Learn more about the aims, assessment and structure of four of the core GENA 700-level papers for the Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Rural Clinical Practice.
GENA 723 Trauma and Emergencies in Rural Settings
Aims of the paper
The broad aim of this paper is to equip rural practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and framework with which to manage emergency and trauma patients in a rural practice setting.
How the paper is taught
The course is taught through distance teaching and learning. We have selected readings, and use the online platform Moodle to generate discussion around topics.
We have several videoconferences throughout the semester followed by a residential week with a strong simulation and practical component.
Course requirements
In addition to core course participation, students should work within a clinically-relevant situation for minimum of 20 hours during the semester. This may be as an observer for those not routinely working in Emergency care.
Previous experience
We do rely heavily on participants' personal experience of managing rural cases to generate discussion, hence the need for some work in a clinically relevant situation.
We run rural hospital simulations in the residential where we focus on advanced practical skills such as RSI, along with the teamwork necessary to make the right things happen in the resuscitation room. Therefore some exposure to relevant emergency situations is important to get the right learning context.
Relevance to rural environment
The paper has a strong emphasis on small teams and the rural hospital environment, but is also useful to other rural practitioners who might for example be working on a PRIME roster. It is probably less well suited to practitioners in other practice settings such as urban general practice.
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GENA 725 Reflections in Rural Clinical Practice
This paper is designed to increase awareness of one's own cultural and internal bias in order to improve cross cultural interaction and health inequalities and to explore issues around rural doctor's involvement towards the end of life.
The paper is delivered through a residential workshop conducted on a remote Northland marae and online learning activities.
This paper is for
Any GP or rural hospital doctorworking (or intending to work) rurally will find this paper particularly relevant to their day-to-day practice.
Students should be prepared to share and discuss their clinical experience and thoughts in a safe, supportive, and confidential learning environment.
This is a 15 point paper that fulfils the requirement of the Academic Component of GPEP2 Programme.
RHM and GP Fellows will also benefit from taking this paper to access up to date evidence based clinical practice.
This paper fulfils the RHM Fellows' triennium CPD programme requirements for both Cultural Competence and Clinical Attachment categories.
Paper Modules
- Communication
- Māori Health
- Health Disparities
- Other Cultures / Cross-cultural Communication
- Wellbeing
- Psychiatry
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Psychogeriatrics
- Palliative Care
- Death and Dying
Paper structure
The paper is delivered in four components: residential workshop, videoconferences, Moodle, and reading materials.
Residential Workshop
Note that there are likely to be evening sessions during the residential. It is not possible to finish the night shift on the Thursday morning and participate satisfactorily in the residential.
Students will be expected to have read at least some of the essential readings for the relevant sessions prior to attending the residential workshop.
Students are expected to bring a short scenario to present verbally to the group (5 minutes), showing either:
- how communication has (or may have) enhanced or impeded the care of the patient, OR
- how a patient encounter has shaped your understandings as to what it means to be a doctor.
Accommodation and catering are kindly provided by the marae, on the marae during the workshop. Students are required to contribute to the costs. Accommodation before or after the residential (if required) is to be arranged by the individual students.
Note that it may take most of a day to travel to and from Rawene, Hokianga. Although it is the students' responsibility to arrange transport, there is an opportunity to co-ordinate transport options during the video conference and through Moodle.
Zoom
Zoom is the university's preferred Internet-based video-conferencing platform.
A Zoom video conference IT clinic has been arranged in order to sort out technical issues before the first teaching video conference. It is also a good way to test Zoom and troubleshoot so that you can contribute successfully.
Video conferences (total of 5) will normally be held on Thursday evenings.
Session dates and times are to be confirmed. Attendance at 4 out of the 5 video conferences is required to pass the paper.
- Introduction
- Palliative Care, to be confirmed
- Health Disparities, to be confirmed
- Pacific Health, to be confirmed
- Rural Mental Health, to be confirmed
Moodle
Moodle is the University's preferred platform for interactive internet based teaching. This is used extensively through the semester.
Course resources, announcements, and case-based discussion forums are accessed through Moodle. Students can also share resources on Moodle.
Readings and resources
We have tried to include readings that are thought-provoking and will challenge the values that underpin your practice, and some which are broader in scope than traditional medical academic readings.
Term requirements
- Attend in entirety the compulsory residential workshop
- Participate in 3 out of 4 the teaching videoconferences
- Contribute weekly to Moodle
Assessment
Participation
Overall quality of participation in the course will be assessed.
Written assignment
A reflective essay based on a student's own experience on the theme of death and dying of 2,000 to 3,000 words, discussing the issues faced by rural clinicians. Must include communication and cultural consideration in its broadest sense.
Examination
A case-based, short-answer online exam will be run via Moodle.
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GENA 728 Cardiorespiratory Medicine in Rural Setting
Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine presentations are common in rural hospitals and rural GPs. Many of them can be definitively managed in the rural setting. GENA 728 is therefore a busy 30 point paper.
Learning objectives
On successful completion of this course, participants will be:
- Familiar with the issues involved in management of common cardiology and respiratory medicine conditions (as expressed in the course themes) in a rural hospital setting, to a level that will ensure safe and effective practice for their context of practice.
- Able to perform the appropriate procedural skills to a level that will ensure safe and effective practice for their context of practice.
- Able to discuss the role of rural hospitals and rural hospital doctors in managing cardiology and respiratory medicine conditions, the resources appropriate for rural cardiology and respiratory medicine, and the range of procedures required for rural cardiology and respiratory medicine practice.
- Aware of their learning needs for rural hospital cardiology and respiratory medicine practice, and able to plan their continuing professional development, including knowledge, skills, teamwork, local resources, and networks with base hospital.
Teaching methods
The class size is limited to 20 students in order to allow for small group case based work.
Set readings are provided at the start of the paper. The majority of these are recent review articles or current guidelines. These are divided into compulsory, recommended or mainly for reference.
Much of the work over the semester is done on Moodle, an interactive web based learning platform. Students draw on their day to day clinical work using the discussion board to discuss patient management and other issues with the whole class and the convenors.
There is one 6 day residential later in the semester. This includes a lot of case based small group work and practical sessions on ECG, ABG, NIV, ETT and CXR interpretation.
Assessment
- 3 written case based assignments
- Mutlichoice examination
- Mark for quality of participation in the course
Course themes
- Ischaemic Heart Disease
- Cardiogenic Shock
- Heart Failure
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Other Tachyarrhythmias
- Bradyarrhythmias / Syncope
- Pericarditis / Myocarditis / Cardiomyopathy
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Malignant Hypertension
- Oxygen Therapy
- COPD / Non-invasive Ventilation
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- PE and DVT
- Pleural Disease
- Cor Pulmonale and Domiciliary Oxygen
- Sarcoidosis / Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Bronchiectasis / Lung Cancer
Investigations
- ECG
- CXR
- ABG
- Spirometry
- Troponins / BNP / d Dimers
Reports of specialist investigations
- ECHO Reports
- Exercise Stress Test Reports
- Angiography Reports
Procedural skills
- Fibrinolysis
- Emergency Electrical Cardioversion
- Chemical Cardioversion
- External Pacing
- Emergency ICD Management
- Exercise Stress Testing (Optional)
- Draining Pleural Effusions
- Non-invasive Ventilation
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GENA 729 Medical Specialties in Rural Settings
This 15 point paper looks at the management of acute and chronic common medical problems in rural communities and hospitals.
This paper is for
Any GP or rural hospital doctor working (or intending to work) rurally will find this paper particularly relevant to their day-to-day practice. Students should be prepared to share and discuss their clinical experience and thoughts in a safe, supportive, and confidential learning environment.
This is a 15 point paper that fulfils the requirement of the Academic Component of the GPEP2 Programme.
RHM and GP Fellows will also benefit from taking this paper to access up to date evidence based clinical practice.
This paper fulfils the RHM Fellows' triennium CPD programme requirements for Clinical Attachment.
Paper modules
The paper is taught in ten modules, each covering a different subject in rural and provincial medical practice. These ten modules are:
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics and rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Renal medicine
- Haematology
- Infectious diseases
- Rheumatology
- Endocrinology
- Toxicology
Paper structure
The paper is delivered in four components: Residential workshop, video conferences, Moodle, and reading materials.
Residential Workshop
Students will be expected to have read the essential readings prior to attending the residential workshop.
Students are expected to bring two cases for discussion to illustrate issues of managing medical problems in rural settings. They may be the same cases that will be presented for written assignments.
There will be an optional course dinner during the Residential. The cost of dinner is additional. Students are required to arrange their own accommodation.
Zoom
Zoom is the University's preferred Internet-based videoconferencing platform.
A Zoom videoconference IT clinic has been arranged in order to sort out technical issues before the first teaching videoconference. It is also a good way to test Zoom and troubleshoot so that you can contribute successfully.
Videoconferences (total of 4) will normally be held on Wednesday evenings on specific topics—Neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, and transfusion medicine. The exact dates are still to be confirmed.
Moodle
Moodle is the University's preferred platform for interactive Internet based teaching. This is used extensively through the semester.
Course resources, announcements, and case based discussion forums are accessed through Moodle. Students can also share resources on Moodle.
Readings and resources
We have tried to include readings that are up to date and applicable to rural generalist settings. They are a mix of essential, recommended, and optional readings.
Term requirements
In order to achieve the terms requirements for this paper each student must:
- Attend the compulsory residential workshop
- Participate in at least 3 out of 4 of the teaching videoconferences
- Contribute weekly to Moodle
Assessment
Participation
Overall quality of participation in the course will be assessed.
Written assignment
Based on a student's own clinical experience, two (approx) 1000 to 1200 word case presentations on the medical specialty topics covered in this paper, with discussion on application to the rural context and relevant critique of diagnosis and management in rural settings.
Examination
A combined case-based, short-answer, and MCQ exam will be run on the last day of the residential.