In this episode of End of Shift, Eric and Joe talk with Dr. Carolyn Kelly-Smith about the practice of medicine (and sometimes not) in austere environments.

Dr. Kelly-Smith is an FRCP trained attending ED physician at the Royal Columbian and Eagle Ridge Hospitals. She is an Advanced Medical Provider for North Shore Rescue, a faculty member of the Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine and a ski patroller at Whistler/Blackcomb.

Why should you care about wilderness medicine? There are many reasons – from going where the action is (increasingly outdoors) to expanding your clinical horizons by stretching your comfort zone.

We examine the utility of having a physician involved in outdoor settings, be it reasonably controlled settings like a ski resort, or a complicated rescue operation with failing daylight and minimal clinical details.

It’s not all Mission: Impossible style heroics – sometimes the most useful clinical actions and decisions are simpler than you might think.

How to get involved? We’ll tell you. You’ll learn about the North Shore Rescue Society and the Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine – and maybe get fired up to get out there!

Resources:

• Documentary: Search and Rescue: North Shore
• Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine