Medical Education
Medical Education
The Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health facilitates medical education and training activities in Northern and Western Queensland. A variety of activities are held throughout the year including undergraduate education, resident medical officer program, multi-disciplinary grand rounds, practical workshops, small group learning activities and evening lectures. These activities are presented in conjunction with our partners in medical education, who assist with organisation, accreditation, resources and funding.
Uncle Louis' Guide to Case Write-up
Background
The geographical area targeted by the Centre includes not only the Mount Isa Health Service District, where the Centre is located, but all rural and remote Queensland. The region currently extends from Mornington Island in the north, to Charters Towers in the East, south to Birdsville and west to the border. However, there are plans to expand further into central rural Qld.
Our activities target all medical practitioners, including consultants, registrars, resident medical officers, general practitioners, and students. Other health professionals including nurses (local, DONs and RANs), allied health and Indigenous health workers are also involved in some activities.
Our activities target all medical practitioners, including consultants, registrars, resident medical officers, general practitioners, and students. Other health professionals including nurses (local, DONs and RANs), allied health and Indigenous health workers are also involved in some activities.
Goals
The goals of the medical education unit are:
- To provide professional education and training
- To encourage the recruitment and retention of rural and remote health professionals
Strategies
- To develop the capacity of centre staff and preceptors to develop, deliver and evaluate education activities
- Establish and maintain effective partnerships with education providers and sponsors
- Coordinate education and training programs for all medical officers in the region including:
- Undergraduate education
- Resident Medical Officer programs
- Grand Rounds
- GP continuing medical education programs
- Other general activities
Activities
a) Undergraduate Education
The Centre currently provides training for undergraduate students on rural placements through the extensive resources of the centre, including well equipped clinical skills laboratory, library and computer room. Students can practice procedural skills using the wide array of equipment and models available, under instruction from staff members who are accredited trainers in these areas. Skills include basic and advanced life support, nasogastric tube insertion, indwelling catheter insertion, intravenous cannulation, central line insertion and suturing.
Using a format known as Problem Based Learning (PBL) students work through clinical cases, with the guidance of the Rural Medical Educator or one of the many preceptors in the local area. Each student on rotation is further guided individually by the preceptor in his or her area, either within Mount Isa or whilst placed in one of the surrounding remote communities, providing a wealth of clinical experience and local knowledge.
For further information, please contact: Dr Louis Peachey
b) Resident Medical Officer Programs
- Resident Medical Officer Education and Training:
- GP Registrar Training:
A formal orientation program to the Mount Isa Health Service District was introduced in 2001 for the first time and has become an annual event. The program facilitates familiarisation with local policies and procedures and the opportunity to meet key staff within the hospital.
A comprehensive education and training program, based on the 'Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors in Rural Practice', is provided for Resident Medical Officers. Lunchtime sessions are held twice weekly on Wednesday and Thursday and include a mixture of lectures, case presentations and procedural skills sessions. Consultants, SMOs and visiting specialists conduct the majority of sessions, however RMOs are also required to present sessions.
For further information, please contant: Dr Pieter Nel
On behalf of Tropical Medical Training and the General Practitioner Training Program, the Centre provides support for GP registrars currently practising within North and West Queensland. In addition to supporting the videoconference series, regular local sessions are facilitated with the trainees, with those in outlying Centres linking in via teleconference. Case presentations and topics appropriate to general practice are presented by the trainees for discussion. Each session is attended by a local GP who acts as a resource person and ensures topics are discussed in the context of general practice. Additional assistance including educational support, career planning and advice is available from the Training Programs local mentor, Dr Dennis Pashen.
For further information, please contact: Dr Dennis Pashen
c) Grand Rounds
Multi-disciplinary grand rounds are held during Friday lunchtime. A broad range of topics are presented and involve health professionals and students from a variety of disciplines in both presenting and participating. After a successful trial in 2001, offering grand rounds via videoconferencing has continued and enables health professionals from the outlying centres to link in to sessions.
For further information, please contact: Stevie Eggmolesse
d) GP Continuing Medical Education Programs
- Lectures/Discussions
A series of lectures and discussions is presented in the evenings (approximately monthly) primarily for General Practitioners but available to all other medical officers interested. These activities are accredited for continuing education points with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and professional development points with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. Activities are facilitated by both local and visiting consultants and specialists and cover a variety of topics. Some sessions are also offered by teleconference and videoconference.
For further information, please contact: Jenny Darr
- Workshops
- PHTLS
- ALS
Workshops enable extended time to teaching and practising procedural skills. are held during the year focussed on palliative care, perineal repair and surgery. The Northern and Western Queensland Primary Health Care, Holy Spirit Hospital, Wesley Park Haven Hospital, James Cook University, Queensland Rural Medical Support Agency and pharmaceutical companies were pivotal in making these events happen. All three focussed on improving practical and procedural skills of medical officers in the region.
The pre-hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) course trains almost all medical officers within the District in pre-hospital trauma management. It facilitates a multi-disciplinary team approach to trauma which is an appropriate model for the North West and other small, rural and remote facilities. Skills taught include intubation, cricothyroidotomy, pneumothorax, endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway.
Advanced life support (ALS) training is held monthly at the Mount Isa Hospital and can be undertaken in fast track stream or over two days. For further details please contact the Nurse Educator, based at the hospital.
