Last week UCRH played host to an intense day of communication skills training for medical interns, international medical graduates and final year medical students. The extensive training session was put together by the Northern NSW Regional Training Hub with support from many of our medical educators.
It is important to us that we strengthen the rural health workforce and provide exceptional continuing professional development opportunities for local health professionals, whether through running our own programs or supporting the work done through the NNSWLHD and Regional Training Hub.
The session last week provided an important opportunity for participants to learn from senior Lismore Base Hospital and Regional Training Hub staff, as well as presenters from the Clarence Valley Regional Training Hub and the Tweed Valley Hospital.
With simulated and discussion based sessions, some of the areas covered in the training included:
- breaking bad news and discussing death.
- how to balance efficiency and communication as a Junior Medical Officer.
- critical resuscitation communications.
- discussing highly personal areas such as sexual history and mental health history.
- how to handle difficult referrals or to deescalate difficult situations.
