The UBC CCFP-EM program has been a leader in the innovation and development of regional and distributed sites for successful candidates to develop a solid training in Emergency Medicine outside of the traditional urban environments. Starting with the 2021-2022 cohort of residents, the UBC CCFP-EM program has expanded two positions yearly to a Northern/Regional Program based out of Prince George and Nanaimo.

Prince George, in Northern BC, is the site of an established medical school and postgraduate program in Family Medicine. It has been a regional elective site for the program based at St. Paul’s for over 10 years. It is playing an ever-larger role as one of the northern portals for this newly expanded training stream in BC. Regional and Northern experiences in EM, Anesthesia, ICU and longitudinal Orthopedics are some of the offerings on their northern menu. Resident rotations in Prince George, as in all home sites, will be as a senior resident.

This is an ideal program for those contemplating professional practice outside of a major urban center and/or serving northern populations. Prince George is the “hub of Northern BC” and is the regional health centre for the Northern Health Authority. Given the geographic size of Northern BC, we expect that residents will also get to experience and understand the challenges that patient transport logistics add into acute patient care.

Prince George has a diverse, growing community. Although we are a bit of a drive to other centres in BC (or an hour flight), there is no lack of activities to be involved in. The draw for many to Prince George are the endless recreational opportunities that being at the hub of two major rivers and between mountains provides–it doesn’t matter what the season, there is something to do!

Some of the emergency time will be spent in Nanaimo which will include the procedural consult service, where residents will become very strong with exposure to high volume procedural skills.

Residents in this program should be prepared to relocate to different communities during the year for a unique experience of BC regional life and emergency healthcare delivery.

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 regional or northern based hospital

SIMULATION

We make regular use of high-fidelity simulation centres at Nanaimo Regional Hospital and University Hospital of Northern British Columbia to deliver a synchronized sim curriculum across all sites. The University Hospital of Northern British Columbia boasts the Northern Clinical Simulation Centre which has full time simulation staff. The availability of this resource holds great potential for residents hoping to develop their own skills in simulation development and facilitation in the future.

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 UHNBC ED Grand Rounds, SPH EM Department 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 at a staff member’s home. 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.