Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP)

ROMP is currently offering anesthesia electives in Collingwood Ontario.  ROMP maintains a listing of available accommodation, and assists host hospitals in developing suitable accommodation sites for residents, however the trainee is ultimately responsible for arranging and funding their own accommodation.

Contact:

Rural Ontario Medical Program

459 Hume Street, Collingwood, Ontario L9Y 1W9

Tel:            705-445-ROMP (7667)         Toll free:          1-877-445-ROMP (7667)

Fax:           705-444-8630                     Email:      romp@georgian.net

         York County Hospital Community Elective

1.      Preamble

York County Hospital is a 350 bed acute care hospital located 50 km north of Toronto in York Region. The communities serviced include Newmarket, Aurora, Bradford, and other smaller towns; the catchment area extends to include Barrie, Midland, Orillia, and other more northerly areas. The surgical specialists comprise all specialties, including major vascular and thoracics, except cardiac and neurosurgery.

The Department of Anesthesia consists of eight anesthetists with their FRCPC and one GP anesthetist. Several members have additional training in critical care or pediatrics. The Department is actively involved in the ICU, providing comprehensive care for all surgical patients, and consultant respiratory care for seriously ill medical cases. Additionally, other activities of the Department include a weekly out-patient Anesthesia Assessment Clinic, an embryonal Acute Pain Service, and a busy obstetric epidural analgesia practice.  The operating room runs six rooms daily with a 65% out-patient caseload.

2.      Objectives:

First and foremost, the elective resident will have an opportunity to experience community-based anesthetic practice. This will be realized by the provision of anesthetic services in the OR and by interaction with the various members of the Department of Anesthesia.

Specific issues of practice as they relate to community hospital anesthetists will be discussed with the resident. These will include CME, OR management, departmental administration, and other matters not traditionally emphasized in residency training. The challenges of solo practice will become evident as the resident rotates through the OR, labour and delivery, and consultant environments.

While the Department of Anesthesia makes available to the resident the resources of York County Hospital, the staff anesthetists expect in return a stimulating and collegial exchange of ideas and information pertinent to the evolving science of anesthesia.

While applicants at all levels of training are welcome, paediatric experience is a must. We feel that residents in their final 18 months of training are likely to benefit most from the experience, as they gain valuable perspectives on their choice of future career which may lie beyond the teaching hospital.

3.      Length of Elective:

Five working days is suggested as a minimum. Two to four weeks is probably optimal.

4.      Methods:

The elective resident will initiate the request for elective placement through the Program Director and contact the Chief of Anesthesia at York County Hospital, Dr. M. Levis, in writing.

The resident will be assigned daily OR lists to function under the direct supervision of a staff anesthetist. He/she will be responsible for all facets of patient care, including preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management and, if indicated, will be asked to participate in the postoperative critical care plan.

There will be no overnight on call responsibilities. One day per week the resident will be assigned to the on call anesthetist for ICU/Obstetrics/Emergency Surgery exposure, this assignment will extend into the evening.

York County Hospital is within easy commuting distance from Toronto and environs. For those without access to a car, arrangements may be made for in-house accommodation, although this would require special consideration.

5.      Evaluation:

Written evaluation of the elective resident’s performance will be rendered at the end of the elective period using the ITER format. The departmental resident coordinator, Dr. M. Sullivan will prepare the evaluation, after gathering opinions of fellow anesthetists who have worked with the resident. The results will be discussed with the resident and a written report forwarded to the Program Director.

6.       Summary:

The Department of Anesthesia at York County Hospital offers senior residents in anesthesia an opportunity to gain insight and practical experience in the matter of community hospital practice. The varied caseload, congenial working conditions, and proximity to Toronto should make this an appealing and, we hope, rewarding event for all parties.

Queensway Carlton Hospital:

The Queensway Carlton Hospital in Ottawa offers a dynamic anesthesia department with a wide variety of surgical cases in a setting close to home.  Dr. Wayne Chamberlain supervises anesthesia residents for community elective rotations at the QCH.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Toronto:

St. Joseph’s Hospital is a busy acute care hospital in downtown west Toronto (off the Lakeshore across from Ontario place) which is affiliated with St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.  There are a wide variety of surgical cases with an emphasis on thoracic, vascular and obstetrical anesthesia services being provided. Dr. Scott Morrison and Robert Cirone, two former residents (and excellent mentors) from the Ottawa Program, are active members of the anesthesia department and interested in supervising senior anesthesia residents for a community anesthesia rotation.  Contact Dr. Sullivan for more information.

Centre Hospitalier des Vallees de L’Outaouais (CHVO Gatineau):

The CHVO is an active acute care hospital of approximately 400 beds.  Eight thousand surgical cases each year are performed each year with all subspecialty surgical services represented excluding cardiac surgery.  The following is a breakdown of the surgical case exposure over a one year period.

The CHVO currently accepts elective students from McGill University.  Dr. Peter Solomon has expressed a keen interest in supervising senior anesthesia residents for a community anesthesia elective at the CHVO.  Contact Dr. Sullivan for more information.

Other community anesthesia electives may be arranged (in discussion with the Program Director) to suit a residents individual interests and needs.