What is the NEEP/NoEEP/KEEP program?

NEEP/NoEEP/KEEP stand for Nanaimo, Northern or Kamloops Emergency Education Programs. These innovative programs are funded by the Rural Coordination Center for BC and REAP through the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Health to provide family physicians practicing in smaller rural communities with a three-month, full time, remunerated fellowship in Emergency Medicine. The NEEP/NoEEP/KEEP programs provide structured learning that is practical and relevant, offering a unique opportunity for comprehensive skills enhancement in Emergency Medicine.

How often is the program run?

The programs are offered twice a year, with cohorts in the spring (April-June) and the fall (September-December).

What are the eligibility and requirements to apply for the NEEP/NoEEP/KEEP programs?

CCFP and CCFP-eligible practicing physicians from small and rural communities may apply for a fellowship. Newly qualified CCFP practitioners and/or International Medical Graduates (IMGs) would benefit greatly from this opportunity to enhance emergency skill sets prior to commencing locums or establishing rural practices. Rural generalists who have been in practice for years may also wish to use the NEEP/NoEEP/KEEP programs to refresh their emergency medicine skills and knowledge.

What does the program offer?

These programs will offer you approximately 12 weeks of intensive learning opportunities, including rotations in emergency and procedural services, as well as elective opportunities with Anesthesia. Please note that procedural services is a separate service in Nanaimo only at this time. In Prince George and Kamloops, procedures will be included during the ED shifts. The core clinical placements occur at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, University Hospital of Northern BC or Royal Inland Hospital, providing learners with practical, real-world experiences in order to build advanced management and procedural skills.

Weekly academic sessions are an integral part of the core program. These educational sessions include a variety of emergency medicine topics, workshops for procedural skills, hands on training in the high-fidelity medical simulation (SIM) lab and opportunities to sign up for refreshers in ACLS, ATLS, PALS, and NRP. The programs also offer a variety of opportunities in becoming proficient in bedside ultrasound (PoCUS) techniques. The goal of the program is to take candidates from having no POCUS skills to returning to their community as a certified independent practitioner with some advanced skills and teaching experience to act as a local resource.

How am I funded while taking the program?

A funding application form will be provided after acceptance to the program. Funding is provided by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RccBC) and Rural Education Action Plan (REAP). Funding is consistent with typical REAP levels which can be found at https://rccbc.ca/rccbc/about-reap/.