University-based Coordinators
Basically, DME opportunities can be divided into mandatory rotations (e.g., at the clerkship level, at the residency level) or electives. Students must complete a rural rotation of four consecutive week’s duration during either third year or fourth year. Most resident rural rotations are electives.
The Director of DME attends all Clerkship Committee meetings, as well as all Postgraduate Education Committee meetings. Existing and new policies are discussed at these venues.
The DME Administrative Assistant works collaboratively with the third year Liaison Officer and the Undergraduate Coordinators to manage Undergraduate DME rotations. He or she will also be available to help Postgraduate Program Directors to facilitate Postgraduate DME electives or mandatory rotations.
Most rotations include some distance learning. Currently, webcasting is used as the primary distance-learning tool. For information on using these tools, please contact Medtech
Accreditation
Before sending learners to a new site for regular core rotations, the site must be accredited by the Rotation Director(Accreditation checklist). Funding is available for these visits and can be requested by completing the Accreditation Visit Reimbursement Form. Most ERMEP communities will require accreditation visits. However, for occasional core rotations approved by the Rotation Director, accreditation visits are not required.
Evaluation
In order to evaluate the DME program, administrators must ensure that all students performing DME rotations complete the DME evaluation form found on one45, the operating system currently in use. This form is to be added to the rotation preceptor evaluation forms which will be both collated by the DME Office. This information will be made available annually to the Rotation Directors.
Organization of Undergraduate DME Rotations
The organization of individual DME or rural rotations currently differs by rotation; however a uniform methodology is presently being elaborated.
Where feasible, DME options are integrated in the rotation lottery allowing administration up to a year to confirm rotations. Each rotation requires clear guidelines for students who have made DME choices in the lottery regarding process, contacts and deadlines.
The DME Office will oversee these procedures and help ensure a smooth interaction with the networks. The DME Office will abide by the individual policies of its networks. The DME Office encourages the reporting of any problem or concern in working relations with provincial partners.