GENA 723 Trauma and Emergencies in Rural Settings FAQ, Qualifications, Otago Medical School

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this paper right for me?

Thank you for your interest in this paper. Here is some basic information about the
paper that we hope will help you decide if this is relevant to your own clinical
practice and learning goals

What are the paper aims?

The broad aim of this paper is to equip rural practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and framework with which to manage emergency and trauma patients in a rural practice setting.

How is it taught?

The course is taught through distance teaching and learning. We have selected readings, and use the online platform Moodle to generate discussion around topics. We have several videoconferences throughout the semester followed by a residential week with a strong simulation and practical component.

What are the course requirements?

In addition to core course participation students should work within a clinically relevant situation for minimum of 20 hours during the semester. This may be as an observer for those not routinely working in Emergency care.

Do I have the right experience to take part?

We do rely heavily on participants' personal experience of managing rural cases to generate discussion, hence the need for some work in a clinically relevant situation. We run rural hospital simulations in the residential where we focus on advanced practical skills such as RSI, along with the teamwork necessary to make the right things happen in the resuscitation room. Therefore some exposure to relevant emergency situations is important to get the right learning context.

Is it relevant to my workplace?

The paper has a strong emphasis on small teams and the rural hospital environment, but is also useful to other rural practitioners who might for example be working on a PRIME roster. It is probably less well suited to practitioners in other practice settings such as urban general practice.