Society for the Clinical Microbiologists of Turkey @ Structure and Activities

Structure and Activities

TURKISH BOARD OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY (TBMM)

Objectives

The aim of TBMM is to establish and improve the necessary standards of MM training, certificate and accreditate MM training programs and institutions. The objectives are as follows:

To establish, protect and improve the scientific standards in the field of Medical Microbiology training in Turkey
To develop and improve core curriculum for MM specialty training
To evaluate and accreditate MM training programmes and training institutions
To organize MM proficiency (board) exams
To establish MM certification programme

Structures

Turkish Board of Medical Microbiology (TBMM) was established in 2004 and is working in coordination with the S ociety for Clinical Microbiologists of Turkey. Turkish Society of Microbiology also supports TBMM. TBMM is autonomous according to the Directive of TBMM and Regulatory Statute of Society for Clinical Microbiologists of Turkey. TBMM is a member of National Council for the Coordination of Medical Specialty Boards in consultation with Turkish Medical Association/National Council for Coordination of Medical Specialty Societies. Organization scheme of TBMM is shown in the figure.

Organs of TBMM are:

TBMM Council
TBMM Executive Committee
Committee for the Development of Training Programmes
Committee for the Assessment, Evaluation–Examination
Committee for the Accreditation of Training Programmes and Institutions.

Medical Microbiology specialists with TBMM certificate and the trainers responsible for Medical Microbiology (MM) specialty training are the members of the TBMM Council.

History

TBMM was first established in 2004 under the auspices ofTurkish Society of Microbiology. After the establishment of Society for Clinical Microbiologists of Turkey in 2009, TBMM was established under the auspices of Society for Clinical Microbiologists of Turkey and efforts to establish the necessary standards of MM training and certification have accelerated.

A series of Strategy Planning Workshops were organized to conduct the SWOT analysis, to define the stakeholders, to determine the aim, objectives and the strategies of the TBMM. Workshops for the development and improvent of core curriculum and assessment evaluation have been organized with participation of MM specialty trainers and students, medical/clinical microbiologists. Competency based curriculum was developed in coordination with the Council of Medical Specialization -Ministry of Health - Curriculum Development System – Medical Microbiology Group. Core curriculum for MM specialty training was approved by the Turkish Board of Medical Specialties in March 2016.

Workshops for the organization of local – province based evaluation/assessment techniques are planned. A new project is on the way for establishment of a model for the critical assessment of medical microbiology trainees based on the core curriculum.

Strategies of TBMM

Strategies of TBMM are defined as:

· Active participation of all stakeholders

Student (learner) centered training
Context-based decision making
Use of experiences –reflective practice

· Continuous improvement - development of work and quality

Ensuring continuity and dissemination of training activities

Core curriculum

The core curriculum of MM in Turkey is a competency based one that focus outcome-based education. The cmpetencies are defined in the core curriculum and a time table is suggested for four years. Core curriculum is in accordance with the UEMS Section of Medical Microbiology Core Training Programme.

The curriculum is aimed to provide practical, technical, clinical and managerial skills to the trainee. The competency domains and the competencies aimed to reach at the end of training are as follows:

• Medical/clinical microbiology knowledge and practice

– Knows and defines the agents which cause infections in human

– Describes the pathogenetic mechanisms of infections

– Knows and applies the techniques and standards to determine the agents which cause infections and report accordingly

– Provides solutions to health problems by using country sources effectively and efficiently

– Applies all the steps of microbiological management of clinical samples from pre-pre analytical to post-post analytical phases

– Knows and defines the microbiological approach to patients with special conditions (such as immune compromised, pregnant, viral hepatitis, etc.)

• Prevention and control

– Immune prophylaxis (vaccination standards and protocols)

– Biosafety

– Antimicrobial resistance

• Counselling

– Counsels the other specialities (consultant)

• Management

– Management of microbiology laboratories

– Management of epidemics

• Professionalism

– Applies medical moral and ethical rules

– Acts as a team member

• Research

– Epidemiological studies

– Surveillance of nosocomial infections

– Microbiota

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment and evaluation during the training period is based on examination of knowledge, skills and attitude. A model for the critical assessment of medical microbiology trainees based on the core curriculum is under way.

Postgraduate learning/continuous professional development

Additional projects suggested and organized by TBMM to support postgraduate learning, continuous professional development are Medical Microbiology Laboratory Guides and Winter Schools.

Proficiency (board) exam- certificate

Motivation of medical microbiologists for the proficiency exam and certification is necessary, since medical specialty proficiency exams are not obligatory in Turkey. To achieve this goal a series of workshops for the proficiency exam and certificate were organized. It was decided that the proficiency exam should be useful for self evaluation and improvement, minimize the exam stress, be easy to access, and give a prestigious qualification. This approach led to the establishment of an on-line examination process.

The on-line (web-based) exam which has two parts (theoretical part and practical part) is applied in multiple exam centers in different provinces. The applicant reaches the result of the exam upon completion and the rates of the exam are confidential. All the questions and answers are explained in the system (web site) after the exam is finished.

A portfolio is also needed for proficiency certification. The portfolio contains; Marks collected from on-line quizes, winter school, professional workshops, continuing medical education meetings and programmes of the microbiology societies, presentations in scientific meetings, scientific publications, participation to quality control programs, audits, participation to national surveillance programmes for microbiology and infectious diseases, scientific projects, participation to the preparation of laboratory guides.

On-line quizes are accessible to the members of the society. Personal credits are obtained upon the completion of the quizes.

To motivate the members to get the certificate; winter schools are organized to improve the competencies of the specialists (discount for the proficiency exam applicants) and scholarships are given for the members who have the proficiency certificate.

Board certificate is given by the application of the candidate with her/his exam result and portfolio. At least 60 points should be got from both theoretical part and practical part of the exam. To get the TBMM Certificate at least a total of 100 points should be fullfilled. The certificate points are calculated by taking 70% of the exam points plus the credits obtained from the portfolio activities.