Victorian State Trauma System Outreach Program (VSTOP) Pilot Program

Page contents: Objectives | Overview | Target participants | How to apply | Download documents

The Victorian State Trauma System (VSTS) outreach program (VSTOP) has been developed to promote the VSTS across Victorian hospitals and health services and provide clinicians not working at a major trauma service (MTS) with an opportunity to observe trauma patient management at a MTS.  The MTSs are The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Alfred and the Royal Children’s Hospital.

VSTOP will reinforce the principles of initial interventions and create linkages to encourage early communication with MTS trauma clinicians and retrieval services. 

The VSTOP has been developed as a partnership between the State Trauma Committee, the three major trauma services and the Department of Health.

Objectives

Overview

VSTOP is a one day observation program for clinicians at a major trauma service.  Victoria’s MTSs are The Alfred, The Royal Melbourne and Royal Children’s Hospitals.
The program will provide an overview of trauma management at a MTS and an opportunity to visit an area of the health service that matches the clinicians own clinical specialty or area of practice such as ICU, ED or burns.
It is envisaged that there will be 1-2 participants each day of the program. 
Each MTS will develop a hospital specific VSTOP program which will take into account their clinical specialties and resources available to support the program.  The program will include:

• trauma ward round or equivalent
• meeting members of the MTS clinical management team
• observing activity in the MTS clinical environment
• visiting the area of the program participant’s clinical specialty. 

Program participants at The Alfred and the Royal Children’s Hospital will have the option of visiting the statewide burns unit.
This is an unfunded pilot program that will be conducted from October 2009 to December 2009.   The frequency of sessions will be determined by participant interest and the resources and availability of staff at each MTS.  Continuation of the program will be subject to program evaluation and participant interest.

Target participants

This is a multidisciplinary outreach program with the key VSTOP target group Victorian clinicians involved in trauma management not working at a major trauma service.  It is envisaged VSTOP will appeal to doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health workers.

How to apply

Any one interested in participating in VSTOP will need to provide the following:

• Completed VSTOP Application Form
• Employer letter of sponsorship
• Police Check*
• Working with children certificate*

*required for visits to the Royal Children’s Hospital
This documentation is to be forwarded by post, email or fax to:
Critical Care Program
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services
Department of Health
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne Victoria  3001
DX210081
 
Fax: (61 3) 9096 9201
Email: criticalcareprogram@dhs.vic.gov.au

For further information contact Critical Care Program on (61 3) 9096 1326.

Download documents

Victorian State Trauma System Outreach Program (PDF file 109KB)
Victorian State Trauma System Outreach Program (MS Word file 36KB)

Victorian State Trauma System Outreach Program (VSTOP) Application Form (PDF file 369KB)
Victorian State Trauma System Outreach Program (VSTOP) Application Form (MS Word file 99KB)