Prehospital care

[Varied A]

I remember a while ago reading an article in the EMJ about prehospital care being on the syllabus at Birmingham (I hope it was Birmingham, or I'm going to look really stupid!).... Something to do with a basic course for everyone, followed by further study and experience over the rest of the course/post qualifying for those who want it, leading to the DipIMC.

Is this scheme still in place? And if it is, what do people think of it?

[jas1]

Hi John
Birmingham has close links with the West Midlands CARE team (a very active BASICS group).
In first years there are a few lectures on emergency care & you have to do basic life support.
In 4th year there is an optional pre-hospital trauma course over a weekend which is taught mainly by the CARE team (this does not lead to any nationally recognised course but is basically a version of PHTC). In final year you do ILS. (I think most trusts do ALS as part of F1 training).
It is possible to join the CARE team as an observer from final year.

DipIMC is a challenging qualification and requires significant experience in the field of pre-hospital care. Since the university has strong links with local BASICS groups there is a natural progression to join one of these if you are interested. However, most of the training is postgraduate and you cannot expect to obtain DipIMC for a good few years after qualifying.

Jas1

[BigC]

What the smeg is prehospital care?

[Varied A]

Hi John
Birmingham has close links with the West Midlands CARE team (a very active BASICS group).
In first years there are a few lectures on emergency care & you have to do basic life support.
In 4th year there is an optional pre-hospital trauma course over a weekend which is taught mainly by the CARE team (this does not lead to any nationally recognised course but is basically a version of PHTC). In final year you do ILS. (I think most trusts do ALS as part of F1 training).
It is possible to join the CARE team as an observer from final year.

DipIMC is a challenging qualification and requires significant experience in the field of pre-hospital care. Since the university has strong links with local BASICS groups there is a natural progression to join one of these if you are interested. However, most of the training is postgraduate and you cannot expect to obtain DipIMC for a good few years after qualifying.

Jas1

Yes, I understand that the DipIMC is challenging (around 50% of doctors fail on their first attempt); I was just wondering though if the progression towards it was quite as structured and easy to follow as the article made out. Sounds like it perhaps isn't. Still may be a reason to choose Birmingham though, as I'm very interested in prehospital care, and I don't think any other med school has even that level of training in it.

BigC - prehospital care is care of seriously injured (and occasionally seriously ill) patients at the scene, before removal to hospital. Most of it is done by paramedics and emergency care practitioners (both of whom may also sit the DipIMC); but occasionally it is nescessary for a doctor to attend (e.g. critical injuries with prolonged extrication). The website of BASICS (brittish association for immediate care) should give you more details.

[BigC]

Ta.

[Captain_Carrot]

What the smeg is prehospital care?

ahh BigC, you cut right to the chase there...

[kittykat025]

I think he said what we were all thinking.