ACCS Emergency Medicine Interview

The First Step Towards A Career In Emergency Medicine

I had my ACCS EM interview in Jan 2020. Firstly, this interview is NOT AS BAD AS EXPECTED. Remember a lot of applicants are FY2s who only have their foundation years experience to draw upon. If you've done more than that, its a bonus.

For those that have zero idea what the interview is like, I hope this helps...

Prep Before The Interview

1. Read the RCEM website. In particular, any recent news, characteristics of an EM consultant, the structure of EM training and exams are all things you may be asked about

2. Read the ACCS website. There frustratingly seems to be more about the other ACCS specialties rather than EM but you should know about the structure of the programme and you can find it there

3. Make a mental note on where you can find guidance on particular things - for example the websites above, GMC publications etc. You may be asked where to look for guidance on things like dealing with challenging behaviours or use of social media

4. Read a recent article. You should just know the gist of it, not the intricacies.

5. Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio. These are easy marks, you will know your score if you scored yourself fairly on the self-assessment. Set the portfolio out the same as the self-assessment, as this is the stuff they want to see. Use a lever arch file. Make a contents page. Label everything. Don't go overboard (like I did) - only put evidence in that definitely shows you meet the criteria. I would not be scared to leave something blank, just understand you will not score for it. I definitely did not meet the 'outstanding life achievements'. Saying that, someone I know did get points for this for putting their grade 5 violin certificate in there.

6. Read your Oriel application. That disgusting spiel you wrote about why you'd make a good EM physician? EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

7. Find your essential documents - passport, GMC registration (printed in the last 7 days) and right to work if you need one. You won't be interviewed if you don't have these.

8. Plan an outfit - most of the boys wore suits with ties. Alex wore a shirt and jacket with no tie and looked fine. I wore a matching dogtooth top and trouser set and another girl rocked the dogtooth look also (maybe that's the winner). My advice is anything that doesn't show up sweaty pits and nothing too revealing.

When You Get There

Everyone looks completely lost, have slightly crinkled brows that say 'help me' and walk around in circles, gripping the folder of their life in certificate format. Naww.

• Be there like 10 mins early.

• Sign in.

• Someone will call you by your full name with title and you'll look around not realising that is you. Give them your essential documents and gently hand over your folder of life.

• Stick your little name sticker on.

• Have multiple loo visits.

• Drink some water.

The Actual Interview

There are FOUR stations.

Station One: Emergency Medicine

This was my first station and I think having done it, it does need some prep. The RCEM website is probably best to look at what makes a good consultant, the structure of ACCS/run through EM training, the exams and format. I got asked examples of good leadership and teamwork. It should be easy marks for this station. Take your time answering the questions - there's not a lot of right and wrong answers, it is about why you think it is important and relevant.

Station Two: The Portfolio

This felt like a breeze, you can actually breathe in this one. I had two lovely assessors. They basically go through your self assessment to see if they agree with or can improve your scores. They ask a bit about you and what your hopes and aspirations are, then you walk out feeling like you've just been for coffee with your mates. Work based assessments and certificates seem to be the best way of quickly showing them you meet the criteria.

Station Three: Presentation

This is split into two 10 minutes. The first, you are given a topic to discuss, a large sheet of paper and some multicolour pens. My topic was 'Should inappropriate ED presentations be charged'. I thought this raised up multiple questions - what is 'inappropriate' and who gets to decide that? what charge? what would the money be used for? where does a system like this work and not work? would a charge for all work better?

Then for the second 10 minutes, you take your poster into a room with two assessors. They want you to be able to discuss and then come to your own conclusion and be confident in it. And yes, of course they have questions. I couldn't see where to hang my poster when I went in and just held it... would not recommend, my arms were very tired.

Station Four: Clinical and Ethical Scenarios

The clinical scenario for me was an exacerbation of COPD. My interviewer was very fast in questioning and it was slightly putting me off what I wanted to say, which was explaining my A-E approach. Think of the vital signs, investigations and management which are paramount to the presentation - they wanted to show me and interpret a blood gas and then know the indications and contradictions for use of NIV.

The ethical scenario I had was around the use of social media. Their questions were around its appropriateness, when it works and when it does not, who should use it etc. I have seen multiple social media accounts for different Emergency Departments giving advice on where to attend, and I am sure we can all think of a time when WhatsApp has been used to send an anonymous ECG or Xray. It felt like more of an informal chat about your opinion on this, rather than specific questioning.

GOOD LUCK!