December 2009 Newsletter

Issue No. 8 - December 2009

Latest News

BRISBANE WORKSHOP 

The recent Brisbane education workshop was our biggest yet. Highlights included a stream of stimulating lectures, a plethora of clinical cases and a flurry of speed dating. Those who survived the trauma simulations at RBH and retrieval medicine with QES returned with smiles the size of dinner plates. A dull moment... never!

The South Bank location proved a hit and, as always, registrars took the opportunity to share knowledge and catch up socially, which sometimes involved funny hats and spilt drinks. We're back in Sydney for the next workshop (see dates below). Watch out Bondi...

SNAKES ALIVE

The Albury office has been declared a hazardous area after a brown snake was discovered outside the dentist's office. The conspiracy theorists have branded the incident a fake, stating that the snake was already deceased and put there by a prankster. A staff request for danger money has been denied.

HO HO HO...

Behold, the final Remote Connections for 2009. RVTS mission control wishes all its orbiting registrars, supervisors and medical educators an easy-going, gravity-free Christmas and a successful re-entry into 2010 (it's going to be a hot one). See you in the New Year, this is Houston, signing off...

Upcoming Events

RACGP exam enrolments are now open and close on 11 December 2009 for the following 2010 exams:
- Applied Knowledge Test (AKT): 6 March 2010.
- Key Feature Problems (KFP): 6 March 2010.
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): 8 May 2010.

The next ACRRM exam enrolment deadlines and 2010 assessment dates are:   
- miniCEX: enrolments close 11 December 2009 for February-July assessment.
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): enrolments close 22 January for 20 March assessment.
- StAMPS: enrolments close 30 April for 17-18 July assessment.

Supervisor News

WELCOME GEORGE

RVTS welcomes Dr George Cerchez as its inaugural Supervisor Liaison Officer (SLO). George has been an RVTS supervisor since 2008 and currently works as (take a deep breath...) Director Medical Integration Primary & Rural Health for the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. 

SUPERVISOR HANDBOOK

The Brisbane workshop saw the launch of the Supervisor Handbook. If you're a Supervisor and haven't yet received an electronic version, or would like a hard copy, please contact the Albury office.

Supervisors are always welcome at the workshops to assist with teaching and help with clinical cases. RVTS funds daily attendance, travel and accommodation and there are usually opportunities to join in sessions, with PDP points available.

Suggestions were made at the recent Supervisor meeting regarding future professional development activities at workshops. If you have any suggestions please let the Albury office know.

AT THE COALFACE - Abbas Hussein

They say that things are bigger in Texas. When it comes to cattle, the QLD/NSW border town lives up to its reputation, being home to the southern hemisphere's largest feedlot. But in terms of doctor numbers, it's another story.

As the sole GP in a town of 1200, RVTS registrar Abbas Hussein starts his day at 7am with ward rounds. "I run the hospital with its 10 acute beds and 12 aged care beds," he said. General practice follows and the day ends back in the hospital at around 8pm. He works three to four months straight, with locums providing the only chance for a break. "Despite the hours, I love practicing medicine and couldn't imagine doing anything else."

The Fijian political exile left his homeland in 1998 and went via a circuitous route through Queensland Health before discovering the practice and the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

"RVTS has been very good for me," he said, "It really is the only means by which we can attain skills and qualifications. There are a lot of positives in training while still working." He particularly enjoys the clinical teaching visits. "The feedback they provide is essential."

Despite his Texas-size workload, Abbas still finds time to take an active role in the community. "It's a good community, a close-knit community," he said, "But like so many rural towns, farming towns, it's an ageing population. We really need an aged care facility; I've been pushing the idea with whoever will listen." He is also involved in University of Queensland medical student clinical education and e-mentoring James Cook University students.

Abbas has lived in Texas since 2004. The origin of the town's name is generally regarded as a reference to a local territorial dispute and borrowed from the infamous stoush between the United States and Mexico.