CoRe Medical Services Limited

If you are interested in positions for the 2010 Winter season, please forward your expression of interest to anna.highfield@qmc.co.nz by mid February 2010.

Need some time out from the grind? Need to refresh your enthusiasm in the mountains & gain valuable wilderness medicine experience? Fancy reducing up to 6 Colles #'s in 1 day? .......then this is the job for you!

CoRe Medical Services Limited ~ A wholly owned subsidiary of Queenstown Medical Centre Ltd - employs enthusiastic doctors & nurses with sound emergency medicine skills and a good background in trauma to be "ski staff" for a season.

Queenstown is a vibrant town set in stunning scenery in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Combining work with fresh mountain air and your preferred snow sports, this is a unique opportunity to practice and gain experience staffing the on-mountain medical clinics at the two world famous ski fields - Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. You will work with ski patrollers and gain knowledge in snow safety and have a unique chance to work closely with Physios and learn new skills.

The opening of the mountains is staggered, however usually starts with Coronet Peak mid June, with the season ending end of September/beginning of October. It is however dependent on snow conditions, but both mountains operate extensive snow making machines.

Shifts also include 2-3 days each fortnight at Queenstown Medical Centre's Accident and Medical, where the vast majority of snow sport trauma is then definitively managed. The directors of QMC have well over 50 years experience dealing in snow sport injuries. Major trauma back-up is provided by the Lakes District Hospital and for the most severe, helicopter retrieval and transfer.

Applications for the 2009 Winter season are now closed.

Doctors

• Registration with the New Zealand Medical Council (or be eligible for this).
• A minimum of 18 months post graduate experience including 6 months Accident and Emergency experience.
• Orthopaedic experience.
• A current ACLS.
• EMST/ATLS is beneficial.
• Basic snow sport ability.
• Be legally entitled to work in New Zealand.

Nurses

• New Zealand Registration (or be eligible for this).
• A minimum of 2 years post graduate trauma/emergency experience.
• A current CPR certificate.
• Basic snow sport ability.
• Be legally entitled to work in New Zealand.

Shifts

Shifts are on a fortnightly rotating roster and include:
• Ski fields - approximately 9am to 4.30 pm.
• Night Ski-ing on Friday and Saturday nights from 4pm until 10pm for part of the season.
• A&M sessions between the hours of 12 noon to 10 pm.
• A minimum of two days off each week.
• All operations are 7 days a week.

Other benefits include...

• Pre job training and on going CME through-out the season.
• Ski jacket, vests and trousers to wear while working.
• Best of all a seasons pass to both mountains to use seven days a week.
• Discounts at Mt Hutt (Methven), Treble Cone and Cadrona ski fields (both at Wanaka).
• Staff transport passes to take you to and from the mountains when working.

If you are interested in any of these positions please contact anna.highfield@qmc.co.nz with an up to date CV before the 5th of February 2009.

Working as a ski field doctor in Queenstown is definitely the most fun job I have ever done. I worked with amazing people and was the first to see and treat a variety of injuries I would not be able to see anywhere else. I had all of this in addition to being able to ski everyday in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

The job itself is a combination of pre-hospital, wilderness and emergency medicine, taking your skills out of the hospital environment into a first aid room and on the slopes. The social aspects, including team work and getting to know all sorts of new people are superb, particularly as it involves working closely with the ski patrol teams and all the staff at both Coronet Peak and the Remarkables ski resorts. Queenstown is a great party town, with lots to see and do 24/7.

I certainly took advantage of all these incredible opportunities and if other things permitted would consider doing another ski season!