GEMS

General Emergency Medicine Skills (GEMS)

GEMS is an on-line, multi-media emergency skills training experience with a hands-on simulation component that enables rural physicians to upgrade EM skills at work or at home.

Rural physicians must be able to handle every situation that rolls through the EM doors. Maintaining clinical competency can be a challenge with busy schedules and distance from urban training sites. RPAP in partnership with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) provides this opportunity to you.

GEMS learning modules NOW include:

• Preparation for Transport,
• C-Spine X-Ray and CT Head,  
• Central Venous Access & Intraosseous Infusion, 
• Shock
• Advanced Airway Management and Rapid Sequence Intubation
• Emergency Thoracostomy

GEMS training allows you to achieve better patient/physician outcomes by enhancing your EM skills. After your self study is completed, you may access hands-on experience by taking a STARS Human Patient Simulation session. 

GEMS Training Process: 

1. Complete GEMS Application  GEMS Enrichment Training Application_26May09.pdf
2. Contact Us  for log-in & password needed to access modules 
3. Click here for link to GEMS Learning Modules
4. Pre and post tests required to obtain CFPC Mainpro® credits
5. Upon completion of study of modules, GEMS candidates contact STARS to register for a Human Patient Simulator (HPS) session
6. STARS notify RPAP of candidate's participation in HPS session
7. RPAP sends $1,000.00 honorarium and Certificate of Attendance to rural physician

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To be eligible for the RPAP honorarium, physicians must:

1. complete all modules,
2. participate in the STARS Mobile Simulation Program session, and
3. complete an Evaluation Survey.

STARS Training Dates:
(updated as new dates provided by STARS):

   Didsbury - June 14, 2010

   Vulcan Hospital - September 14, 2010

   other dates to follow shortly

AFTER completing the self-study, GEMS candidates contact STARS directly to register for testing at a Human Patient Simulator (HPS) session.

Central AB - Shell Ryan (780) 732-3007 sryan@stars.ca  

Alberta South - Chad Hegge (403) 516-4815 chegge@stars.ca

Alberta North - Greg Schmidt (780) 830-7005 gschmidt@stars.ca

2010 STARS HPS completed:
January - Banff, Hanna
February - Three Hills
March - Suffield (CFB)
April - Invermere (BC), Stettler, Coronation, Consort
May - High River, Golden (BC)

Study Credits

The GEMS program meets the accreditation criteria of The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and has been accredited for up to 14 Mainpro-C credits as follows: two (2) Mainpro-C credits for each completed module plus 2 Mainpro-C credits for completing the STARS Mobile Simulation Program component.

"As rural physicians, we're trained to deal with life-threatening emergencies. The reality however, is that we may encounter these situations relatively infrequently. We need to maintain and enhance our emergency skills to better manage these stressful events."