Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) hosted expert trainers from the University of Toronto (Canada) to deliver international standard education to health professionals across the Darling Downs and South West regions at two three-day intensive education events in November, 2018.

Known as EHPIC (Educating Health Professionals in Interprofessional Care), the training encourages health professionals to learn from, with and about each other to ensure there is an enhanced focus on patient-centred care to improve patient outcomes.

The EHPIC training is part of a broad raft of strategies being developed and implemented by SQRH to help build a sustainable rural health workforce.

SQRH Director Associate Professor Geoff Argus said SQRH was delighted to bring EHPIC workshops to Roma and Toowoomba.

“EHPIC examines the concept of Interprofessional Care with the idea that doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who have a greater understanding of each other’s role can then improve overall communication which in turn brings improved health outcomes.

“This approach has been developed by the University of Toronto (Canada) who are global leaders in Interprofessional Care.

“A contingent of expert trainers from the University of Toronto delivered both workshops to over 50 participants at each workshop location. The participants included doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, clinical educators and health administrators.

“We received excellent support from Darling Downs Health, South West Hospital and Health Service, University of Queensland and University of Southern Queensland. Both DDH and SWHHS encouraged and supported staff to attend EHPIC knowing that the invaluable knowledge and skills they acquire can then be implemented at health facilities across both regions.

“Other organisations that sent representatives to EHPIC included Queensland Health’s Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Allied Health Professions Office of Queensland, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, St Vincent’s and St Andrews Private Hospitals and a number Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across the region,” he said.

SQRH Advisory Board Chair Mr Derek Tuffield OAM said the EHPIC training was a highlight for the first year of SQRH during its establishment phase.

“The SQRH team has been making great progress supporting nursing, midwifery and allied health students in their clinical placements, developing training for health staff who supervise those students and building a strong foundation for rural and remote health workforce development,” he said.