Fifty-four students from the University of Alberta and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) participated in a medical skills event in Olds Oct. 15-16.
Students training in medicine, physiotherapy, respiratory therapy and paramedic-EMT disciplines took part in the challenge, which is an opportunity for them to experience the advantages of living and working in a rural Alberta community.
Participants received tours of medical facilities and attractions in the town of Olds, including the Olds College Campus.
There were six skills stations instructed by four local physicians, three registered nurses (RNs), a physiotherapist and two emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
The Olds Medical Skills Weekend event was sponsored by the Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan (RPAP), the Olds Institute and the Olds Hospital and Care Centre.
“The weekend event was a great success as stated by various students,” says Mel Giles, chair of the Olds Physician Attraction & Retention Committee of the Olds Institute.
The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan (RPAP) is an independent, not-for-profit company funded by the Alberta Ministry of Health.
Established in 1991 by the government of Alberta, RPAP supports the ongoing efforts of Alberta's rural physicians, their families and communities to improve the quality of rural health care.
In cooperation with Alberta Health Services and the Olds physicians, the Olds Physician Attraction & Retention Committee, which is part of the Olds Institute, works to attract and retain physicians and their families for the purpose of providing ongoing medical services to all members of the community and surrounding region.
The Olds Institute was formed in 2001 by community leaders who realized they could achieve more together than they could apart. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing their four founding members and includes members of the community at large.
- Further coverage of this event will be published in a later edition of the Albertan.
"The weekend event was a great success as stated by various students."MEL GILES CHAIR OLDS PHYSICIAN ATTRACTION AND RETENTION COMMITTEE
