|
|
|
NEWS Application Form The new application form for 2012 is now available. Be sure to read both pages of the document. Please note: 1 The
form has now been updated to include payment by Direct Credit. Key points from 2011 are: The
course fees have not been increased for 2012. New
scenarios were successfully implemented throughout 2011 for the practical part
of the ALSO examination.
Lack
of the essential pre-course study is still cited as the number one reason for
not passing the ALSO
written examination. More GPs attended the ALSO course in 2011 as they are returning to involvement in maternity care. The
Manual is being updated for 2012, and will include the NZRC Guidelines for
Neonatal Resuscitation.
In May 2010 Nicky van der Hulst represented the New Zealand ALSO group at the Annual International ALSO meeting in Mexico. She joined representatives from over 30 of the 50 countries where the ALSO course is now taught in a busy weekend's learning. The ALSO manual has now been translated into at least 10 different languages, demonstrating its value in maternity care wherever it is provided. In line with the United Nations Millennium Goal 5 (a reduction in the global maternal mortality rates by ¾ by 2015) the AAFP has developed a GLOBAL ALSO which is designed to make the ALSO course more appropriate for developing countries. This course also covers items such as HIV; Malaria; genital mutilation/circumcision and TB infection. A review of the new written examination was carried out after one year of its use. This showed that none of the questions were either too hard or too easy. Candidates who were unsuccessful at their first attempt have usually acknowledged that this was because they had not studied the manual in sufficient depth. Nearly all have re-sat the examination successfully after adequate revision. An independent review of all the questions was also undertaken by a Midwifery Educator, who said "Thank you for forwarding the MCQ for me to work through. I thought the questions were clear and concise and the answers attainable. I feel this is a valuable component to the ALSO course and could not identify any problems with the questions." The Advisory Board sanctioned a complete revision of the written examination questions, and the new bank was introduced to the courses in 2008. Candidates are reminded that detailed knowledge of the course manual is necessary to ensure satisfactory completion of the examination at the course. The Winter 2007 edition of O&G Magazine (produced by RANZCOG) carried a review article about "Term Breech Delivery", in which the authors strongly suggested that "all those involved in care of pregnant women have exposure to training in the technique of a vaginal breech delivery, for example by attending courses such as MOET or ALSO." The ALSO course is recognised for 16 PR & CRM points by the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. The ALSO course is approved and allocated 10 points for elective approved education in the re-certification programme of the Midwifery Council of New Zealand. The programme requires 50 points to be achieved during a three year period. ALSO (NZ) Ltd – Advanced Life
Support in Obstetrics - has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand
College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been approved for up to 16
Hours CME for General Practice Educational Programme Stage 2 (GPEP2)
and Maintenance of Professional Standards (MOPS) purposes. Data from the UK in 2003, with regard to the incidence of claims arising from shoulder dystocia, provide surrogate evidence that ALSO courses may be having a real and beneficial effect on the outcome of emergencies in maternity care.
|
