University of Tasmania, Australia

Year 3 students from Hobart will be based in the North West to complete their primary care rotation for two weeks each quarter of the academic year.  In March six Year 3 medical students attended general practices in Burnie, Latrobe and Wynyard to complete their primary care rotation.  During the two weeks rotation, Year 3 students spent time learning wave consulting, become proficient in patient history taking, selecting a diabetic patient and following through treatment, spending time with pharmacy, allied health workers and being involved in community activities.  Rural Clinical School year 4 medical students attended general practices on Tuesdays, so alternative activities are organised for the year 3 students.  This incorporates Year 5 students buddying Year 3 students in the hospital wards, spending time in theatre, DEM and outpatients at both NWRH or Mersey Community Hospital.  The students on rotation have been very positive about their experiece in the North West, so great was the interest of two of the Year 3 students they elected to work in Department of Emergency Medicine at Burnie and Mersey on the March public holiday.