ADMIN
Through your journey as an emergency medicine registrar, you will need to navigate through some administration, here is a list of things you need to keep updated and how to go about it
PMDS
WHAT IS PMDS ((Performance Management and Development System)?
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PMDS is a structured biannual assessment held in March and August.
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It is designed to evaluate registrar progress during emergency medicine training.
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PMDS is compulsory for all emergency medicine registrars.
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It is conducted by a panel of emergency medicine consultants from each hospital where registrars are employed.
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Serves as an official record of your:
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Academic progress
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Clinical performance
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Professional development
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PMDS contributes to ongoing performance evaluations.
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Organised by Dr. Saffy, who will:
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Send a message with available time slots.
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Require registrars to respond promptly to choose a slot.
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You must arrive 10 minutes before your allocated time.
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A registrar representative will be present during each session.
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Registrars are strongly advised to maintain a dedicated PMDS file, organised by year, to simplify preparation and documentation.
The scoring rubric is based on Key Result Areas (KRAs) and Generic Assessment Factors (GAFs)
The scoring rubric is based on Key Result Areas (KRAs) and Generic Assessment Factors (GAFs), with specific documentation or calculations required in advance. Below is a guide to what is required for each relevant section:
KRA 1 – Professionalism and Communication
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GAF 5 (Punctuality and Volunteering): Bring a copy of any written documentation showing you've volunteered for extra duties. If none, a default score of 3 is awarded if there are no punctuality complaints.
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GAF 7 (Praise and Communication): Bring a copy of any formal praise you've received (email or letter). If none, a 3 is awarded by default assuming no complaints.
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GAF 2 (POCUS): Bring a copy of your POCUS certificate. At least two courses per year are required to achieve a score of 4. Make sure your training documentation is filed and updated before the session.
KRA 2 – Clinical Knowledge and Skills
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GAF 4 (CPP and Yellow Book):
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CPP (EOB Sign-offs): Bring your signed-off EOBs, as per the CMSA logbook. No copies required. Scoring is per the rubric.
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Yellow Book: Bring your physical book with the total number of topics pre-calculated (from the last PMDS or since start of registrar time if first PMDS). No copies required.
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KRA 3 – Clinical Performance
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GAF 1: Calculate your average component score from sections 2.1–2.4 of the CMSA CPP for the last two rotations. This must be pre-calculated out of 80, not 100. If you have no EOB yet, use your mid-block assessment. No copy needed.
KRA 4 – Academic Progress and Development
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GAF 3: Calculate your average EOB CPP score for the last six months, or since the beginning of the year. Use mid-block if no EOB exists. Score must be pre-calculated out of 10. No copy required.
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GAF 6 (Presentations/Publications):
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If you’ve presented at DREAM meetings, your department, or any conference, or published in a journal, bring copies of proof.
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GAF 6 (Courses): Bring copies of certificates for any academic or clinical courses you've attended. Scoring follows the PMDS rubric.
KRA 5 – Research Progress
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GAF 11 (MMed): Be ready to provide an update on your MMed progress. Scoring is per the rubric.
Final Tips
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Be thorough and organised. Keeping a structured file for each PMDS cycle (March and August) will make this process smoother.
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Pre-calculate scores where required—do not wait until the day.
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Double-check whether copies or originals are needed.
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Arrive early, be professional, and treat PMDS as a formal review of your registrar development.
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CMSA Logbook & FCEM Portfolio – What You Need to Know
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The latest version of the FCEM portfolio
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If you need any official documents visit the CMSA website:
👉 https://cmsa.co.za/college-of-emergency-medicine/
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General Overview
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Emergency medicine registrars must maintain a CMSA FCEM logbook throughout their 4-year training.
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The FCEM portfolio outlines all requirements and serves as an official record of your academic and clinical progress.
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The blueprints in the portfolio describe the curriculum, knowledge, and competencies registrars must acquire.
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Patient Logbook Requirements
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All patients seen and procedures performed during registrar time must be logged.
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A full list of required procedures is available on pages 18–21 of the portfolio.
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Each log entry must include:
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Date
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Patient's Hospital Number
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Age
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Procedure
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Level of involvement: Supervised / Unsupervised / Assisted
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Diagnosis
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Options for Capturing Log Data
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You may use any method that suits your workflow:
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Excel spreadsheet (e.g., on your phone or tablet — update daily)
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Physical log box
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Custom Google Form (build one to capture all required fields)
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Rotation Assessments – What Needs to Be Completed
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Mid-Block Assessments (Only for ED Rotations):
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Required midway through each EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT rotation
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Must be completed by the Head of Department
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End-of-Rotation Assessments (For All Rotations – ED and External):
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At the end of every rotation, ensure the Head of Department completes the following:
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Page 9 of the portfolio
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Page 24 of the portfolio
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Page 25 of the portfolio
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(Plus the mid-block assessment if it was an ED rotation)