Providing the advanced life support in obstetrics course within the military family practice training system

Abstract

'The Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Course is designed to assist health professionals in developing and maintaining the knowledge and skills they will need to effectively manage the emergencies which arise in obstetrics.' Given the fact that the vast majority of military family physicians provide maternity care, often in small overseas facilities without in-hospital obstetrician backup, inclusion of this course into the military family practice residency training curriculum would be very beneficial to the mission of family practice within the military. A brief background of the ALSO movement and the ALSO course curriculum are provided. Lessons learned to aid military family practice departments in providing quality ALSO courses are described, as are arguments for the inclusion of ALSO training into military family practice training curriculums.