Chris Ward, Year 4C student at the Sale campus spent two weeks in Blenheim. This is his report.

In July I was fortunate enough to travel to the south island of New Zealand for two weeks in exchange for a student from Otago University’s Rural Medical Immersion Program (RMIP). It was a short but busy trip which I thoroughly enjoyed. A 3 hour flight from Melbourne to Christchurch was followed by a bumpy 40 minute flight on a 19 seat plane to Blenheim. There I was met by two RMIP students I would be living with, as well as Dr Buzz Burrell, an iconic rural GP in the south island who put together my itinerary. We wasted no time, heading straight for the pub and sampling some local kiwi beers which were surprisingly drinkable.

Learning the ropes

The RMIP is for 5th year medical students and is similar to our year long placement in East Gippsland. Their time is split between a range of isolated rural GP practices, as well as paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, emergency medicine and orthopaedics.

During the first week I learnt a lot about how the New Zealand health system operates, spending 2 days on orthopaedics and 3 days in the emergency department. The real advantage of this hospital is that there are only 4 students and no registrars. This allows the students and residents to gain fantastic experience and teaching from consultants.

On the first night I was told to go to a nearby pub with one of the other students and await a call from Buzz, who in collaboration with the local fire brigade had orchestrated a simulated car crash scenario, where we were to employ first responder emergency medicine.  It was bitterly cold, and pitch black, requiring us to triage patients based on severity of injury in difficult conditions. It was an invaluable experience

The most striking difference that the healthcare system in NZ has compared with ours is the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This is essentially a no fault compensation scheme for accident and injury to anybody hurt on New Zealand soil, regardless of the mechanism of injury, excluding  natural aging. I had no choice but to learn how this system worked, as a large proportion of patients presenting to emergency required ACC forms to be filled in (absolutely the student’s job!). I spent the rest of the week on orthopaedics, great experience as I was the only assistant. This meant I was frequently able to suture, and in one case perform a procedure myself, cutting, popping and draining an elbow cyst,  which although disgusting was great fun!

Sampling the attractions

Blenheim residents are very proud of the fact that their town of 30,000 people is the sunniest place in New Zealand. The downside of clear days is clear (and freezing) mornings! The coldest was negative 3, so cold. However the upside to ever present sunshine is perfect conditions for wine making. Blenheim is right in the middle of the Marlborough region, which most Australians will have heard of for their famously delicious Sauvignon Blanc

On the weekend I got my tourist hat on and went on a winery tour. We visited 6 in total, the most famous of which was Giesen. It was a great day, and after about 40 samples we were in good spirits to continue the trans-Tasman cultural experience and watch some AFL. On the weekend we also visited some surrounding towns. Nelson is a town of 60,000 people about 100 km from Blenheim. It is surrounded by national parks and nice beaches. Picton is a small town half an hour from Blenheim that offers stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys at the top of the south island.

Road trip to Kaikoura

Week 2 was road trip time, heading 130 km south to a beachside town of 3,000 people called Kaikoura. With the ocean on one side of the road and snow capped mountains on the other, it was a highly enjoyable and picturesque drive to work! In Kaikoura the medical students stay in the house of one of the town GPs. Not sure what to expect, this only heightened the overall experience, with delicious home cooked meals, table tennis games, as well as ocean and mountain views from the kitchen

The practice is attached to a small 20 bed hospital run by the GPs, all highly skilled  generalists, as the nearest tertiary hospital is more than two hours away. This, coupled with a volunteer ambulance service, means the GPs are called to many 111 (000) calls, including car crashes, heart attacks, births etc. and as the student you are called as well. I saw some interesting chest pain and seizure presentations throughout the week. During the days at clinic I saw every second patient by myself, which the GP would then wave consult. It was a very flexible, laid-back set up, allowing student consultations to run for as long as required; 5 minutes in the case of a common cold, up to 40 minutes in one case with an interesting Type 1 diabetic patient. I saw a number of Maori patients in Kaikoura and was able to learn a bit about their culture as well.

Kaikoura is also a tourist hub, so I took an afternoon off to do a whale watch, which as an industry keeps the town going. We saw two sperm whales in what was a very unique and enjoyable experience. There was also a waterfall just out of town with 40-50 baby seals swimming around in the pool of water at the bottom.

A great exchange

I returned to Blenheim and flew home amidst scenic views of snowy mountain ranges and clear blue ocean. Overall it was a wonderful two weeks, both for my education, being able to learn about another health care system and to gain such hands on experience, and also to have some time to be a tourist. I’d like to thank the East Gippsland Clinical School for the opportunity, as well as everyone in Blenheim and Kaikoura who made the trip so memorable. The exchange is a fantastic initiative between the two universities and I hope it continues into the future.”

The view as Chris flew home.

The Year 2 placement in Bairnsdale travelled to the village of Bruthen, a small town (population 624) located alongside the Tambo River, approximately 25kms from Bairnsdale on the Great Alpine Road in East Gippsland. Nestled in the hills, the small town boasts the last coffee before the snow fields which gives it a daily buzz more akin to a larger town.

Sixteen Year 2 medical students visited the Bruthen Primary School, which has 44 students in all, so it was a manageable ratio to help with first aid training. The primary students were engaged from the beginning with our medical students giving them hands-on activities in small groups of mixed grade levels. Practicing CPR on our simulated equipment was a great hit as was helping locate body parts and learning how lungs work.

It was then time to feed the medical students. The Year 2 students had worked hard and earned a fabulous BBQ in the park.

We were very fortunate to have a paramedic from Omeo, Scott Fyfe, come to Bruthen to conduct hands on Basic Life Support sessions, complete with Jimmy, the simulated model who had fallen from his bike and later had cut his leg with an axe. The inclement weather meant we lay claim to the town’s rotunda. Wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of those involved and even engage travellers in the town who were intrigued with the activity.

The Year 2 students at Bairnsdale campus finished off the week with more community activities and in their spare time were able to explore the area and even  go kayaking in the canals at Paynesville. We are sure they will take back to Melbourne stories of a great placements which combined lots of fun with a valuable learning experience.

Our recently appointed Year 2 (and 3B) academic coordinator, Alda Dunlop, was thrown into the deep end when 15 Year 2 Monash medical students recently spent two weeks in Sale as part of their curriculum, getting a taste of rural medicine.

Alda had only been with the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School for a matter of weeks when asked to coordinate the Year 2 program. She was fortunate to have the assistance of Jennie Casey who had run the program over previous years and wasn’t far away. Jennie has moved to manage the Year 4C program at the South Gippsland campus.

Activities over the 2 weeks varied from visits to local medical practices, hospital wards and pharmacies, a day out with the Community Health department of the Central Gippsland Health Service to hands on plastering and basic life support tutorials.

All students agreed that the East Gippsland region has a lot to offer in both lifestyle and medical education opportunities. We hope some will return for more rural experiences at some stage during the remainder of their medical studies.

Students linked up from Otago, Bairnsdale and Sale for the annual Pat Farry Quiz.

The annual Pat Farry Memorial Trans Tasman Quiz between Otago University and Monash University, East Gippsland, was again a huge success – especially for the East Gippsland team!

Competing for the highly sought after “Pat Farry Cup” Year 3B and 4C students from Sale campus along with Year 4C Bairnsdale campus students made up the 18 strong Monash team. Otago had the edge on the numbers with 20 students but Monash students were determined to retain the coveted trophy.

Questions such as, “Name the three actresses who have all married Tom Cruise” and “Give the full name of the 1^st child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”,  were amply sprinkled with medical questions such as “what is the medical name for a tongue tie.” *

Thirty questions in all were asked, with the evening supervised by Monash and Otago staff to ensure there was no underhand access to Google or Wikipedia.

Quizmaster Buss Burrell, the Otago University Rural Medicine Immersion Program (RMIP) Regional Coordinator for Marlborough area, entertained everyone dressed as a large red lobster. He ran the quiz like clockwork, without a hint of home-side favouritism and although the incumbents got off to a slow start things warmed up as the quiz progressed.

Monash students were well fed with brain food to give them every chance of retaining the cup but it was their quick responses and entertaining exploration of details which won the day.

It was a close finish with the Monash side retaining the cup with a 23 to 19 win. (Yes we know that 23+19 does not add up to 30!) Scoring is another Quite Interesting exercise!

So the cup is East Gippsland’s and will be displayed at the Sale campus until the Kiwis and the Aussies meet again next year.

PS: *If you are interested, answers to the quiz questions listed are:

1. Katie Holmes (latest ex-wife), Nicole Kidman and Mimi Rogers

2. George Alexander Louis Mountbatten-Windsor

3. Ankyloglossia

The Monash University Medical Undergraduate Society (MUMUS) Teddy Bear Hospital was held at Leongatha Primary School recently and introduced a grand total of 93 grade prep students to hospital and clinical settings.

The MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital was run by Monash medical students who played the role of Teddy doctors.  Through the event Monash students aim to help reduce the anxiety children may experience if they or someone close to them has to go to hospital.

The preps each filled out a chart about their teddy, stating why teddy needed to go to hospital. The children were then divided into smaller groups to visit four stations: Ambulance and Emergency; Hygiene and Surgery; Exercise and Healthy Eating and X-ray and Plastering.

At the stations Teddy doctors took the preps through what you should do if someone is hurt, what happens when someone has an operation and why the doctor might need to take an X-ray.

At the healthy eating station the preps got the chance to munch on some of the fresh fruit.

Teddies of all shapes and sizes attended the event, including dogs, a hammerhead shark and superman. These poor teddies were afflicted with sore tummies, broken legs and in the case of the hammerhead, one killer headache.

Despite their suffering a lot of fun was had by all. “This is awesome”, exclaimed one prep while gowned and masked at the Surgery station. Fortunately all teddies were feeling a lot better by the end of the day.

Thank you to the teachers and children at Leongatha Primary School for hosting the MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital.

–  By Margaret Young, Year 4C South Gippsland

East Gippsland Regional Clinical School has hosted an information night for Koori students interested in a career in the health sector.

The evening in early August included a discussion forum on pathways and support for careers in Medicine, Nursing and other Health Professions.

The forum at the School’s Bairnsdale campus was highly successful, with 19 attendees, including community members and representatives from many key organisations. The event opened with a welcome by Uncle Albert Mullett, followed by a presentation by Doris Paton and Debra Blaber. They highlighted findings from their research into identifying ways in which more local Aboriginal people could work in the health sector.

The steering committee and instigators for this research were the East Gippsland School for Aboriginal Health Professionals (EGSAHP), with support from the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, local secondary colleges, especially the local Koori Engagement Support Officers (KESOs), students and parents. This project evolved from community members recognising a need in the community.

The research was undertaken in East Gippsland, with surveys conducted at Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Secondary Colleges. Parents and families also contributed by participating in focus groups or interviews, with a total of 98 people taking part.

The research highlighted the need to raise awareness of careers in the health profession, to identify role models for students in the community, to offer work experience at local health services, as well as providing useful and timely information about health courses and university entry requirements.

While it was said that there should be no barriers to Koori students completing school and pursuing further studies, the research showed that lack of transport, peer pressure, teacher attitudes, financial issues, as well as family support and stability, were all issues for students.

This research and the forum provided an opportunity for EGSAHP, the health services, schools, agencies, parents and community to work collaboratively to improve outcomes. The findings will now provide a direction and way forward for EGSAHP.

–       By Eleanor Mitchell, Lecturer, East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, Monash University

Laura Bidstrup is enjoying the upgrades at Yarram made possible through Commonwealth funding.

One of the clinics which supports East Gippsland medical students has had a face lift, thanks to Commonwealth Government Rural Education Infrastructure Development (REID) funding.

The funding has started to make an impact at the Yarram Medical Centre with the recent acquisition of two beds, a high low, desks, computers and some medical equipment.

Laura Bidstrup, who has been placed at the Yarram clinic for the 2013 academic year as part of the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School integrated Year 4C program, is happy to now have a realistic ‘doctor’s office’ in which to hone her skills.

Each year there is an opportunity for two Year 4C students from the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, to undertake an exchange with two students from the University of Otago Rural Medical Immersion Program (RMIP).

Students spend the two weeks alongside the RMIP students and are involved in all aspects of the program, also managing to fit in some sightseeing.

Mary McWatters and Rebecca Craw were the two students from the RMIP program to spend time in East Gippsland as part of the exchange. Their reports are included below.

Medical training in Bairnsdale

Having not been out of New Zealand since I was 12, I was excited about the adventure as one of four lucky RMIP students selected to travel to rural Australia for a two-week exchange.

My first day there was a bit of an intro. The Bairnsdale hospital has four main wards (medical, surgical, rehabilitation and paeds/midwifery) and a bustling ED. The hospital is a GP-run hospital where every patient is under the care of their GP. The GP’s visit the patients daily to organise the plan with the other medical staff.

Junior doctors and senior physicians/surgeons on the wards then carry out the agreed plan and manage anything else that may arise during the day. There is a lot of multidisciplinary support including numerous community-based organisations. Ambulance and air transfers are made for any cases that require ICU-level care to Sale, Traralgon or Melbourne.

There were similarities and differences between their (Australian) course and ours. The main focus of their teaching is clinically based, with whole group tutorials with specialists via video conference once or twice a week.

(more…)

Whale watching at Kaikoura, New Zealand

In July I was fortunate enough to travel to the south island of New Zealand for two weeks in exchange for a student from Otago University’s Rural Medical Immersion Program (RMIP). It was a short but busy trip which I thoroughly enjoyed.

A 3 hour flight from Melbourne to Christchurch was followed by a bumpy 40 minute flight to Blenheim.

There I was met by two RMIP students I would be living with, as well as Dr Buzz Burrell, an iconic rural GP in the South Island who put together my itinerary. We wasted no time, heading straight for the pub and sampling some local kiwi beers which were surprisingly drinkable!

The RMIP is for 5th year medical students and is similar to our year-long placement in East Gippsland. Their time is split between a range of isolated rural GP practises, as well as Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Emergency medicine and Orthopaedics.

During the first week I learnt a lot about how the New Zealand health system operates, spending two days on orthopaedics and three days in the emergency department. The real advantage of this hospital is that there are only four students and no registrars. This allows the students and residents to gain fantastic experience and teaching from consultants.

On the first night I was told to go to a nearby pub with one of the other students and await a call from Buzz who, in collaboration with the local fire brigade, had orchestrated a simulated car crash scenario where we were to employ first responder emergency medicine.  It was bitterly cold and pitch black, requiring us to triage patients based on severity of injury in difficult conditions. It was an invaluable experience.

The most striking difference that the healthcare system in NZ has compared with ours is the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This is essentially a no-fault compensation scheme for accident and injury to anybody hurt on New Zealand soil, regardless of the mechanism of injury, excluding natural aging.

I had no choice but to learn how this system worked, as a large proportion of patients presenting to emergency required ACC forms to be filled in (absolutely the student’s job!)

I spent the rest of the week on orthopaedics, great experience as I was the only assistant. This meant I was frequently able to suture, and in one case perform a procedure myself, cutting, popping and draining an elbow cyst, which although disgusting was great fun!

Blenheim residents are very proud of the fact that their town of 30,000 people is the sunniest place in New Zealand. The downside of clear days is clear (and freezing) mornings.

The coldest was minus 3 … cold!

However the upside to ever present sunshine is perfect conditions for wine making. Blenheim is right in the middle of the Marlborough region, which many Australians will have heard about for its famously delicious Sauvignon Blanc.

On the weekend I got my tourist on and went on a winery tour. We visited six in total, the most famous of which was Giesen. It was a great day, and after about 40 samples we were in good spirits to continue the Trans-Tasman cultural experience and watch some AFL.

On the weekend we also visited some surrounding towns. Nelson is a town of 60,000 people about 100ks from Blenheim. It is surrounded by national parks and nice beaches.

Picton is a small town half an hour from Blenheim that offers stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys at the top of the south island.

Week two was road trip time, heading 130ks south to a beachside town of 3,000 people called Kaikoura. With the ocean on one side of the road and snow capped mountains on the other, it was a highly enjoyable and picturesque drive to work!

In Kaikoura the medical students stay in the house of one of the town GPs. Not sure what to expect, this only heightened the overall experience, with delicious home cooked meals, table tennis games, as well as ocean and mountain views from the kitchen.

The practise is attached to a small 20 bed hospital run by the GPs, all highly skilled  generalists, as the nearest tertiary hospital is more than two hours away.

This, coupled with a volunteer ambulance service, means the GPs are called to many 111 (000) calls, including car crashes, heart attacks, births etc. and as the student you are called as well. I saw some interesting chest pain and seizure presentations throughout the week.

During the days at clinic I saw every second patient by myself, and the GP would then wave consult. It was a very flexible and laid back set up, allowing student consultations to run for as long as required; five minutes in the case of a common cold, up to 40 minutes in one case with an interesting Type 1 diabetic patient.

I saw a number of Maori patients in Kaikoura and was able to learn a bit about their culture as well.

Kaikoura is also a tourist hub, so I took an afternoon off to do a whale watch, which is an industry that helps keep the town going. We saw two sperm whales, a unique and enjoyable experience. There was also a waterfall just out of town with 40-50 baby seals swimming around in the pool of water at the bottom.

I returned to Blenheim and flew home amidst scenic views of snowy mountain ranges and clear blue ocean.

Overall it was a wonderful two weeks, both for my education, being able to learn about another health care system and to gain such hands on experience, and also to have some time to be a tourist.

I’d like to thank the East Gippsland Clinical School for the opportunity, as well as everyone in Blenheim and Kaikoura who made the trip so memorable. The exchange is a fantastic initiative between the two universities and I hope it continues into the future.

–          By Chris Ward

Magnificent New Zealand mountains

Each year there is an opportunity for two Year 4C students from the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, to undertake an exchange with two students from the University of Otago Rural Medical Immersion Program (RMIP).

Students spend the two weeks alongside the RMIP students and are involved in all aspects of the program, also managing to fit in some sightseeing.

For the two East Gippsland students, Cassie Coetzee and Chris Ward, it was a memorable and packed trip.