Aiding clinical practice through medical education

A residential workshop for senior doctors and nurses engaged in aeromedical retrieval to enhance their clinical practice through medical education is happening this week.

Seven students will participate in the HEA581 Adult and Obstetric Retrieval Residential, being held at Charles Darwin University (CDU) Casuarina campus from October 18-20.

Developed in partnership with the National Critical Care Trauma Response Centre, CareFlight (NT) and The Royal Flying Doctor Services (SA and Central Operations), this is a practical and industry-relevant course for retrieval medical officers, nurses, paramedics, and other health professionals.

The students consist of two nurses and five doctors who are from the Northern Territory, but also further afield, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga.

The students learn a range of skills and techniques to provide better critical care in the retrieval and transport space to support them when responding to critical incidents such as serious acute illness, vehicle accidents or disasters.  

They will participate in a range of workshops and practicals covering the principles behind aeromedical retrieval, responding to trauma, splinting, managing serious bleeding and applying an emergency airway.

The residential will also cover obstetrics and childbirth, managing hemorrhage with minimal resources, preeclampsia, and premature birth. Students will practice their teamwork approach in a variety of real case scenarios.

CDU Menzies School of Medicine Senior Lecturer Paul Bell, who has a background in retrieval nursing, midwifery, and intensive care, on top of his position at CDU, said the training will enable the clinicians to apply critical thinking and analysis, as well as relevant skill, to their aeromedical retrieval work.

Mr Bell said the intent of the course is to equip students with the skills to provide the best standard of care possible throughout the patients journey through the retrieval journey.

“The training will enhance their knowledge to be a better clinician, improve their clinical thinking on the ground and builds their academic standing,” Mr Bell said.

“These are very experienced doctors and nurses, but we’re passing on our experiences and nuances from the Australian Retrieval Organisations for best practice so they may be able to take some things away to aid their own practice.”

“Some of these clinicians haven’t been exposed to Australian systems, so this is about professionalising the workforce and supporting them to learn skills they may not have had exposure to in their professional capacity.”

This training adds to other units of study provided by the CDU Menzies School of Medicine, as a part of the Graduate Certificate and Masters of Aeromedical Retrieval, with HEA582 Essential Skills in Neonatal and Paediatric Retrieval held earlier this year.

CDU Menzies School of Medicine Foundation Dean Professor Dianne Stephens stressed the importance of the course for health professionals in the region.

“The postgraduate courses in aeromedical retrieval at CDU is providing important capacity building for our NCCTRC Scholarship students from the Pacific,” Professor Stephens said. 

“Aeromedical retrieval systems improve health care access and equity for vulnerable rural and remote populations and this course provides students with the knowledge and skills to provide high quality care throughout the retrieval process.”

More information on medical courses that CDU offers is here.