PRACTICAL PROBLEMSSPECIALTY FOCUS
wilderness medicine. This is a under development. It is likely
good place to start. There are that those having completed
also courses dotted around, the acute care common
which medical students are stem (ACCS) will enter their
welcome and encouraged parent specialties, principally
to participate in. Some emergency medicine, before
universities include this as going on to develop some
part of their curriculum.
1
It of the specific skills required
was at one of these courses to practise pre-hospital
where I was first introduced emergency medicine.
to this area of specialist This training will lead to
emergency practice. accreditation and consultant
But the courses are appointment in a job with a
no substitute for real-life pre-hospital component.
experience. For those in
junior medical positions,
Necessary skills
this is usually limited to
observational shifts with Many of the skills required
experienced paramedic or to practise PHC in the field
medical crews. All the UK are common to many areas
ambulance services have of medical practice. The
doctors in paid medical ability to assess and treat
supervisory roles and these common medical, surgical,
people can be a useful psychiatric, paediatric and
TRAIT/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
source of help and guidance. obstetric emergencies is
AIRPOR The minimum entry criteria important. As is an aptitude
for most schemes are usually for being able to think on your
ST1/ST2 with experience of feet, respond to fast-moving
the acute care specialties. At situations and communicate SLOFOTOMEDIA/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
the time of writing, a formal this to the teams around.
training structure for registrars Patients, relatives and
wishing to sub-specialise is other members of the team
look to doctors for guidance exception. So ensure that
and leadership – a skill which you contact your MDO to
comes with experience and discuss what you are doing.
practice. Other skills are The NHS litigation authority
more unique to the specialty, usually provides cover for
such as emergency driving, NHS-related activities, such
management of major as working on behalf of an
incidents and pre-hospital ambulance service. However,
anaesthesia. Getting for commercial activities
involved in PHC also helps such as sports events, it is
to hone many of the generic important to make sure your
professional skills, which defence organisation has been
can then be taken back into informed. Above all else, it is
hospital. It can also help with important to stay within the
application forms and always limits of your competency
gives a good story to tell at for any patient you treat.
ST interviews. I love my day job, but
It is an important component PHC has given me the
of good medical practice to most exhilarating and
ensure there are appropriate rewarding experiences of my
indemnity arrangements in career to date and I would
place for all areas of medical thoroughly recommend it to
practice, and PHC is no anyone who is interested.
Further information
1 Porter, K. Training
■ www.basics.org.uk/
doctors in pre-
hospital care:
■ http://home.btconnect.com/wmcareteam999/
West Midlands
■ www.magpas.org.uk/
A
N
(UK) Approach.
D
R
E
S
R
/
Emergency Medicine ■
I
www.londonsairambulance.com
S
T
O
C
KP
HO
TO
.C
Journal (2004)
OM
www.mps.org.uk NEW DOCTOR | VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 1 | 2010 13
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