In mid-June, RhPAP was pleased to sponsor a group of health professionals including rural physicians and nurses as they took part in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course at the Athabasca Healthcare Centre.
The Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) program teaches a systematic approach to caring for a trauma patient. ATLS was developed by the American College of Surgeons, and has been in operation for over forty years.
According to the ATLS website, “The course provides a safe and reliable method for immediate management of injured patients. The course teaches you how to assess a patient’s condition, resuscitate and stabilize him or her, and determine if his or her needs exceed a facility’s capacity. It also covers how to arrange for a patient’s inter-hospital transfer and assure that optimum care is provided throughout the process.”
Kristen MacKenzie is a Registered Nurse, and the North Zone Clinical Educator for Areas 6 & 7. She is based out of Athabasca Healthcare Centre and had the following observations of the course.
“Almost all of the candidates were successful in passing the requirements of the course, and… expressed their appreciation and gratitude for holding the course in a rural area. We have been encouraged to hold more of these courses (and others!) for their associates and colleagues so that they can experience the same level of focus and care for rural practitioners.”
“Furthermore,” comments MacKenzie, “Most of the instructors (who travelled in from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Whitehorse) want to return and teach here again since this course was so well received.”
Course attendees gave positive feedback on being able to learn as a group and not having to travel to a large urban center. They also commented on feeling more confident and empowered as representatives of rural health care.
If you would like to learn more about RhPAP sponsorship for health professionals, visit rhpap.ca and click on the Programs and Services heading.