The virtual hallway consult as an effective means of continuing professional development in physiatry

Authors

  • Karen Ethans University of Manitoba Department of Medicine, Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Tim Deutscher Island Health Authority, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital University of British Columbia, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Mayur Nankar Research Associate, Health Sciences Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.36812

Keywords:

Virtual consult, personal learning project

Abstract

Background: A personal learning project (PLP) is an accredited form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Canada, and is a self-initiated learning activity that is stimulated by a question, issue or dilemma in one’s professional practice. Many complex cases or issues have no answers that are readily available. Many physicians rely day to day on other physician colleagues that they may consult in their institution. Given the paucity of same specialty Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation colleagues in Canadian centres, the idea of Virtual Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Hallway germinated, to provide a simple tool to extend our hallways to reach colleagues with similar interests across the country.

Methods: The Virtual SCI Hallway is a service set up on Yahoo Groups, with no cost to the users. On this invite-only site, members may post a question, and then all members receive the post by email. Any member may respond.

Results: The SCI Hallway has been running successfully for over 13 years. As of January 2017, there were 38 members, with 2124 messages within approximately 324 conversations. Activity has been consistent since 2003. Questions and posts are not always medical expert related; there are also advocacy, professional, and scholar-role related posts.

Discussion: Communication amongst specialists about practice and management of complicated problems is important for CPD, yet is difficult in subspecialized areas of medicine. Although there are many chat-pages in different areas of medicine on the internet, to our knowledge, there is not another secure, invite-only site that is low-maintenance and no cost.

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Author Biographies

Karen Ethans, University of Manitoba Department of Medicine, Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Associate Professor, Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Service Chief, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg

Tim Deutscher, Island Health Authority, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital University of British Columbia, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital

Clinical Instructor, Univeristy of British Columbia,

Physiatrist, MD, FRCPC, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

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Published

2017-12-16

How to Cite

1.
Ethans K, Deutscher T, Nankar M. The virtual hallway consult as an effective means of continuing professional development in physiatry. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2017 Dec. 16 [cited 2024 Nov. 8];8(4):e60-64. Available from: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/36812

Issue

Section

Brief Reports