HSL’s Head of Medical Training, Dr Keith Gomez, explains how COVID has affected the way in which we have had to adapt to ensure training continues throughout the pandemic.
Perhaps the biggest impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the restrictions on people gathering together, irrespective of whether it’s in a work environment or a social one. But it’s still vital to communicate to lots of people at one time, not least when it comes to training. Pathway asked the head of HSL’s medical training, Dr Keith Gomez, about how training has adapted to the challenges posed by social distancing restrictions. Keith sits on HSL’s education board which identifies and arranges the training needs of individuals throughout the organisation.
He started by describing the two broad categories of medical training at HSL. Firstly, there are the junior doctors in laboratory specialties who need to understand all about laboratory techniques and practice, including working with scientists and technicians, so that they can deliver these services in the future. Then there are clinicians in other specialties who need to understand how to utilise laboratory data in the clinical management of patients on the frontline.
Each year, Keith is responsible for overseeing the training of hundreds of trainee doctors who need to know about the range of tests that can be undertaken, and who need to be kept up to date with the latest development. He cites the greater application of genomic testing. As a key component in the move towards personalised medicine, it’s a rapidly growing area of diagnostics. Medical trainees need to understand its capabilities and limitations, and how using these techniques can be applied to a range of different conditions. He also suggests that there needs to be greater awareness of what medical training can offer. “It’s important that trainees know both what medical training options are open to them, but also how they might get funding support for research projects they might want to do.
Training has been disrupted as many doctors were deployed to focus on the frontline of critical care. But, the situation has opened up new ways of working.
“We’ve upped our game in terms of offering online training,” says Keith. He adds that this has generally received very positive feedback. “Trainees not only don’t have to travel across London to a training centre but can also record the session and listen to it later.”
There are, however, some instances where face-to-face training is the only option. For example, a lot of the training needs very high quality images produced by a powerful, high resolution camera. Plus, some situations need lots of other data pulled in which isn’t always available online. This can’t be done on domestic equipment. There may be issues with broadband speeds, and some techniques are always going to be based on benchwork which requires physical involvement. So, while online learning offers greater flexibility for students and lecturers alike, it suits some trainees more than others. “We have to strike a balance between those for whom online training is suitable and those for whom it isn’t,” says Keith. “Personalised medicine is the next big thing,” says Keith. “Tailoring treatment is the way forward and diagnosis plays a part in this - but prevention, based on population health principles is generally a better option and this relies on predictive diagnostics, particularly genomics.”