to events related to the use of equipment in your incident or event register.

Margot Schoonmaker