PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Enhanced skill programs are valuable for family physicians in any community. Some of these programs are essential for ‘rural’ communities that lack sufficient populations to support specialist (RCPSC) medical services. This is especially true for Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Obstetrics, Palliative and In-Patient care services that often provided by family physicians to meet the health care needs of smaller ‘rural’ and remote communities.
To practice as a physician in rural and regional settings with comprehensive knowledge, skills and professional behaviors, some residents may require additional learning opportunities beyond those provided in family medicine residency. These learning opportunities enhance physicans’ scope of practice and further develop competencies and skills sets responsive to community need. In keeping with the Enhanced Skills Program goals and objectives, a Self-Directed Program must be focused on the development of skills and experiences that will enable the learner to meet the needs of populations in areas where gaps in medical care exist.
Community placements are facilitated in collaboration with the Rural Ontario Medical Program and MacCARE.
Clinical rotations in the community will assist in the further development of the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes to support practice in rural communities and sites with less resources. Regional and academic centers will also provide learning environments to achieve referral, volume and other skills, knowledge and professional goals.
Our intention is to balance the necessity of acquiring certain skills through experience in more densely populated urban settings with the importance of understanding and developing the confidence to apply these skills in more difficult to service ‘rural’ settings
The individual learning objectives of each resident are critical to the organization of this particular Enhanced Skills program. Important to the design is the maintenance of time back in the family practice to offer the continuity of care making the learning practical and grounded in family practice. This is encouraged, where possible. The balance of enhanced skills in specific areas with the maintenance generalist family practice will ensure confidence and competence for the resident as they transition to practice in a rural/regional setting.
HOW TO APPLY
In the required Letter of Intent, applicants must outline their proposed curriculum and be able to describe how the Enhanced Skills training they are seeking will meet specific community need.
Applicants will apply using the prescribed Application Form for a Self-Directed program. References for those interested in an Enhanced Skill PGY3 Rural Program should come from current program directors, rural community or rural faculty.
Please find Application Form and application guidelines on our Enhanced Skills home page.
Time available: 3-12 months, number of positions not defined
SAMPLE SCHEDULES
The following is a set of template examples of our Self-Designed rural enhanced skills program which family medicine residents may consider. Other opportunities or variations will be considered based on demonstrated community and learner need. The balance of enhanced skills in specific areas with the maintenance of generalist family practice will ensure confidence and competence for the resident as they transition to rural practice.
| Stream/Pillar | Months | BLOCK 1 | BLOCK 2 | BLOCK 3 | BLOCK 4 | BLOCK 5 | BLOCK 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Care Critical Care | 3-6 | PEDS ER
Academic Centre |
ER
Owen Sound |
ER
Barrie |
ER
Collingwood |
ANES
Collingwood |
HOSP
Owen Sound |
| Palliative | 3-6 | Med Onc
Barrie |
PALL
Grand River KW |
PALL
Collingwood |
PALL
Collingwood |
PALL
St. Peter’s Hamilton |
Bruyere Continuing Care
OTT |
| Acute Care ER/OB | 6 | ANES
Barrie |
OB
Barrie |
ER
Barrie |
ICU
Southlake |
PEDS & ER
Toronto |
OB
Fergus/Hanover |
| Addictions Medicine | 3 | Addictions Medicine
Port Elgin |
Pain Medicine
Fort Erie |
Family Medicine/Addictions
Barrie R/H |
|||
| Maternal Child Health | 3 | OB
Brampton |
NICU/Fertility Clinic
Academic Centre |
Maternity Centre
Peterborough |
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| Mental Health | 3 | FHT Collingwood | Psych Way | FAM |
Rural Remote Opportunities with NOSM.
CONTACT US
Program Director: Dr. Peter Wells
For further program details please contact: Shauna Ferguson fmpgy3@mcmaster.ca