SEME participants
Program Gives Family Doctors Skills and Confidence to Work in Rural Emergency Departments Emergency departments represent a critical component of “Rural and remote family doctors care for many of the most the health care system. In rural and remote areas of Ontario, vulnerable and geographically isolated communities in our emergency departments are staffed almost exclusively by country,” says Dr. Sharon Reece, who completed the SEME local family doctors. However, it is becoming increasingly program in 2017. “SEME provides invaluable training to help difficult for rural communities to recruit and retain family us in our challenging practice environments.” doctors willing to provide emergency care, as many doctors are reluctant to practice emergency medicine without During the twelve-week program, SEME learners complete additional training. clinical rotations in emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, and anesthesia. They participate in weekly education Created in 2011 in collaboration with the University of sessions incorporating high-fidelity simulation using computToronto Department of Family and Community Medicine erized mannequins that permit the reproduction of real-life and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, critical scenarios. In the course evaluation, 100 percent the Supplemental Emergency Medicine Experience (SEME) of SEME learners agreed that the program improved their program provides practical training in emergency medicine emergency medicine knowledge base and clinical skills. for family doctors practicing in smaller and rural communities. The program is the first of its kind in Canada and has provided training for 119 family doctors to date. 40 | Chapter 7