The emergency department at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital has up to 72,000 annual visits and is one of the newest departments on the island, having opened its doors in 2013. The NRGH emergency department sees a mixed population of every age group, and is the busiest single emergency department within the Vancouver Island Health Authority. The only procedural service in the country, and the development of several unique emergency training opportunities, including a recent ultrasound fellowship, has led to a unique opportunity for EM residents.

This is an ideal program for those contemplating professional practice outside major urban centers. The Nanaimo Emergency department is staffed by a mix of CCFP(EM) and FRCP physicians who have an interest in teaching and developing independent, cutting edge emergency physicians to work in any setting in the country. One of the most affordable communities to live in, Nanaimo is moments away from unlimited recreational possibilities involving outdoors, mountains and the water, while still being only 20 minutes away from downtown Vancouver by floatplane.

Past resident said “By choosing the Nanaimo program, you will benefit from a training program that emphasizes key strategic skills in emergency medicine that will make you a strong clinician ready to work in the full scope of emergency medicine from rural to urban.”

ULTRASOUND

We provide the opportunity for our residents to become certified as a “Independent Practitioners” by the Canadian Point of Care Ultrasound Society (CPoCUS) https://cpocus.ca/about-us/ As the year progresses this would involve a near fellowship point of care ultrasound training by expert practitioners. Residents will be able to go on to a be a resource to their future department in a community based hospital

SIMULATION

We make regular use of the high-fidelity simulation centre at Nanaimo Regional Hospital to deliver a synchronized sim curriculum across all sites

ACADEMICS

There is a rigorous weekly academic day that consists of various learning opportunities. Every week there is core content that focuses on learning as well as transitioning to practice. These sessions are led by faculty at all sites and videoconferenced to wherever the residents are.

Additional sessions with all EM staff include monthly SPH ED Grand Rounds, monthly Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) rounds, and UBC DEM Provincial Grand Rounds.   Over the course of their training year, EM residents will have the opportunity to present at rounds

Resident EM-based radiology, ECG and research rounds occur monthly.

All residents are provided with a HIPPOEM subscription for the training year. (https://www.hippoed.com/em/)

All residents attend the St. Paul’s Hospital Emergency Medicine Update Conference in Whistler. https://ubccpd.ca/learn/learning-activities/course?eventtemplate=306-20th-annual-st-pauls-emergency-medicine-update

Several EM-specific workshops and courses are given over the year and include:

• • 2-day introduction to “being a great EM resident boot camp” in the first week of the year
  • Cadaver procedure course
  • PALS or APLS course
  • UBC EM research day

There are monthly evening journal club sessions. Each EM resident is responsible for presenting at one of these sessions.

EXAM PREPARATION

There are regular practice oral exam sessions throughout the year. There is a practice written exam in the spring.

SOCIAL

We have several social events throughout the year including a welcome BBQ, the St. Paul’s Hospital Emergency Medicine Update Conference, a two-day winter retreat in January and a graduation party.

FLEXIBILITY

We strive to meet the training needs of each resident and are always open to creating specific training opportunities when possible.