OpenDTC_FAQs

The OpenDTC Collaboration

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. Why is exchange of practical information important in the healthcare process?

 

The young healthcare practitioner would realize soon after induction that theoretical knowledge does not always apply directly on the field of practice and that some level of processing of theoretical information is necessary against a background of preexisting experience. The formation of The OpenDTC Collaboration was motivated by the philosophy that excellence in medical practice depends less (around only 40 per cent) on theoretical knowledge and very much (around 60 per cent) on practical experience gathered on the field of practice. Considering the immensity of practical information as an important resource in the healthcare process and bearing in mind the fact that an individual healthcare practitioner will at all times be limited in scope of experience already attained, there was identified the necessity of having in place a system or mechanism by which practical information could be exchanged between practitioners across all practice environments.

 

 

2. Who can join The OpenDTC Collaboration?

 

The OpenDTC Collaboration is an interdisciplinary platform for networking healthcare practitioners from various professional backgrounds and the full spectrum of clinical practice settings. The other important prerequisite for membership is that the practitioner should be duly registered and in good standing with the designated professional regulatory authority.

 

 

3. How do I apply for membership?

 

Membership is granted after completing the designated form for registration of the practitioner's personal and professional data with the Secretariat. Kindly consult the Secretariat for further assistance.

 

 

4. How much do I pay for membership?

 

Both the initial registration and membership of The OpenDTC Collaboration are free of charge at all times.

 

 

5. What is the difference between a member and subscriber?

 

The designation of Subscriber is applied only for the purpose of discussions on the official Channel of The OpenDTC Collaboration on the Telegram app. All members automatically become subscribers to the Channel after registration.

 

 

6. Why do I have to subscribe to the Channel?

 

The official Channel of The OpenDTC Collaboration on the Telegram app is the sole medium for exchange of practical information among members of the Collaboration. Messages posted on the Channel are case studies or reviews from individual members after going through and passing a process of peer-review.

The Channel is linked to an external group discussion page on the same platform to enable members to comment on and discuss messages posted.

 

 

7. What are case studies or case reviews?

 

A case study is defined as the active study or attentive monitoring of an individual patient, a cohort of patients, an intervention, a procedure, or a medical technology on the field of practice in an attempt to answer yet unresolved questions or find new practical information. The case study must of necessity be a firsthand experience on the field of practice and either confirm an existing knowledge or expand the frontiers of practical information available for the healthcare process.

On the contrary, a case review differs from case study in being retrospective in approach.

 

 

8. What is the attribution policy for case studies published?

 

Case studies or reviews that are published on the official Channel after successful peer-review ordinarily are appended with the names, professional titles and affiliations of authors who contributed them. However, a member also has the option to have case studies or reviews published anonymously on the Channel.

 

 

9. What happens during peer-review of case studies or reviews?

 

The Secretariat has in place an editorial committee made up of eleven (11) members for each particular health profession or specialty of medical practice for the purpose of peer-review and approval of case study reports before publication. After receiving the script for a case study or review report, this is forwarded to members of the appropriate editorial committee to review the content and assess the practical relevance of that material on the basis of predetermined criteria. All case study reports will either be rejected or accepted for publication on the recommendations of the editorial committees.

 

 

10. Can I serve on an editorial committee?

 

Definitely. Kindly verify with the Secretariat for vacancy on the editorial committee for your profession.

 

 

11. How does The OpenDTC Collaboration contribute to continuous professional development of healthcare practitioners?

 

The reality is that the individual healthcare practitioner will never get the opportunity of exposure to all practice environments throughout a lifetime, but still a wealth of practical experience gathered on the front of diverse practice settings is an aid to professional excellence. It is therefore imperative that the healthcare practitioner depends on the experiences of colleagues, from which wealth of information he or she can draw when faced with similar situations. The Channel provides a mechanism for unifying practical experience across the full spectrum of the healthcare sector by means of the published peer-reviewed case studies and reviews.

The OpenDTC Collaboration is accredited by various professional regulatory authorities as a provider of continuous professional education (CPD/CME/CPE) to healthcare practitioners. Every member of The OpenDTC Collaboration is awarded with two (2) credit points annually for membership. Kindly consult the Secretariat to verify CPD accreditation status for your profession.

An individual practitioner additionally will be awarded with credit points for publishing case studies or reviews on the Channel, as explained in the following section.

 

 

12. What CPD credit point award scheme is applied?

 

Beside the award of two (2) CPD credit points annually for membership of The OpenDTC Collaboration, a member also obtains additional CPD credit points for case studies or reviews successfully peer-reviewed and published on the Channel. Two (2) CPD credit points are awarded to an author for presenting a total of five(5) case studies or reviews through the peer-review process. The tally of count of published contributions from the same author may extend over one calendar year but once an award has been issued the same case studies do not qualify for re-award. However, an already published case study or review may be republished multiple times.

 

 

13. What is the meaning behind the name OpenDTC?

 

OpenDTC is an acronym for Open Drugs and Therapeutics Committee, a DTC unlimited by geographical boundaries and practice settings. Globally the DTC is an organ of healthcare institutions responsible for clinical governance and quality assurance of the healthcare process, and is usually constituted with representatives from the various health professions.

The OpenDTC Collaboration has a nationwide scope of activity.

 

 

14. How can I contact the Secretariat?

 

Send an email message through fleshandbrain@live.com, or call +233242162382, +233206120649.