Emergency Medicine (Western and Sunshine Hospitals)

Unit Code

00177

NB: Up to and including the 06-07 AMS cohort this unit was combined with the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). The RMH Emergency Medicine unit is now unit 01266.

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Departments of Emergency Medicine
Western Hospital, Sunshine Hospital
Victoria Australia

Unit Points

Research Points: 75

Coursework Points: 25

top of page

Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Professor Anne-Maree Kelly
Deputy Director
Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research
1st floor, Sunshine Hospital
176 Furlong Rd
St Albans
Victoria 3021 Australia

tel: + 61 3 8345 1024
fax: + 61 3 8345 1019
email: Anne-Maree.Kelly@wh.org.au

top of page

Overall Objectives

• To understand the basic principles of clinical research, in particular in relation to prehospital and emergency medicine research
• To be able to design, carry out and communicate the results of original research in prehospital and emergency medicine
• To understand the barriers to high quality clinical research in prehospital and emergency medicine
• To understand the special ethical issues relating to research in prehospital and emergency medicine
• To be able to critically evaluate biomedical literature

top of page

Content

Coursework: The two components (each 12.5 points) are:

1. Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics

2. Research in Prehospital and Emergency Medicine:
This unit examines the history of emergency medicine research, barriers to high quality research in prehospital and emergency medicine, research designs of particular relevance to research in prehospital and emergency medicine, the special ethical issues related to research in prehospital and emergency medicine and dissemination of evidence in the field of prehospital and emergency medicine. It comprises 5 self-learning modules, each of approximately 3 hours duration.

Research: This is the major component. This may be based at either Footscray or St Albans campuses (by negotiation). Projects will be offered across a broad range of areas including paediatric emergency medicine, trauma, social issues, emergency cardiology, clinical medicine and education. Students have a major say in choice of projects based on their area of interest. To date more than 80% of student projects have resulted in a journal publication, several in prestigious overseas journals. The unit provides the following to support students in their project/learning:

1. Free Parking (either/both campuses)
2. An emergency medicine textbook
3. Clinical emergency medicine tutorial program (min of 20 problem-based tutorials).
4. Opportunity for one-on-one mentored experience in an emergency department with a senior emergency medicine teacher. This will include opportunities to practice and develop history and physical examination skills and a variety of procedural skills.
5. Participation in Department of Emergency Medicine activities including a weekly tutorial program, critical care workshop and clinical simulation sessions.
6. Support to attend a local, national or international scientific meeting if their work is accepted for presentation.

Sample Research Topics:

We prefer to discuss potential research projects with students during pre-selection. All interested students are encouraged to contact Debra Kerr to discuss AMS projects within the JECEMR. In general, we encourage studies in the following areas: Cardiology, orthopaedics, drug and alcohol abuse, general medicine and surgery, paediatrics.

All AMS students will be encouraged to publish their research in a peer reviewed medical journal. Considerable assistance will be given in this regard. There are several projects available to AMS Students

top of page

Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 75 points
Research Report (up to 7,000 words): 80%
Oral presentation of the research (20 minutes): 20%

Coursework Component: 25 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics, assessed as per subject description: 12.5 points
Research in Prehospital and Emergency Medicine: 12.5 points. Two assignments of 1,500 - 2,000 words each

top of page

Student Numbers

Number of places available:
2