Preparing for obstetrical emergencies

“Obstetrics is usually a lot of fun and goes well, but you need to be aware of what normal is so that when a situation deviates from the norm, you can intervene,” says Dr. Judy Hagshi, Director of Family Medicine Obstetrics at the Jewish General Hospital.  She is one of eight instructors who are at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning to teach first-year family residents how to prepare for obstetrical emergencies during the two-day workshop, Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM).

ALARM was developed by family physicians, obstetricians, midwives and nurses in conjunction with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to improve the care provided to women during labour, their fetuses and newborns, and their families. This evidence-based course is being led by family physician Dr. Hélène Rousseau, former Assistant Dean for Rural Education at McGill University, and includes case-based plenary sessions and hands-on workshops that enable participants to gain an understanding of the most up-to-date best practices for providing care.

“Even though some of these complications rarely happen in real life, such as shoulder dystocia, it’s vital for all physicians-in-training to gain a comprehensive understanding of these procedures,” explains Dr. Rousseau, ”so that when confronted with an emergency situation, they can intervene quickly. Seconds matter, and the response needs to be instinctual and familiar.”

Dr. Hiromi Tissera is one of the family medicine residents who is participating in the workshop, and she really likes the small group format which gives her the opportunity to interact, ask questions and obtain direct feedback.  She also enjoys the case-based discussions and appreciates the fact that this course is adapted specifically to family medicine and focuses on procedures that they are likely to encounter. 

First-year family medicine resident Dr. Yun Gao also finds the course very helpful and agrees that it will make her more comfortable at managing obstetric emergencies. “I’m interested in rural medicine, so this is something that could come up.  Putting my hands on forceps and going through demonstrations and simulations for breech deliveries was very valuable.”

After learners have completed this two-day workshop, they will return for a one-day Neonatal Resuscitation Program that will introduce them to the concepts and skills of neonatal resuscitation, preparing them to care for both mothers and infants during emergency situations.