Volume 198 - Issue 1
The Hospital Skills Program: a professional development program for non-specialist doctors in New South Wales
Authors: Alana M Killen, Sally M McCarthy, Anthony P Joseph and Andrew D Gosbell
Med J Aust 2013; 198 (1): 24. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.11444
Published online: 21 January 2013
Published online: 21 January 2013
To the Editor: We refer to the article by Leslie and colleagues1 and seek to clarify some comments regarding emergency medicine in New South Wales.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) unreservedly supports the spread of specialist emergency medical services across all hospitals and does not limit vocational trainee numbers. In 2011, 286 Fellows of the ACEM and 191 advanced trainees were working across at least 472 ...
To the Editor: We refer to the article by Leslie and colleagues1 and seek to clarify some comments regarding emergency medicine in New South Wales.
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) unreservedly supports the spread of specialist emergency medical services across all hospitals and does not limit vocational trainee numbers. In 2011, 286 Fellows of the ACEM and 191 advanced trainees were working across at least 472 of the 85 NSW public hospitals with reporting emergency departments (EDs).3 Unlike other disciplines, specialist coverage in EDs is for extended periods, including after hours, with at least two-thirds of operational hours (08:00–24:00) directly supervised by Fellows,4 every day of the year, ensuring emergency physicians are present for the time of day when most presentations occur (10:00–22:00).3
The ACEM acknowledges the substantial role of non-specialist doctors within the hospital system, particularly in EDs, and supports professional development for generalist competencies provided by the NSW Hospital Skills Program (HSP). To ensure the highest standard of emergency medical care, the ACEM believes specific training is required to upskill non-specialists (hospitalists, rural generalists, etc) undertaking aspects of emergency medicine practice. Therefore, the ACEM introduced an Emergency Medicine Certificate, developed in 2010 and formally launched in 2011, and a Diploma, which commenced in 2012, to support non-specialists through a high-quality learning program aligned to best-practice education principles (Jolly B, Sutton B. Review of the ACEM Certificate in Emergency Medicine. Melbourne: Monash University, 2011). Development of these courses involved collaboration with other colleges and programs, including the HSP.
The courses involve a competency-based workplace training program supported by online learning resources. Participants, supervised by an experienced Fellow, develop knowledge and skills according to a defined curriculum. Successful participants attain a “transferable” qualification. Graduates can apply for associate membership of the ACEM and participate in its long-established non-specialist continuing professional development program. This inclusive approach supports colleagues working in emergency medicine to continue to enhance their skills while participating in a flourishing community of practice. The ACEM courses have good uptake across Australasia, with growing numbers (currently 46 participants in NSW), particularly in rural and regional areas.
All doctors interested in the ACEM’s Certificate and Diploma courses are invited to contact the College or refer to the ACEM website (http://www.acem.org.au/infocentre.aspx?docId=1251) for more information. The ACEM also welcomes further collaboration with the HSP on professional development for doctors in emergency medicine.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Leslie SD, Davy P, Boyd M, et al. The Hospital Skills Program: a professional development program for non-specialist doctors in New South Wales. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 208-211. 0_CHDCGFBI
- Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Specialist emergency medicine workforce and training activities: 2011. Melbourne: ACEM, 2012. http://www.acem.org.au/media/ACEM_Workforce_and_Training_Report_2011_V1.pdf (accessed Sep 2012).
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian hospital statistics 2010–11. Canberra: AIHW, 2012. (AIHW Cat. No. HSE 117; Health Services Series No. 43.) 0_i1142874
- Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Guidelines on constructing an emergency medicine medical workforce. Melbourne: ACEM, 2008. http://www.acem.org.au/media/policies_and_guidelines/G23_Constr_Workforce.pdf (accessed Sep 2012).