Another successful year of the Rural Emergency Medicine Course (REM) concluded in mid-April, with 21 visiting physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners attending sessions in the Sorrell simulation lab, the advanced anatomy lab, and other locations across campus.
The UNMC Emergency Medicine Department partnered with UNMC Continuing Education to hold the two-and-a-half day event, which drew attendees from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Alabama and New York.
Instructors were made up of UNMC faculty from emergency medicine, surgery, internal medicine, psychiatry and pediatrics, as well as private practice.
“With teamwork between our emergency department providers and departments throughout UNMC, we were able to provide a robust educational event to all participants,” said Russ Buzalko, Ph.D., co-director of the REM course.
Each day started with group lectures, before attendees split off into skill stations. “The goal is to review low-frequency, high-risk emergencies and practicing lifesaving procedures in a realistic, controlled teaching setting,” said Richard Walker, M.D., co-director of the REM course.
The small group skills labs covered splinting, basic intubations, surgical airway and more while using patient simulators, lightly embalmed cadavers and standardized patients. While similar to last year, each of the core sessions were updated by board-certified emergency medicine physicians. New sessions also were added this year, based on literature and feedback, including a “Returning War Vets’ Issues” session and an “Obstetrical Emergency” session.
“While the UNMC instructors were selected for their ability and desire to share medical knowledge with the participants, the participants also shared their own experiences and knowledge with the instructors and other participants,” Dr. Buzalko said.
The planning committee worked year-round on preparations and advertisements to to fill the slate for this year. While this type of course is not necessarily unique to UNMC, participants have reported that the “quality of the extensive, pertinent, and realistic hands-on labs” separates UNMC’s event from others.
The success of this year’s course already has generated preparations to offer the course again in 2016. Registration will open in the coming months.
The UNMC Center for Continuing Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM).
Great job
Congratulations on a wonderful conference. I know how hard it was to accomplish this event. Congratulations to all that worked on it.