Emergency medicine - always be prepared

What greater challenge can you have as a general practitioner than dealing with emergencies?

They are unpredictable, they can be frightening.

They are part of general practice, rural or urban.

At Sturt Fleurieu our motto for emergency medicine is ‘be prepared’.

If you want to be prepared, if you want to feel as comfortable as you can in emergencies, READ ON.

pro-start emergency has been specifically developed with general practice in mind when often you have limited support and limited resources and it will assist you to feel more comfortable, confident and competent when faced with real emergencies.

Using high fidelity computer simulation we have recreated a range of clinical scenarios based on real life general practice experiences and linked this with a modular learning program which follows the format used so successfully in the other start series programs.

It consists of information, cases, readings, online links and key clinical activities which must be completed and which are assessed by your experienced GP supervisor.

It even includes a self assessment section as well as a CD-ROM which demonstrates some important emergency manoeuvres and is designed to help you develop skills in areas such as simple and complex airway management, BLS and ALS and trauma management.

Particular attention is paid to the use of defibrillators in VF/VT, cardioversion and pacing and the use of CPAP and important topics are:

• coma
• cardiac emergencies
• respiratory emergencies
• anaphylaxis and
• major trauma.

The program addresses that vexed issue of which drugs are genuine emergency drugs and how they should be used.

pro-start emergency has been designed and written by experienced emergency trained GPs and educators and provides a non threatening way of developing and refining your emergency management skills and helping your decision making.

It aims to take the fear out of emergency medicine by encouraging you to follow simple principles and not allow yourself to be overwhelmed at the severity of the situation.

Emergency medicine IS a challenge and at Sturt Fleurieu you will be prepared

"pro-start emergency really gets you prepared for emergency medicine"
Michal Wozniak