
Working at Taranaki Base Hospital Emergency Department
Taranaki Base Hospital (TBH) is the primary hospital serving the city of New Plymouth and the greater Taranaki region of New Zealand. The population of Taranaki is approximately 120,000 with about 50% living in New Plymouth.
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In 2019 the Emergency Department (ED) at TBH had 33,712 presentations with 6,511 pediatric cases. It has two resuscitation bays, 15 acute beds, two paediatric acute beds, two subacute beds and two chairs for ambulatory patients, as well as a four-bed ED observation unit. Construction of a new and larger ED began in 2020. The local consulting services available include general medicine, general surgery, vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, OMFS, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, anesthesiology, and radiology.
The majority of the consultants at TBH ED are fellows of The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (FACEMs). This easily meets the requirements for FACEM supervision. Consultant and RMO shifts are 10 hours, with the consultant shifts having a two hour overlap to facilitate the Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) process. The department is unique in that there is currently an ED consultant present in the department 24-hours a day.
24-month ACEM accreditation
The Emergency Department at Taranaki Base Hospital (TBH) is proud to announce we are accredited for 24 months of emergency medicine (EM) specialist training by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM). TBH was accredited for six months of FACEM training in 2015, 12 months in 2018 and 24 months in 2022. ACEM has designated TBH as a rural-regional hospital that meets the standards for Paediatric Logbook (PLB) status.
Structured teaching program
The Thursday structured teaching program is protected and divided into two sessions. The first 1.5 hours is the general departmental teaching which includes all RMOs and trainees. This is a topic-based program that includes ultrasound training, simulations, journal club, and quarterly morbidity and mortality (M&M) meetings. All trainees participate in presenting educational topics during these meetings. The next 2.5 hours is FACEM trainee specific, and includes Primary and Fellowship examination preparation, as well as Viva and OSCE simulation.
The FACEM training is tailored to the individual needs of each trainee currently rotating through the department. We are able to identify and focus on the areas needing development to help foster a well-prepared trainee. We can accommodate trainees at all levels of progress with a multifaceted approach to examination preparation. While at Taranaki Base Hospital (TBH), several of our advanced trainees have successfully passed their Fellowship examinations, and OSCEs.
“I completed the last years of my training at TBH. One of the key advantages of working at TBH is access to a huge range and number of high acuity and challenging cases. There is a great ratio of FACEMs to RMOs so that there is time for bedside teaching and supervision of these more complex cases. The SMOs are all very approachable and the nursing staff very supportive. I have broadened by training here with a year in ICU/anaesthetics and six months in paediatrics, both of which were invaluable and fantastic departments to work in. The Fellowship exam training program is run by dedicated FACEMs with protected teaching time that helped me get though my FACEM exams. If you are looking for a supportive working environment with access to great cases and opportunity to further experience in other specialties I would strongly recommend working at Taranaki Base ED!”
Tim Petterson, FACEM training graduate
Our trainees also report that our ED has a strong culture of bedside teaching with ample opportunities for procedures. They have excellent exposure to diverse case-mix that sees multi-trauma, high acuity paediatric cases, and complex geriatric presentations. The trainees value the approachability of the consultant group and the supportive environment. There is the possibility for access to non-ED terms, and our trainees have been able to obtain attachments with anaesthetics/ICU, and paediatrics.
"The [ACEM] inspection team was impressed by the positive atmosphere evident and commends the leadership and the consultant group for fostering such a nurturing environment conducive to learning. The proactive and strong engagement from the consultant group makes the ED a very desirable place to work and is evidenced by the contentment expressed by those interviewed."
Ultrasound training
Point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) is an integrated part of our daily practice and assessments. All of our ED’s RMOs are taught the basics of POCUS assessment including pulmonary, basic cardiac, EFAST, gallbladder, aorta, early pregnancy, IV-line placement, and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. The Director of ED Ultrasound leads a regular group image-review sessions for the purpose training and quality control. Your instructors have are highly experienced in POCUS and understand how to efficiently teach you ultrasound techniques.

As you gain confidence, you will learn other assessment tools, such as DVT, ocular, testicular, renal, MSK ultrasound, small-bowel obstruction. paediatric surgical emergencies, fracture evaluation, central-line placement, and advanced cardiac ultrasound. We will help you gain competence and confidence.
Medical simulation
Medical simulation is an integral part of our training program and it is used to facilitate optimal interprofessional teamwork and communication. Dr Chris White has extensive training and experience in medical simulation, and oversees the ED in-situ simulation. These simulations provide a realistic environment to practice resuscitation skills and prepare for your OSCES. High-stakes procedures that are rarely encountered are practiced in this safe setting. Interdepartmental trauma simulations are held with the Department of Surgery and the Auckland-Based NetworkZ program, and simulations with the Department of Paediatrics are conducted regularly.

Trainee mentoring programme
Taranaki ED provides the opportunity for voluntarily ACEM trainee mentoring. The programme will ensure confidentiality and mentoring will be separated from the supervision and performance management of the trainee. The programme will strive to be culturally safe and accessible to all trainees. It will support the diversity of our trainees equally and accommodate differences of gender, ethnicity, religion, cultural background, and sexual orientation. The programme will utilize ACEM resources to assist in providing an effective programme.
Clinical research
The Taranaki ED is actively engaged in clinical research. From 2022 forward it is our intention that there will always be ongoing studies. ACEM trainees who are interested in research are encouraged to take part in these projects.
Manaaki Mana
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, and the Ministry of Health, have identified eliminating health inequities and providing culturally safe care for Māori as a key national health priority.
Taranaki Base ED has committed to implementing ACEM's Manaaki Mana Strategy to eliminate Māori health inequity by providing excellent, culturally safe care for Māori, in an environment where Māori patients, whānau and staff feel valued. Te Rōpū o Taranaki Manaaki Mana has been established to support this strategy and is lead by Piki Mathieson (Pou Mātanga Manaaki Mana CNS), Tim Petterson (FACEM) and Bridget Mooney (FACEM).
With support from Te Rōpū o Taranaki Manaaki Mana and Te Pa Harakeke (Māori Health Unit) we hope to see all clinical and non-clinical staff in Taranaki ED engage with this strategy to provide equitable health care for Māori in Taranaki.
Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei: Seek the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

Our consultant staff
Co-DEMTs
Kelly Austin, FACEM
Training:
University of Otago Medical School
Gold Coast Hospital, EM, QLD
Wider Auckland Hospitals, EM
Interests:
APLS Instructor
Local PLS Director
NZMC Pre-Vocational Clinical Supervisor
Susie Flink, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit Medical Center, EM Residency
Interests:
Medical Education (Diploma in Clinical Education)
NZMC Per-Vocational Clinical Supervisor
Medical Ethics
Local WBA Coordinator
ED Clinical Research Director
Devin Faragasso, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
University of Virginia School of Medicine
New York Medical College EM Residency, Harlem
Interests:
NZMC Pre-Vocational Clinical Supervisor
ACEM Fellowship SEQ Working Group
Medical Research
Clinical Director/DEM
Michael Connelly,
FACEM, FACEP, MPH
Training:
University of Minnesota School of Medicine
MPH, University of Michigan
Emory University EM Residency
Interests:
International Health
Disaster Medicine
ACEP Deputy Ambassador Malawi and NZ
Associate CD/DEM
Alex Bray, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
New York Medical College
Morristown Memorial EM Residency
Interests:
Clinical Information Technology
ED and Hospital Flow Management
Medical Ambient Technologies
Local ACEM Mentoring Coordinator
Brad Ellington, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
University of Health Sciences, Kansas City
University of Missouri, EM Residency
Interests:
Wilderness Medicine
International and Resource Limited Medicine
Trauma Care
Brad Ellington video
FACEMS and SMO
Jennifer Heyes, FACEM, PGCertTravMed
Training:
Otago Medical School
Wellington Hospital EM
Alice Springs Hospital EM
Member of EMUGS NZ event planning team
Interests:
Point of Care Ultrasound, CCPU from ASUM
Gender equity
Supporting pregnant staff and parents in Emergency Medicine
Sustainability
Kelly Pettit, FACEM, ACEP
Training:
University of Washington School of Medicine
Scripps Mercy Hospital, Intern
University of California San Diego - Residency
Interests:
Prehospital Care
Wilderness and disaster medicine
Henry Smart, FACEM
Training:
Newcastle University, UK
James Cook University and Wellington Hospitals - Residency
Interests
PG Certificate in Clinical Education
POCUS - ASUM CCPU
Claire Medley, FACEM
Training:
Taranaki Base Hospital
Dirken Christine Krahn, FACEM, FCRAP, RACPOCH
Training:
Marburg Medical School, Germany
Paeds: Wen Maerdy, Wales; Middlemore; Starship
ED: Wider Auckland; Gold Coast; Brisbane; Taranaki Base
Interests:
Paediatric EM
Medical Education
EM Research
Jennifer Lim, FACEM
Training:
St Louis University of Medicine
Wright State University EM Residency
Interests:
Medical Student TI Attachment Coordinator
ACEM Australian Stroke Coalition
Bridget Mooney, FACEM
Training:
University of Otago (Dunedin)
Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, Midcentral, Te Whatu Ora Waikato
Interests:
Clinical Governance
Airway
Māori Health Equity
Donald B. McKee, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
University of Miami School of Medicine
Medical College of Virginia EM Residency
Interests:
Mindfulness
Yasmin McGrane, FACEM
Medical School: The Otago University: Dunedin School of Medicine
Primary Training Site: Northern Regional Alliance: Auckland City Hospital, Middlemore Hospital, Waitakere Hospital, Northshore Hospital and Starship Hospital.
Interests:
Medical Education, Equality of care, Tropical Medicine and Resource Limited Medicine
Timothy Petterson, FACEM
Training:
University of Otago School of Medicine
Wellington Hospital EM Training
Interests:
Point of Care Ultrasound
Primary Exam Training
Māori Health Equity
Mark Sagarin, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
Harvard University Medical School
Harvard EM Residency
Interests:
Physician Wellness
Thomas Stevenson, FACEM
Training:
University of Otago, NZ
Wellington Hospital EM
Interests:
Point of Care Ultrasound, CCPU from ASUM
Medical Education
Director of ED Point of Care Ultrasound
Chris White, FACEM
Training:
University of Southampton
Wellington Hospital EM Training
Interests:
Medical Simulation
Medical Education
Heather Webb, FACEM, FACEP
Training:
Boston University School of Medicine
University of New Mexico EM Residency
Interests:
Clinical Research
Airway Management
Quality Assurance
FACEP: Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians
FACEM: Fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
FCRAP: Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatric Physicians
More Information
For more information about our program and available placements, our DEMTs will be happy to talk to you.
Kelly Austin (DEMT): Kelly.Austin@tdhb.org.nz
Susie Flink (DEMT): Susie.Flink@tdhb.org.nz
See our careers section here >>
Last updated:
Wednesday, May 17, 2023