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.

Please note: these are sample schedules. Communities and Academic centres as well as rotation type can be modified.

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
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