Wilderness Medicine

The field of Wilderness Medicine continues to evolve as the population’s interest in outdoor adventure increases. Emergency Medicine physicians are well suited to deliver medical care in untamed, austere environments. Denver Health Residents are active in Wilderness Medicine, taking advantage of their ideal surroundings through involvement with local Ski Patrol as well as through University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine.

Ski Patrol Education

In the mid 1990s, the Denver Health Emergency Medicine Residency began its Ski Patrol Outreach Education program at Berthoud Pass, near Winter Park. As Berthoud Pass transitioned to a backcountry destination, without a formal ski patrol, residents and faculty grew relationships with a number of other Front Range ski resorts. Today the program works with patrols at Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Winter Park, Echo Mountain, and our newest addition, Monarch. Denver Health EM residents pair with faculty members to provide a short one hour CME lecture on site. Past topics have included lectures on knee injuries, femur fractures, altitude illness, and cold injury. Participants receive the added perk of 2 vouchers for future ski days. Think snow…

Medical School Education

The Division of Emergency Medicine offers several opportunities for resident involvement in Wilderness Medicine Education at the medical school level. Introduction to Wilderness Medicine (SURG 6624) is a School of Medicine course offered in the fall that consists of lunchtime lectures and "field days” covering a wide range of basic Wilderness Medicine topics. One Saturday is spent with Rocky Mountain Rescue in Boulder practicing basic rescue skills. A second course, Wilderness Medicine (SURG 8031), is a new elective created by several faculty and residents of the Division of Emergency Medicine. It is offered in the spring with the first week taking place at Rocky Mountain National Park and the second in Moab, UT. This is a more comprehensive course, covering both the basic Wilderness Medicine topics and more advanced concepts of rescue, scene assessment, survival and orienteering. A large portion of each day is spent in hands-on field activities. Residents regularly help facilitate both courses.