Transcript Expedition Medicine

Expedition Medicine
What is an Expedition ?
• An expedition is an organised journey with
a purpose
• Becoming big business as the “Adventure
Tourism” boom continues
• There is a need for medics who are happy
to work in remote environments
What is Expedition Medicine ?
• It is a branch of medicine concerned with
maintaining health, physical and
psychological, under the special stresses
and challenges of an expedition
• Not just treatment of disease – almost
every facet of most expeditions have
health implications
What will you be expected to do?
• Much of the work happens before the trip leaves:
– Risk Assessment, Gathering medical info about those travelling,
Assembling appropriate medical kit, First Aid Training etc
• During the trip you are responsible for assessing and
managing those who become ill or injured and arranging
their evacuation if necessary
• You may well need to play the role of Doctor, Nurse,
Counsellor and Paramedic all rolled into one
Types of Expedition
• May have specific objectives – e.g.
conservation, education or scientific research
• May be simply undertaken for adventure e.g.
mountaineering, diving, polar travel
• May be organised by commercial companies,
charities, schools, universities, the armed forces
• Conditions are usually basic, numbers of
participants vary, as does the level of support
Why get involved?
• Personal interest in activity or objective
• Challenging way/place to practise
medicine
• A way to further yourself personally –
improve decision making, communication,
teamwork etc.
• Might look good on cv
Training and Experience
• Expedition Doctors can come from virtually
any discipline
• Experience in general practice, A&E and
infectious diseases are probably most
relevant
• Various courses/conferences in Expedition
Medicine e.g. ExpeMed
Does it pay well?
• In short, No!
• May pay nothing at all, usually expenses
at most, and could involve you bringing
your own medical kit
• Most Trek companies offer discounts to
doctors willing to take responsibility for
medical care of participants
• Some, but only very few organisations
actually pay doctors for their services
What if it all goes Tits Up?
• Agreeing to be medical officer on an expedition
carries legal implications
• Duty of care to participants, and responsible for
your actions
• If employed by commercial organisation then
they take some liability for negilgence is their
responsibility
• Generally not covered by “Good Samaritan Act”
• Talk to MDU, may well need extra cover
Overall Pro’s
• Cheap or free way to travel
• The only way to visit some remote areas
• Challenging and rewarding way to practise
medicine
• Break from hospital treadmill
• Opportunity to enhance both medical and
non-medical skills
• Often a light workload
Overall Con’s
•
•
•
•
Often Unpaid
Continuous duty
Can be predominantly trivial injuries
Could involve coping with serious injury in
remote area, with little back-up
• Trips are often lengthy and may adversely
affect career planning
• Risk of litigation
Where do I sign up?
• NGOs e.g. Raleigh International, Trekforce
• Royal Geographical Society’s “Bulletin of
Expedition Vacancies”
• For “Sponsor my holiday” style trips see
www.acrossthedivide.co.uk
• Courses e.g. ExpeMed have lists of
vacancies for all successful participants