ALSO expands international exposure
In its quest to better prepare physicians around the world to handle obstetrical emergencies, the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) program held its first international advisory board meeting Feb. 2-3 in Charleston, S.C.
One key action of the board was creation of the ALSO International Subcommitee, which includes representatives from the Uniformed Services AFP and the ALSO advisory boards in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The subcommittee will share ideas, assist other international health organizations to set goals, and possibly develop a model curriculum for ALSO courses in Third World countries. It will meet about every 18 months.
The advisory board also agreed to:
- set up a database with information about ALSO advisory faculty who are bilingual or who are interested in traveling outside the United States to teach international courses,
- submit articles about ALSO for publication in U.S. and international journals, and
- draft a detailed report on ALSO's international exposure and activities for presentation at the AAFP's Commission on Continuing Medical Education meeting later this month.
ALSO courses already have taken place in Canada, England, Turkey, Spain and Paraguay, and the advisory board discussed proposals for courses in even more countries, including Haiti and Nepal.
Diana Winslow, the Academy's ALSO manager, said the first international board meeting forged a professional bond among the United States, United Kingdom and Canadian leaders. "The ALSO program will be a major part of the international expansion and dissemination of AAFP programs, and family practice in general," she said.
The two-day ALSO course teaches methods of handling obstetrical emergencies, such as malpositions/malpresentations and shoulder dystocia. In addition, ALSO instructor courses train health care professionals in faculty development and specific teaching skills required for didactic lectures and workshops.
For more information on ALSO, contact Winslow by e-mail at dwinslow@aafp.org or by phone at (800) 274-2237, Ext. 5350.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1998 by American Academy of Family Physicians.