UBC Rural Continuing Professional Development

The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Rural Continuing Professional Development (UBC RCPD) is committed to supporting the learning needs of physicians and other healthcare providers who practice in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in British Columbia (BC). Its goal is to improve the health of people and communities in rural BC by offering innovative CPD to all rural health care providers. UBC RCPD offers rurally-specific CPD programs that are community-based, interprofessional, interactive, and practical. In addition to multi-modal learning opportunities, UBC RCPD conducts a variety of research and evaluation activities related to the provision of medicine in rural BC. UBC RCPD is supported and funded by RCCbc via the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC).

Achievements & Impact

Accelerated and enhanced virtual courses for rural providers

Adapted Rural Rounds program, expanded RSON Clinical Coaching, and put international medical graduates on path to success

Implemented courses to address racism and to increase tele- and virtual health knowledge

Developed simulation program for RTVS pathways

Looking ahead

UBC Rural CPD Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant disruption to UBC RCPD’s programming in 2020–2021, but also created great opportunities to accelerate and enhance its virtual education offerings, including virtual HOUSE courses. Despite this disruption, UBC RCPD continued to support rural healthcare providers in BC.

Throughout the year, UBC RCPD adapted its Rural Rounds program to meet the urgent and immediate needs of rural healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It further streamlined its Coaching and Mentoring Program and saw the expansion of the interdisciplinary Rural Surgical and Obstetrical Networks (RSON) Clinical Coaching Pillar. Meanwhile, the Personal Learning Plans program continued setting international medical graduates up for success in BC. The program has been a model for tailored CPD support.

The team at UBC RCPD also continued its work to address bias and systemic racism experienced by Indigenous peoples in rural BC through its Indigenous Patient Led CPD program. They also continued to meet the need for education on telehealth and virtual health technology through the Virtual Health Grand Rounds program.

Finally, in partnership with RCCbc and other stakeholders, UBC RCPD developed a virtual simulation program as part of the Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) pathways. It also continues to explore ways to support CPD at the point of care.

In the coming year, UBC RCPD will continue strengthening relationships with its partners, collaborators, and rural physician learners. It will also continue bringing an equity lens to all it does to ensure it reaches out and supports rural providers who need it most.

How have we shown or built resilience in BC during a challenging year?

UBC Rural Continuing Professional Development’s responsive, flexible, and practical community-based learning opportunities have supported health practitioners in rural BC in numerous ways over the past year, which has helped build their individual resilience, and resilience of the healthcare system.

This is demonstrated through the following quotes from course participants:

Personal Learning Plans (PLP)
“There has been significant improvement in my patient outcomes, based on the way and manner I approach their management now, compared to … before I did PLP.”

CAMP
“I think the biggest thing is having a connection with specialist colleagues is really important.”

RSON Clinical Coaching
“The best thing has been acknowledging that we all have learning needs, and that it provides a safe place and safe opportunity to say that I would like permission to learn.”

“If it was not for support systems like this, for myself and for the team, we wouldn’t have the morale that we do right now.”