TEACHING IMMEDIATE CARDIAC CARE TO GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS - A FACULTY-BASED APPROACH

This paper describes the development, piloting and delivery of an imme diate care cardiac course (ICCC) to Irish general practitioners. The c ourse utilizes the continuing medical education network of the Irish C ollege of General Practitioners. This has made the course locally acce ssible even for remote practitioners and has facilitated rapid dissemi nation. In its first year, 167 GPs (8% of the total number of Irish GP s) have completed the course. Participant feedback has been positive, especially regarding the small group- and skills-based components. The introduction of more formal assessment procedures is now being undert aken. We believe this model to be a possible template for the introduc tion of other skills courses both in Ireland and abroad.