Undergraduate education in emergency medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital: The advanced studies program

Introduction: Emergency medicine’s presence in undergraduate education is steadily growing throughout Australia. The University of Tasmania has a unique in-house elective at the end of the 4th year of study called Advanced Studies, which allows students to pursue a particular area of interest. The program offered by the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital has proved to be a particularly popular choice for students. Students spend 18 weeks (1 semester) in the department where they are mentored by a registrar. Students are supplied with a workbook which guides but does not limit their experience. The workbook is based around ACEM guidelines and includes: resuscitation, assessment and management of the undifferentiated patient, procedural skills, and professional and personal development. Weekly round table meetings are held where students discuss patients and scenarios, and receive training in the management of resuscitation and common emergency conditions.

Study Objectives: To ascertain the effectiveness of the program and its acceptance by students, and whether participation in the program created a favourable impression of emergency medicine as a specialty.

Methods: Questionnaire sent to previous participants in the Advanced Studies Program at RHH.

Results: Most students found that the program enhanced their clinical skills and preparedness for intern practice and considered emergency medicine to be a possible future career choice.

Conclusions: A ‘hands-on’ structured term in EM during the medical course has a positive impact upon students and enhances clinical skills and creates goodwill towards the specialty.