May 2009 Newsletter

Latest News

WHAT A WORKSHOP

The Sydney workshop in March was the first chance for the 2009 cohort, their families and supervisors to meet the rest of RVTS. The harbour cruise with about 100 on board including 45 registrars, 12 supervisors, staff, partners and children was a highlight. It is amazing the how the bonding experience can be enhanced by the odd million dollar mansion and views.

Regulars Tony Skapetis presenting dental emergency skills and Terri Foran on contraception again proved very popular. Ultrasound and exam preparation sessions also received the tick of approval.
A fitness assessment was an eye opener for the majority of registrars that participated but it was great to see their enthusiasm was not extinguished by their lack of performance.

Planning is well underway for the next workshop at Rydges South Bank in Brisbane from September 14 to 18.  Medical Educator Trudi Cullinan is again putting together an action packed program, ably assisted by Bambi Ward and Doris Berger.

TICK OFF ANOTHER BOX

Following on from an accreditation visit by both RACGP and ACRRM last November, RVTS has been recognised as an accredited training provider to deliver training towards Fellowship of both ACRRM and RACGP. 
RVTS was commended on its work and achievements to date.
The acceptance of our training program is due in no small part to the work of Liz Morris in the Albury office to co-ordinate all the paperwork required to meet their testing standards.
As mentioned in previous e-letter the geographical complexities of remote registrars, trainers and the Albury office had proven a challenge for RACGP and ACRRM standards and their interpretation of traditional training methods. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER

RVTS has been accredited by the RACGP as a QA&CPD provider. Supervisors attending RVTS workshops can now readily access professional development points for either ACRRM or RACGP.

Upcoming Events

TELETUTORIALS

2009 COHORT

2008 COHORT

2007 COHORT

Teletutorials will take a break after June 4 and will recommence August 6.

2007 and 2008 Supervisors - 10 June and 18 November

2006 and 2009 Supervisors - 24 June and 2 December

Supervisor News from Dr Susan Wearne

What is a good question?

As doctors we learn how to ask questions so that patients feel comfortable to tell us relevant information.  In general we start with open questions but then follow up questions can be closed when we want to tease out particular facts.  Similarly in teaching the style and phrasing of the question will determine how willing learners are to share their information, or more importantly their ignorance.

This diagram from the Medical Journal of Australia Teaching on the Run series illustrates how different styles of questions will encourage learners to think at different levels of analysis.

So next time you are teaching, think carefully about the question you are asking.  What level of thinking are you encouraging and will the learner feel comfortable about saying they don't know?

Effective teachers enable learners to show their ignorance as well as their knowledge 

Reference:  Fiona R Lake, Alistair W Vickery and Gerard Ryan Teaching on the run tips 7: effective use of questions MJA 2005; 182 (3):126-127 Adapted from Peyton JWR, Allery L. Setting objectives. In: Peyton JWR, editor. Teaching and learning in medical practice. Rickmansworth, UK: Manticore Europe Limited, 1998: 57-67 and Douglas CK, Hosokawa MC, Lawler FH. Learning in the clinical setting. In: A practical guide to clinical teaching in medicine. New York: Springer, 1988: 7-18.

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/182_03_070205/lak10788_fm.html

AT THE COALFACE - Ruth Johnston

Ruth Johnston says the breakthroughs are incremental at Cherbourg.
She has already been there longer than most and the RVTS registrar is planning on another 12-month stay.
That, Dr Johnston says, gets her some acceptance, some credibility.
Cherbourg is at the end of the road, of the Bunya Highway 250km from Brisbane.
It was established in 1902 as an indigenous community under a policy of segregation.
The town has a population of about 2500, one hospital and two doctors.
"It can get busy," Dr Johnston said.
"There is incredible variety, you never know what is going to walk in next.
"But I'm a rural doctor, I'd get bored in the city.
"We look after the hospital, do all the emergency work and run the GP clinic.
"At the weekends we share with another town and so that is three hospitals and about 10,000 people. That can get very stressful."
Dr Johnston immigrated to Australia from Ireland at the age of 9 years and grew up in Hervey Bay, Queensland - the "whale watch capital of the world" - 3½ hours north of Brisbane.
Her experiences overseas, in Papua New Guinea and South America, sparked an interest in working in Aboriginal health.
But Dr Johnston says the remote training model developed by RVTS has been integral to her stay in Cherbourg.
"The fact that I have stayed 18 months and plan to stay another year means I'm one of the longer serving doctors and I'm slowly being accepted by the community, they will never tell you that in words but you slowly pick up on the signals," she said.
"In some ways it has been a rotating door.
"One doctor stayed three years but then others stay for shorter times and it takes six months to recruit another GP.
"So they have seen a rotation of junior doctors and that is far from ideal."
Despite her growing acceptance Dr Johnston says the successes can't be measured against other clinics.
"I have stories that are feel good stories for me but to others (outside Cherbourg) they wouldn't seem that incredible," she said.
"The breakthroughs are incremental."