This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Postgraduate: academic
Right arrow Taking exams
Right arrow Other family medicine
Right arrow Rural Health and Medicine
CMAJ • February 20, 2001; 164 (4)
© 2001 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

Letters
Correspondance

Remote versus urban medical training

Russell MacDonald

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Faculty of Medicine University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Man.

It is reassuring and not surprising to see that residents trained in remote or rural settings achieve Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination scores comparable to those of residents trained in urban settings.1 Of greater interest would be information on the skill set and scope of practice maintained by candidates trained in remote and rural settings once they establish their practice and information on where they choose to set up practice.

Candidates trained outside of urban areas are more likely to include in- patient care, emergency medicine, obstetrics, basic office procedures and a variety of other skills in their practice. It is also evident to me that residents who are exposed to rural and remote settings are more likely to establish their practice in an underserviced area.

There are many nonurban regions in this country desperate for capable, well-trained physicians willing to practice without the urban subspecialty safety net. Programs based outside of urban areas produce physicians with the skills and comfort level required to work in these areas. It seems logical that the College of Family Physicians of Canada, universities and other interested parties should shift their training focus to meet the needs of our health care system. If these groups fail to meet these needs, it is only a matter of time before another type of health care practitioner assumes the role of primary care provider to Canadians living outside of urban areas.

Reference

  1. McKendry RJ, Busing N, Dauphinee DW, Brailovsky CA, Boulais A-P. Does the site of postgraduate family medicine training predict performance on summative examinations? A comparison of urban and remote programs. CMAJ 2000;163(6):708-11.[Abstract/Free Full Text]




This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by MacDonald, R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Postgraduate: academic
Right arrow Taking exams
Right arrow Other family medicine
Right arrow Rural Health and Medicine