FAQS
The Answers You’ve Been Looking For
I HAVE SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION TO JOIN THE PARALLEL PATHWAY BUT I HAVE NOT YET BEEN CALLED FOR INTERVIEW OR 3T SESSION?
Trainees should be reminded for the closing dates for application for the Cohorts.
Cohort 1 starts January 1st ( closing date is 30th November the preceding year)
Cohort 2 starts April 1st ( closing date is 28th February)
Cohort 3 starts July 1st ( closing date is 31st May)
Cohort 4 starts October 1st ( closing date is 31st August)
Trainees will be notified on the Interview and 3T session dates via email.
Please refer to the Trainee Section on further details on the application process.
CAN I DOWNLOAD THE PDP LOGBOOK AND START FILLING UP IMMEDIATELY?
Trainees may download the PDP booklet so that trainees may have an idea of what the requirements are. However the filling up of the logbook and the duration of the 48 months training will only commence after confirmation of registration from the KKM secretariat and receipt of a Training ID.
I HAVE ALREADY STARTED FILLING UP THE PREVIOUS PDP VERSION 1 ? DO I NEED TO RESTART THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF FILLING UP THE NEW CASE EXPOSURE / PROCEDURE LOG VERSION 2.0?
Trainees who registered prior to January 1st 2020 :
1.Will be allowed to submit Version 1.0 for the Case & Procedure log if trainees have already begun to fill up the log.
Submission of Version 2.0 is encouraged but not mandatory and trainees will not be penalised and both version will be accepted upon submission for verification.
2. WBA (CBD/MiniCEX/MSF/Referral letters/DOPS)
Will be allowed to submit Version 1.0 for the WBA conducted prior to Jan1, 2020 if trainees have already completed them. Prospectively however after Jan 1, 2020 the trainees are required to use the Version 2.0 WBA forms.
3. Reports ( Mentor reports / Trainee supervisor reports )
Will be allowed to submit Version 1.0 for the reports completed prior to Jan1, 2020. Prospectively after Jan1, 2020 the trainees are required to use the Version 2.0 Reports.
4. Final mentor report from Version 2.0 is MANDATORY FOR PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION.
5. Final Guidance on Portfolio Submission can be referred to under Portfolio Submission. ALL COMPONENTS under the Portfolio will need to be submitted (irrespective of whichever Case&Procedure log version is being used)
But it is the responsibility of the trainee to ensure that all requirements that were not present in Version 1.0 are still fulfilled using the Version 2.0 format.
The version 2.0 represents an easier and simplified way of logging in the cases and completing the assessment tools and remains optimal for assessment.
CAN I REGISTER FOR THE PARALLEL PATHWAY IF I AM CURRENTLY IN A CLINIC OR PRIVATE HOSPITAL ?
The parallel programme is only available to those who are currently working with the Ministry of Health.
I AM ON A CONTRACT WITH KKM? CAN I STILL APPLY FOR THE PARALLEL PATHWAY ?
As long as you are employed with KKM, you will be eligible to apply for the Parallel Pathway programme
MY HOSPITAL DOES NOT HAVE ROTATIONS OR POSTINGS INVOLVING SUBSPECIALTIES ? HOW DO I FILL UP MY PDP CASE EXPOSURE AND PROCEDURE LOG ?
The parallel pathway does not focus on rotations or postings. The focus instead is on exposure to the cases and procedures. Rotations do not guarantee that the required cases will be managed or seen properly by the trainees. This can be due to an inadequate patient - trainee ratio. Sometimes the size of the subspecialty unit and the multiple number / level of teams involved at separate stages of the patient management continuum does not permit a trainee to manage and learn from a patient from admission all the way to discharge and follow up. This scenario could apply in the case of a myocardial infarction. This would be in stark contrast to a smaller hospital without a cardiology department where a trainee would be able to manage the patient first hand under physician supervision for the entire process of the admission and follow up process. The trainee would be required to anticipate complications and manage them. Hence the focus is on achieving the required case exposure rather then the posting exposure.
MY HOSPITAL DOES NOT HAVE SUBSPECIALTIES? CAN I STILL TRAIN HERE FOR THE PARALLEL PATHWAY ?
As long as the hospital has physician coverage as part of the cluster system, you can train there! Subspecialists are not mandatory for the Parallel Pathway training programme. Any physician can be recognised as trainers as long as they fulfil our Trainer requirements.
WHAT IF MY HOSPITAL DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FACILITIES TO ALLOW ME TO FILL UP MY CASE AND PROCEDURE LOG?
Every trainee will be assigned a Mentor. Please discuss with your Mentor regarding training goals that may pose a problem to be fulfilled. A short attachment at the desired unit within the same hospital or Lead Hospital within the same cluster should be all that may be needed. ( subject to service needs of the hospital )
CAN I REGISTER FOR THE PARALLEL PATHWAY WHILE I AM A HOUSEMAN IF I HAVE ALREADY CLEARED THE PART 1 EXAMINATION ?
A trainee will not be able to register while as a house officer. The trainee would only be eligible to apply for registration after housemanship has been satisfactorily completed,
AS A NEW TRAINEE HOW DO I DOWNLOAD THE CASE EXPOSURE LOG AND PROCEDURAL LOG?
Please download the Case Exposure and Procedure log that is already available on this website. It is a generic log that can by used by all trainees in the program. YOU DO NOT NEED A PERSONALISED COPY to be sent to you from the Secretariat.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER SUBMITTING MY ENTRY APPLICATION ?
Once your application is successful, you will be called for an interview prior to commencing on the Parallel Pathway, The closing dates for application for each cohort will be found on the website.
I DID NOT REGISTER WITH THE SECRETARIAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PARTLY / FULLY COMPLETED MY MRCP EXAMS. CAN I BE EXEMPTED FROM THE 4 YEAR TRAINING DURATION OR GET A PARTIAL REPRIEVE ?
Trainees SHOULD REGISTER WITH THE KKM SECRETARIAT WITHOUT DELAY. A one year grace period commencing from May 2018 was offered to those trainees who had already passed the MRCP Part 1/2 or clinical exams but had yet to register with the KKM secretariat. Registration within the one year grace period would allow possible CONDITIONAL commencement of the training period to be backdated to the original passing of the MRCP Part 1 examination provided other requirements were also met.
Upon expiry of the grace period in May 2019, the 4 year Parallel pathway training duration will only be taken to commence upon confirmation of registration with the secretariat. This will could potentially result in delays in the Parallel pathway training programme.