Remote healthcare experts from around the world will meet in Aberdeen next month to drive forward changes in the way healthcare is delivered in remote, rural and extreme remote settings.
More than 100 delegates will attend the Institute of Remote Health Care (IRHC) Annual Conference at the Suttie Centre for Teaching & Learning in Healthcare on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12.
The event, entitled, ‘Redesigning Remote Healthcare Delivery and Clinical Support: An International Perspective,’ is a collaboration between Robert Gordon University (RGU) and the IRHC and will feature case presentations and workshops.
Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, Professor Susan Klein, Director of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research in the Institute for Health and Welfare Research (IHWR) at RGU is looking forward to welcoming guest speakers from around the world.
She said: “The conference presents an invaluable opportunity to share experiences and engage in a wider debate which extends beyond the energy and maritime industries about how best to address the contemporary challenges facing remote healthcare practitioners and service providers.
“The event will showcase these challenges using clinical case studies and interactive workshops along with presentations from experts in the field of remote healthcare delivery and clinical support.”
The conference has attracted influential speakers from a number of organisations including, the Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare, Radio Medico (Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine), Shell International, XstremeMD (USA), UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, March on Stress, Centre for Global Health (Trinity College, Dublin), GS Partnership Ltd, Greenland’s Ministry of Health and NHS Scotland.
The topics covered by the speakers will address key challenges associated with redesigning effective models of clinical support and identifying key drivers for effecting change in delivering healthcare in rural, remote and extreme remote environments from an international perspective.
This will be of interest to a number of professions, including, remote healthcare practitioners, occupational health and safety professionals, topside service providers, education and training providers, and emergency planners and responders.
In association with the conference, the IRHC Executive Committee will, for the first time, honour individuals and teams working in rural, remote and extreme remote areas that have made a significant contribution to helping promote and save life in the face of adversity.
Awards will be made in five categories for Remote Healthcare Practitioners, including:
- BASICS Responder(s)
- Offshore Medic(s)
- Ambulance Service Paramedic(s) or Technician(s)
- HM Forces Medic(s)
- Mountain Rescue Member(s)
A panel of experts in the field of remote healthcare will judge the nominations and the winner of the award for each category will be announced at the Conference Dinner on Wednesday, September 11, at the Mercure Ardoe House Hotel.
To help celebrate the achievements of its winners at the black tie event, the IRHC have booked renowned singer Julie Fowlis, who knows about remote environments as she grew up on North Uist in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
Julie has been a proud standard bearer for Gaelic music and culture over the course of a solo career which has spanned three highly acclaimed studio albums and was the singer of ‘Touch the Sky,’ the theme tune for Disney Pixar’s Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning animation film ‘Brave.’
Julie normally only sings at concerts but has agreed to perform at the IRHC Conference Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
IRHC aims are to support practitioners and companies responsible for the delivery of remote healthcare to enhance the quality of practical clinical skills and therefore the service provided by those engaged in the area of remote health care practice.
To view the full conference programme and to book your ticket for the event, please visit: www.irhc.org.uk