General Information

The aim of the IQA Framework is to provide pathologists with a mechanism to monitor internal performance.  The College has committed to providing Fellows with a Framework that contains consistent and transparent activities for each discipline that align with best practice and will continue to highlight the importance of internal quality assurance within pathology practice.

The Frameworks are intended as a guide rather than being prescriptive. There is a requirement for a minimum of 10 hours per annum of peer review activities as set out under Section 1 of the IQA Framework for Anatomical Pathology.

Information regarding development of the IQA Framework can be found under Project Development.

From January 2016, Anatomical Pathologists and from January 2017 all other pathology disciplines are required to do a minimum of 20 hours of activity under Category C - Quality activities outlined in the RCPA CPDP Manual. This includes a mandatory minimum 10 hours per annum of peer review. Peer review activities are classified under Category C of the RCPA CPDP Manual. The time-minimum provides guidance as to a reasonable minimum level of participation. It is very likely that Fellows will exceed this.

For the majority of pathologists this will involve documentation of the peer review activities in which they are already involved. The IQA Frameworks provide useful guides to suitable peer review activities. Data collected for RCPA CPDP purposes does not require the recording of patient identification. Refer also to Recording of Activities on page 6 in the RCPA CPDP Manual.

This section includes articles, presentations and templates for recording IQA activities.