May 27, 2015
A training team recently visited Murgon, Cherbourg and Kingaroy hospitals to provide training for staff working in Emergency departments.
Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Senior Staff Specialist Dr Sheree Conroy said the 12-month Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) project was designed to support rural staff and provide opportunities to access training using funding from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine.
She said the aims included:
- Building on relationships and improving two-way communication;
- Delivering quality training to improve clinical and non-technical skills
- Enhancing the clinical care and transfer processes for patients coming from rural hospitals; and
- Increasing the understanding of Toowoomba Hospital’s capacity and services.
Dr Conroy said the program had been delivered by Toowoomba Hospital-based Emergency Department consultants who travelled to a series of Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service hospitals.
Participants included doctors, nurses, medical and nursing students, and paramedics.
“At each location we commenced with a walk-through of the emergency area to get a feel for the facility, followed by a look at basic and advanced life support strategies, and group sessions with various scenarios,” Dr Conroy said.
“The training is designed to be as practical as possible, with plenty of hands-on simulation training, refreshers on use of vital equipment such as defibrillators, case studies and group discussions on topics such as retrievals and transfers.
“One of the greatest benefits of the EMET project has been the improved two-way communication between medical staff, all of which helps contribute to improved patient outcomes.”
