Macau's 7th Sino-Luso International Medical Forum in mid-May brought a new level of training for the city's medical trainers, upping the ante for quality healthcare services here.
Running from May 17th, 18th and 19th, this forum was titled, “Ultrasound Imaging in Critical Care Medicine”, featuring top doctors from Australia, Hong Kong and Macau.
As a follow up to the "Ultrasound Life Support" held at Sino-Luso (Series 3) in September 2011, this 3-day forum accredited Macau's healthcare providers with the latest in ultrasound technology.
Among the noted trainers is Carla Elliot, a senior sonographer and examiner of Australia's Graduate Diploma in Ultrasound Programs.
Carla Elliot explained, "The core ultrasound simulation technology originating from world-renowned Cardiff University whereby trainees deploy a virtual probe to mimic the sensation of contact with a live patient. Especially in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, skills training can now take place without using ultrasound machines which are in heavy demand in hospital or female volunteer patients."
Another trainer at the forums was Amanda Grauze, Director of Training at the Curriculum Development Consultant of The Center in association with the Ear Science Institute of Australia, Notre Dame University.
Amanda Grauze said, "Most people think of an Ultrasound examination, they would right away picture a doctor rolling a small gadget over the tummy of a pregnant lady to examine ambiguous images on a black and white TV screen."
Amanda continued, "Owing to the advances in computer science and electronics made the development of real time images far clearer and better than before and ultrasound imaging machines are so portable these days. All these have made Ultrasound an attractive tool for emergency medicine. More and more emergency physicians have made bedside sonography part of the clinical activities in the emergency room of most hospitals, in remote setting and in some cases using portable ultrasound scanner on the ambulance."
In addition, four volunteers acted as patients during the workshops lay on tables for trainees to practice their skills in a non-invasive manner. Chairman of Ultrasound Sub-Committee Dr. Mok Ka Leung brought a strong team of professional instructors from the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine (HKCEM) to Macau to supervise hands-on skills and techniques. The delegation included experienced clinicians Dr. Gordon Lee, Dr. Dora Lee, Dr. Herman Lee, Dr. Ralph Cheung and Dr. Yuen Chi Kit.
Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences and President of Sino-Luso International Medical Forum, Dr. Manson Fok said, “Looking ahead, we’re really excited about these valuable workshops and the benefits it may offer our patients. The latest virtual reality technology lets our junior clinicians practice their skills and have access to a range of cases and pathologies from basic to complex before touching their first patient. This can give us a new level of confidence in skills training for our Macau doctors and nurses.”
Dr. Lei Wai Seng, the Chairperson of the Macau Society of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at the Hospital Centre S. Januario and Dr. Rui Furtado, President of the Portuguese Speaking Doctors Association also chaired the lectures at the Dinner Symposium.
This Sino-Luso International Medical Forum event was chaired by the Macau University of Science and Technology: Faculty of Health Sciences and organized by the Macau Healthcare Management and Promotion Association (MHMPA) and was supported by the Ministry of Health, PRC as well as a list of outstanding healthcare organizations and Portuguese speaking associations here in Macau.