Expedition Medicine

1. Expedition Medicine

2. What is an Expedition ? • An expedition is an organised journey with a purpose • Becoming big business as the “Adventure Tourism” boom continues • There is a need for medics who are happy to work in remote environments

3. What is Expedition Medicine ? • It is a branch of medicine concerned with maintaining health, physical and psychological, under the special stresses and challenges of an expedition • Not just treatment of disease – almost every facet of most expeditions have health implications

4. What will you be expected to do? • Much of the work happens before the trip leaves: • Risk Assessment, Gathering medical info about those travelling, Assembling appropriate medical kit, First Aid Training etc • During the trip you are responsible for assessing and managing those who become ill or injured and arranging their evacuation if necessary • You may well need to play the role of Doctor, Nurse, Counsellor and Paramedic all rolled into one

5. Types of Expedition • May have specific objectives – e.g. conservation, education or scientific research • May be simply undertaken for adventure e.g. mountaineering, diving, polar travel • May be organised by commercial companies, charities, schools, universities, the armed forces • Conditions are usually basic, numbers of participants vary, as does the level of support

6. Why get involved? • Personal interest in activity or objective • Challenging way/place to practise medicine • A way to further yourself personally – improve decision making, communication, teamwork etc. • Might look good on cv

7. Training and Experience • Expedition Doctors can come from virtually any discipline • Experience in general practice, A&E and infectious diseases are probably most relevant • Various courses/conferences in Expedition Medicine e.g. ExpeMed

8. Does it pay well? • In short, No! • May pay nothing at all, usually expenses at most, and could involve you bringing your own medical kit • Most Trek companies offer discounts to doctors willing to take responsibility for medical care of participants • Some, but only very few organisations actually pay doctors for their services

9. What if it all goes Tits Up? • Agreeing to be medical officer on an expedition carries legal implications • Duty of care to participants, and responsible for your actions • If employed by commercial organisation then they take some liability for negilgence is their responsibility • Generally not covered by “Good Samaritan Act” • Talk to MDU, may well need extra cover

10. Overall Pro’s • Cheap or free way to travel • The only way to visit some remote areas • Challenging and rewarding way to practise medicine • Break from hospital treadmill • Opportunity to enhance both medical and non-medical skills • Often a light workload

11. Overall Con’s • Often Unpaid • Continuous duty • Can be predominantly trivial injuries • Could involve coping with serious injury in remote area, with little back-up • Trips are often lengthy and may adversely affect career planning • Risk of litigation

12. Where do I sign up? • NGOs e.g. Raleigh International, Trekforce • Royal Geographical Society’s “Bulletin of Expedition Vacancies” • For “Sponsor my holiday” style trips see www.acrossthedivide.co.uk • Courses e.g. ExpeMed have lists of vacancies for all successful participants