Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice (PGDipRPHP) and Postgraduate Certificate in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice (PGCertRPHP) are targeted at doctors practicing or training in rural and remote general practice and / or rural hospital medicine. They are distance-taught and make it possible to undertake relevant study while continuing to live and work in a rural community.
The papers are clinically focused with a lot of case-based small group work.
There is one 4–6 day residential workshop per paper. The distance learning tools employed include videoconferencing (Zoom) and an interactive web-based teaching platform (Moodle).
The papers are convened by doctors actively working in rural practice. The teaching staff are spread across rural and remote NZ, and is in fact the most geographically-dispersed faculty within the University.
The Certificate consists of a total of 60 points and the Diploma 120 points.
Find out about the programme requirements
It is also possible to do just one or two papers by enrolling for a Certificate of Proficiency (COP).
All papers qualify as Base Hospital Attachment for RHM Fellows and for MOPS points for RNZCGP.
Who should consider doing these papers?
Rural Hospital and Cook Islands GP trainees
The papers are components of the RNZCGP Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme and the Cook Islands General Practice Training Programme. Trainees enrolled in these papers are given preference if places are limited.
Rural GPs and rural hospital doctors
The papers are also open to practicing rural GPs, rural hospital doctors, and other medical practitioners with an interest in rural medicine. The Diploma was originally developed with these doctors in mind.
Practicing rural doctors find the papers useful as targeted continuing medical education (CME), and the experience they bring greatly adds to the education of the whole class. Even if you have completed a paper in the past it may be possible to repeat the content as a CME exercise.
See CME activities offered by the Rural Postgraduate Programme
GP trainees
GP trainees are welcome to do one or more papers. They are particularly useful to anyone considering rural general practice.
The papers meet the GPEP2 academic requirements.
Postgraduate papers
Semester 1
GENA 724 The Context of Rural Healthcare
The context of clinical care in rural settings in relation to the person, the doctor and the community.
15 points, residential, 13–15 March – Whangamata
GENA 725 Reflections in Rural Clinical Practice
Mental health emergencies, alcohol and drugs, palliative care and hauora Māori in an NZ rural setting.
15 points, residential, 23–26 March – Hokianga
GENA 728 Cardiorespiratory Medicine in Rural Settings
Management of cardiology and respiratory problems in the rural setting.
30 points, residential, 3–8 July – Dunedin
Semester 2
GENA 723 Trauma and Emergencies in Rural Settings
The management of common medical and surgical emergencies in the rural setting.
30 points, residential, 30 October–3 November – Ashburton
GENA 726 Obstetrics and Paediatrics in Rural Settings
Management of gynaecology, obstetric and paediatric problems in rural settings.
15 points, residential, 6–10 November – Ashburton
GENA 727 Surgical Specialties in Rural Settings
Management of common surgical problems in rural settings.
15 points, residential, 13–16 November (in-person) – Christchurch
GENA 729 Medical Specialties in Rural Settings
Management of acute and common medical problems in rural settings.
15 points, residential, 20–24 November – Ashburton
Further information
- Dates of the papers' residentials and availability
- Additional course detail is available at the University of Otago qualifications page for the Postgraduate Diploma in Rural and Provincial Hospital Medicine (RPHP)
Contact details
Leigh-Ann Moir
Rural Postgraduate Programme Administrator
C/O Dunstan Hospital
PO Box 30
Clyde 9341
Tel +64 3 440 4345
Mob +64 21 279 0038
Email rural.postgrad@otago.ac.nz