Frequently Asked Questions

All fees associated with the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Training Program can be found here. 

The Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Training Program fees are set on a strictly cost-recovery basis.
 
The Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Training fee covers costs associated with oversight and administration required to develop, implement and maintain the training program, curriculum, assessment accreditation standards and procedures, and the online training portal.
 
The Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine examinations fees are also set on a strictly cost-recovery basis. The activities associated with the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine examinations that incur costs include, but are not limited to:

• Development and delivery of training workshops and the provision of ongoing support for the Written Examination Working Group, the OSPE Working Group and the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Court of Examiners;
• Conduct of development and review sessions for the MCQ and SAQ components of the Written Examination questions;
• Developmental work to enable the Written Examination to be conducted online at multiple venues;
• Development, workshopping and review of OSPE stations;
• Conduct of standard setting and marking of the Written Examination;
• OSPE station development sessions, including workshopping, review and standard setting; and

Conduct of the OSPE, including travel and accommodation for examiners, hire of facilities, equipment and actors, and additional logistical costs.

As an experiential training program based in the workplace, the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine is based on adult learning principles. Learning is undertaken ‘on the job’, at the trainee’s workplace, under the supervision of suitably qualified and experience consultants and in collaboration with paramedics, nursing staff, and flight crew.

CCPHRM-accredited training sites are required to:

• provide structured education programs that meet the needs of their given trainee cohort, building upon the broad range of background knowledge and experience that trainees bring to their experience at the site;
•  provide a strong safety culture and an active quality assurance program; and
• provide a formal peer support/mentoring program for all trainees

Given the variety of their knowledge and skills, trainees are expected to undertake self-directed learning to address their personal learning needs, seeking guidance and support from those with whom they work, as required.
 
Whilst the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Resources eLearning page offers some resources to support trainees in their learning, and is being progressively resourced over time, the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine is not intended to be an academic course for which all bespoke course materials are provided. Rather, it is likened to the apprenticeship model of Fellowship training whereby trainees are guided by the given curriculum, and with the support of senior clinicians and staff, identify and address their learning needs through on-the-job training and self-directed learning. At this early stage, resources required to develop, implement and maintain bespoke learning materials and modules to address the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Curriculum would make the training program cost-prohibitive for most trainees and the College.

• Identify your specific learning needs and discuss them with your Training Supervisor and other consultants with whom you’ve worked who can provide informed advice on your exam preparation.
• Actively participate in all education opportunities provided by your accredited training site to address these needs.
• Identify other learning opportunities, through the support of your Training Supervisor and others with whom you work, that may address your learning needs.
• ​Complete all WBAs to ensure that you are receiving constructive feedback and support from your colleagues and supervisors regarding your performance against the learning outcomes in the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine curriculum.
• Familiarise yourself with all matters pertaining to the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine examinations. Relevant resources can be found on the PHRM Training Program Resources elearning site, including sample written examination questions.

If you have previously withdrawn or been removed from the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Training Program and wish to re-enter the program, please review the Policy on Former Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Trainees Re-Entering the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Training Program.

FACEM trainees will still be able to undertake a Special Skills Placement (SSP) if they would like to gain experience in PHRM without undertaking a formal training program. Usually, sites accredited for the Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine will also be accredited for the SSP, along with some additional smaller sites.

Trainees from other Colleges should consult their relevant College Training Team for alternative PHRM training options specific to their speciality training program.

Available positions in PHRM services are often listed on the ACEM Jobs Board. If you are seeking a placement for training in Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine, you should directly contact a PHRM service accredited for this training program.

ACEM is unable to assist trainees in securing PHRM jobs.