Program announced for continued professional development of obstetricians, staff

Shazia Nazir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) has unveiled a new program that it says will help obstetricians, family physicians, nurses and midwives consolidate their knowledge and help to offer safe obstetrical care.

The Safe Obstetrical Care Program offered by the SOGC is a 3-year points-based training program that will offer healthcare professionals a variety of accredited educational seminars such as: eLearning activities, workshops, webinars as well as in-person training sessions.

This program includes 11 mandatory components as well as multiple elective components. This wide array of electives offers participants the opportunity to select those courses which fit within their specific professional needs.

“The SOGC saw the need to put forth a comprehensive learning program to better inform physicians, family doctors, nurses and midwives in the field of obstetrical care,” said Dr. Diane Francoeur, Chief Executive Officer at the SOGC.

The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), which collaborated with the SOGC on the development of the Safe Obstetrical Care Program, said it considered this program an innovative approach to education.

“While the frequency of medical-legal cases is relatively rare in obstetrics and gynaecology, the severity of harm for patients and their families and subsequent costs to healthcare systems are high,” says Dr. Liisa Honey, a Senior Physician Advisor at CMPA. “Engaging in quality improvement efforts and collaborative continuing professional development should lead to a reduction in harm.”

Gina Persaud, an obstetric nurse in Halton, said she intended on taking a course to refresh and advance her knowledge since a long time, and the new program offered by the SOGC may be just what she needed.

“Of course you have to keep up with the latest information in your field but we hardly get enough time to continue our education. Hopefully this program will help brush up some of my knowledge and impart me with the new one”, she said.

Tia Cordero, another nurse, said she found the announced contents of the program very exciting. “Since the medical-legal cases are rare, a training on them will help prepare many of us for handling such cases, because we otherwise don’t encounter them so much”, she added.