Objective. To design, deliver and evaluate a National Pharmacy Internship Programme to meet the educational needs of pharmacy graduates for registration as competent pharmacists, recognising the learning by way of an educational award. Results. Overall performance in the PRE was good and relatively consistent with almost all interns proceeding to register as pharmacists. Interns expressed a view that the programme had enabled them to develop the knowledge, skills and overall competencies required for future independent practice as a pharmacist. Tutors considered the programme to have built on prior learning and provided a sufficiently rounded experience for professional practice. Tutors also expressed the view that the programme was an improved educational experience over the former, less structured, pre-registration training. Methods Conclusion.The National Pharmacy Internship Programme was a structured, competency-based programme at Master's Level. The education and training was perceived to be an improvement on the previous pre-registration year. The programme quality assured pharmacy education outcomes at entry-to-practice on a national basis, and uniquely recognised the learning by way of an educational award.

EBIR applicants were predominantly male (>95%). Clinical training, prior to radiology training, was very common in this cohort. Overall, most candidates expressed satisfaction with the examination process, and many felt this qualification helped their career. The recent recognition by national accreditation bodies should hopefully improve the profile of the examination greatly.

A preliminary audit of orders for computed tomography was performed to evaluate the typical performance of interns ordering radiologic examinations. According to the audit, the interns showed only minimal improvement after 8 months of work experience. The online radiology ordering module (ROM) program included baseline assessment of student performance (part I), online learning with the ROM (part II), and follow-up assessment of performance with simulated ordering with the ROM (part III). A curriculum blueprint determined the content of the ROM program, with an emphasis on practical issues, including provision of logistic information, clinical details, and safety-related information. Appropriate standards were developed by a committee of experts, and detailed scoring systems were devised for assessment. The ROM program was successful in addressing practical issues in a simulated setting. In the part I assessment, the mean score for noting contraindications for contrast media was 24%; this score increased to 59% in the part III assessment (P = .004). Similarly, notification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus status and pregnancy status and provision of referring physician contact information improved significantly. The quality of the clinical notes was stable, with good initial scores. Part III testing showed overall improvement, with the mean score increasing from 61% to 76% (P < .0001). In general, medical students lack the core knowledge that is needed for good-quality ordering of radiology services, and the experience typically afforded to interns does not address this lack of knowledge. The ROM program was a successful intervention that resulted in statistically significant improvements in the quality of radiologic examination orders, particularly with regard to logistic and radiation safety issues.

The European Board of Interventional Radiology (EBIR) professional examination has been a vital factor in the evolution of our young subspecialty and a key component in the progression of interventional radiologists (IRs) into clinical specialists. It has helped to achieve a degree of harmonisation in training and quality standards throughout Europe, creating excellence amongst our future generation of IRs. Individuals who achieve EBIR certification earn the credential of being trained to a high standard of interventional practice, demonstrating that they are trained to carry out safe and effective treatments for patients.EBIR is designed for recently qualified radiologists working as fully trained medical specialists who want to further specialise in the field of interventional radiology. The aim of the examination is to affirm the candidate's knowledge and expertise in interventional radiology as an additional qualification. Although currently a voluntary examination, it has shown the potential benefits of increasing employability, easing movement across borders and demonstrating expertise to colleagues, other specialists and regulatory authorities.Examinees must have completed a full radiology training programme, additional training in IR and have a log of procedures, thus confirming their technical abilities and experience. Consequently, EBIR is able to focus on testing their higher-level cognitive thinking-that is, their ability to evaluate, analyse and apply their knowledge in order to show their abilities to be independent practitioners in IR.