Community will be a big part of the upcoming RhPAP Health Skills Weekend on Apr. 13-14, 2019
Billets and bulls will be part of a unique health-care experience taking place in Tofield.
Medical and nursing students, and other future health-care professionals in–training, will be participating in an RhPAP Health Skills Weekend event on April 13-14, 2019 at Tofield Health Centre.
Over 40 medical and nursing students from the University of Alberta will receive an introduction to interdisciplinary practice and life in a rural community. Participants will learn about health care in a rural environment, and receive instruction in basic health-care skills from local health providers. Participants will be trying their hand at several essential medical skills including IV starts, suturing, spinal immobilization, and casting. In the process, students are introduced to future mentors, and potential career opportunities in rural Alberta.
Communities also use this opportunity to showcase what they have to offer to future health-care professionals as potential future members of the community. Students will participate in skills sessions throughout the day on Saturday at Tofield Health Centre, taking a break for lunch at the Tofield Royal Canadian Legion. Later in the afternoon, local organizations will participate in a Community Showcase and Dinner, sponsored by the Tofield Health Foundation and Busy B, followed by an exciting night with the best bull riders in Canada at the Tofield Bull Bash, sponsored by the Tofield Lions Club. The evening wraps up with a live performance by Abby K at the Moonshine Café, sponsored by Greg Litwin.
For the first time in the 14-year history of the RhPAP Skills event program, participants will be billeted with community members, providing students with additional exposure to the rural lifestyle by experiencing it first-hand in someone’s home. Students will enjoy a Meet and Greet with local billets on Saturday afternoon, and will stay overnight with residents on Saturday night who will provide breakfast on the 14th, and an experience they’ll never forget! This exciting weekend wraps up on Sunday with a tour of local attractions, including the Tofield Museum and Nature Centre, and a wiener roast for participants at the Blackfoot Grazing Reserve.
RhPAP would like to express our appreciation to the Tofield Attraction and Retention Committee members for the many volunteer hours they have spent putting this event together; and to Mel Henriksen, Site Manager at Tofield Health Centre, and her dedicated staff, who are volunteering their time on Saturday to run the Skills stations for the students. Also thanks to the Village of Ryley Council for their $250 donation towards this event.
RhPAP Health Skills Events
RhPAP Skills events, including Skills Days and Skills Weekends for high school and post-secondary students, are sponsored by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP), and are scheduled in rural Alberta communities throughout the year by the RhPAP Rural Community Consultant team.