RDN hosts Advanced Life Support Workshop for GPs in Orange

RDN hosted a one-day Advanced Life Support (ALS) Workshop at the University of Sydney School of Rural Health in Orange last week, as part of its commitment to bringing training, networking and knowledge exchange to doctors working west of the ranges. 

Supported by the NAB Foundation, 29 GPs took part in the course, which focused on developing skills, knowledge and confidence in managing medical emergencies, including cardiac arrest, recognition, assessment and immediate management of the deteriorating patient. 

Training 'on country'

After extended years of drought, many of the GPs in attendance have been serving communities hit hard by the recent floods. “This course is conducted right around the country, but my preference is to teach in regional and remote areas,”  facilitator Shane Lenson told RDN. 

"I think the big thing with rural health is that you are part of the same community you look after. If we didn’t conduct these courses in these areas, all of these rural clinicians would have to travel to capital cities to undertake the training, which leaves the regional areas without a workforce,” he said. 

Dr Gavin Schneider, of Lithgow Hospital, completed the Workshop and agreed that being able to attend at a location such as Orange, was helpful in minimising overall travel and disruption to his schedule. 

“I’ve come from Lithgow… I notice other participants have come from Canowindra, Mudgee, Wagga Wagga and places in the middle,” Dr Schneider said.  

“So, in traditional terms, we’re all from Wiradjuri country and we’ve all stayed on country - which is a symbolic thing - but, more to the point, we’re centrally located for this course so it’s minimised the amount of travel and the general disruption to our other jobs," he said. 

NAB Foundation Support

Earlier in the year, the NAB Foundation awarded RDN $35,000 to host ALS workshops in locations more accessible to regional and rural GPs. “NAB is here to help customers, colleagues and their communities withstand and recover from natural disasters, so we’re incredibly proud to be supporting the NSW Rural Doctors Network and the work they’re doing in the community,” said a spokesperson for Foundation. 

Future ALS Workshops

RDN will be hosting further ALS Workshops in regional areas in coming weeks and months – Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or keep an eye on Monday Message for details.