Physician educators explore innovative ways to training tomorrow's
specialists

VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - Leading Canadian and international medical educators are meeting over the next three days to discuss, debate and learn about innovations, including cutting-edge technology, that can enrich resident training and improve how residents are assessed.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is holding its Second International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE) from September 24-26 in Victoria, BC. This innovation-based conference is the only forum in the world dedicated to postgraduate medical education.

"Specialists work in an increasingly challenging and complex environment," says Dr. Andrew Padmos, CEO of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. "This conference is designed to inspire new ideas about how we educate tomorrow's specialists so that they are equipped to respond to the diverse needs of their patients."

Simulation takes centre stage this year, kicking off with the Simulation Summit on Septemer 24. Participants will examine how leading-edge technology can create as safe environment for residents to practice - an environment that promotes better communication and collaboration. For example, residents can practice how to deliver devastating news to patients and families, helping prepare them for difficult, real-life situations.

Dr. Amitai Ziv, a world-renowned expert in the field of medical simulation, founder and director of the MSR - the Israel Center for Medical Simulation, and a speaker at the Simulation Summit began applying the concepts of simulation during his training as a combat pilot in the Israel air force. As a physician he realized that there was "no opportunity to prepare for the nightmares and challenges that health professionals might experience during practice".

"Medical simulation strongly conveys the Hippocratic message of 'first do no harm'," he says, "and emphasizes the overriding responsibility of health professionals to be well prepared."

The conference also features the launch of the CanMEDS Physician Health Guide: A Practical Handbook for Physician Health and Well-being. A first of its kind in Canada, this guide is a practical tool kit to help educators, learners and physicians better understand the broad meaning of "physician health". The publication includes practical strategies to promote professional health and shows how to apply those strategies to physicians' daily lives.

"A physician's health affects the quality and efficiency of the health care she or he delivers," says Dr. Padmos. "This guide covers all areas of life, from physical and mental health to finances. It is our hope that by supporting physicians and other medical professionals to achieve a better work life balance, they in turn will be able to provide patients with improved quality care."

To read the full conference program, please visit: http://rcpsc.medical.org/meetings/english.pdf

About the Innovation in Residency Education Conference:

The Royal College's International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE) is the only forum in the world dedicated to postgraduate medical education (PGME). International participation has doubled at this year's conference, which brings together the movers and shakers in PGME - clinician educators, program administrators, program directors and faculty members - to explore this year's theme Innovations in Residency Education. To find out more, please visit http://rcpsc.medical.org/meetings/index.php

About the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada:

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national professional society for specialty medicine in Canada. We are more than 42,000 specialists dedicated to setting the highest standards in postgraduate medical education, including lifelong learning, and to promoting sound health policy. To find out more, please visit: www.royalcollege.ca

For further information: Kelly Goulet-Lewis, Consultant, Blueprint Public Relations, Tel: [phone] x22, Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Néomie Duval, Account Coordinator, Blueprint Public Relations, Tel: [phone] x32, Cell: [phone], [email protected]