The job facing doctors inside rural emergency departments has changed dramatically over the past four decades, according to a longtime Perth physician.
Dr. Allan Drummond, former co-chair of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, says small-town emergency departments should not be viewed as places dealing mainly with minor illnesses and injuries.
Perth’s location and changing population mean doctors regularly deal with serious emergencies.
Drummond says the difference is particularly noticeable compared with when he arrived in Perth in 1983.
Patients now frequently arrive with several medical conditions requiring extensive testing and treatment, while families may also struggle to provide the support needed once their loved one leaves hospital.
Drummond says rural communities also face significant rates of chronic illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease and COPD.
He says a typical shift can now include numerous seriously ill patients requiring admission.
That increasing complexity comes as local hospitals also struggle with limited inpatient capacity, creating another challenge for emergency teams trying to care for patients arriving through the door.
