PAFP Membership Issues, Policies and Procedures

Adopted from a power point lecture by Dr. Romualdo C. Cabalona during the PAFP leadership forum at the Hyatt hotel, February 23, 2005. Published with permission.

PAFP MEMBERSHIP ISSUES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
By:
ROMUALDO C. CABALONA, M.D.
Chairman, Membership Credentials, Evaluation
and Accreditation

Who may apply?

• Filipino Citizen
• Licensed to practice (Updated PRC ID)
• PMA membership (Updated PMA ID)
• Resident in Accredited Family Medicine training program
• Paid application fee

What to submit when applying?

• Photocopy of updated PRC ID/license
• Photocopy of PMA ID
• Accomplished application form, endorsed properly
• 2 x 2 photo
• application fee = P50.00

Why is the application returned?

• Incomplete signature
- Chapter president/secretary
- Department chair/training coordinator
• No PRC license
• No photo
• PMA card not updated/certification of good standing from PMA component chapter

What happens after submission of requirements?

• Credentials reviewed by Committee
• Recommendations submitted and acted upon by Board
• Applicants/Chapter Training Program notified of action
• Payment of dues
• Induction in the chapter or National level

Chapter vs Direct Membership

• Determinant for chapter membership:
o Place of residence
o Place of practice
• Determinants for Direct Membership:
o Place of practice/ residence in Metro Manila or any province or city without chapter
o Zones

• CME Responsibilities

• Maintenance of Active Status (CME Requirements)

• Before 1998:

o Regular Member 10
o CFP 20
o Diplomate 30
o Fellow 30
o Fellow-Life 30

• In 1998 and After:

o Regular Member 20
o CFP 30
o Diplomate 40
o Fellow 40
o Fellow-Life 40

Requirements for Promotion to Certified Family Physician:

• Residency : graduated in a 3-year accredited program of Family Medicine
• Member of PAFP, in good standing for 3 years
• Has written and submitted an original research paper
• Endorsed by the Department Head

Requirements for Promotion to Diplomate:

• CME Tract - Conferred the title of CFP before 1998

- Earned 150 CME credit hours for 3 years, at least 100 under Category I
- Passed qualifying examinations for Diplomate
- Payment of conferment fee

• CME Tract -Conferred the title of CFP in 1998 and after

- Earned 180 CME credit hours for 3 years, at least 120 under Category I
- Passed qualifying examinations for Diplomate
- Payment of conferment fee

Promotion to Diplomate (continuously practice Family Medicine for at least 1 year)

• Residency Tract- Conferred the title of CFP before 1998

- Earned 50 CME credit hours every year, 30 under Category I
- Passed the qualifying examinations for Diplomate
- Payment of conferment fee

• Residency Tract- Conferred the title of CFP in 1998 and after

- Earned 60 CME credit hours every year
- Passed the qualifying examinations for Diplomate
- Attended a workshop on EBM-QA
- Payment of conferment fee


• Promotion to Fellow

- First Screening
• Earned 150 CME credit hours for 3 years, 100 under Category I (Diplomate before 1998
• Earned 180 CME credit hours for 3 years, 120 under Category I (Diplomate in 1998 and after)
o Letter to be sent to prospective candidate, with Biodata form

• Promotion to Fellow

- Second Screening
o Academic Standing
o Chair or Training Officer of accredited department
o Finished Masteral Degree in any field of Family Medicine or Health acquired after Diplomate from a recognized academic institution.
o Has submitted a Quality Assurance Project

- One or more Published Research, Senior Author (Published in the PAFP Filipino Family Physician Journal)
- Chapter Officer (President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer), who has served at least for a year during the chapter was active.
- Five years in outstanding Family Practice (with award, promotion) after receiving title of Diplomate
- National/International Recognition in the field of Medicine through awards of recognition or leadership

Benefits of Members with updated dues

• Discounted registration fee for Conventions
• PAFP Reporter
• Filipino Family Physician Journal
• Circular
• Pakikiramay benefit and Calamity Aid
• Computation of CME credits
• Access to international conferences and other conferences

Special Privileges

• Certified Family Physician à certificate; can be elected as National Director or Chapter Officer
• Diplomate à certificate, pin, specialty status; Can be elected as National Director or Chapter Officer; can be training coordinator
• Fellow à certificate, medal, specialty status; can be elected as National Officer or Chapter Officer; can be appointed as head of department; can become Fellow-Life


Fellow-Life

• Requirements:

o at least 50 years old by September 30 of the current year
o at least 5 years as active fellow
o consent
o pay Fellow-Life fee
• Privileges

o Waiver of registration for annual convention
o Exempted from payment of annual dues
o Same benefits as members with paid dues

• Senior Member

o Requirements:

o Active member for at least 20 consecutive years
o Complied with CME requirements according to academic rank
o At least 65 years old
o Consent
o Payment of required fees
o Privileges
o Benefits due member with paid dues
o Exempted from paying annual dues, registration fee for annual convention

Reasons for Revocation

• Any member who has not earned continuing medical education credit units appropriate for the level or category of membership for 3 consecutive years despite annual reminder within the 3-year period.

• Non-payment of dues for 3 consecutive years.

• Any member who has voluntarily resigned.

• Any Family Medicine resident who resigned and transferred to another specialty program.

• Any member who has dishonored the Academy by some inimical acts or has been found guilty of unprofessional and unethical conduct by the Committee on Medical Ethics and whose findings have been approved by the Board of Directors.

Who can be reinstated?

• Those who voluntarily withdrew shall be accepted to the same level of membership provided that he/she is recommended by the chapter and endorsed by the Committee on Membership Credentials, Evaluation and Accreditation and approved by the National Board.
• Those members whose membership has revoked for cause can be reinstated as a regular member upon the approval of the National Board.

• Those members who have dishonored the Academy by some inimical acts or have been found guilty of unprofessional and unethical conduct by the Committee on Medical Ethics will never be reinstated.

Transfer of Membership

• Accomplished application form for transfer
• Endorsement by chapter of origin
• Payment of all arrears with chapter of origin
• Acceptance by chapter of destination
• Approval by the National Committee on Membership


CME Requirement Exemption

• 65 years old and older
• Physical and mental disability
• Travel abroad with approved leave of absence and without access to CME
• Fellow before 1979