The CARE Course

The CARE Course is a two-day, interprofessional, team-oriented learning experience developed by rural health care providers for rural physicians, nurses and pre-hospital providers. The course supports rural teams to deliver comprehensive emergency care across airway management, trauma care, cardiac care, emergency obstetrics, pediatrics and neonatal care.

The CARE Course takes place in local health care facilities, with local providers.

“Thank you all for this amazing opportunity to learn and nourish my brain, and reignite my love and passion for emergency medicine.”

Course participant

Achievements

Delivering rural emergency training with local teams

In 2025, The CARE Course continued to deliver practical, rural-relevant emergency training in rural health care facilities across BC. Each course is delivered with and for local providers, helping rural teams strengthen their skills, confidence and ability to respond to emergencies close to home.

In 2025, The CARE Course delivered 17 courses, including:

11 courses in rural communities
three courses tailored to second-year family practice residents preparing for rural practice
one Practice Ready Assessment course designed for new-to-BC international medical graduate rural physicians

The Practice Ready Assessment course was delivered for the sixth time since 2022, with funding support from participants, The CARE Course and Rural Education Action Plan.

The team also welcomed three new faculty members, bringing the faculty group to 15 physicians, nurses and pre-hospital providers.

Marking 15 years and 200 courses

In 2025, The CARE Course celebrated its 15th anniversary and delivered its 200th course.

Since the first course in 2010, more than 4,000 health care providers have participated. This milestone reflects the ongoing need for rural emergency education that is practical, team-based and grounded in the realities of rural practice.

Bringing CARE into wilderness and austere settings

The CARE Course goes WILDE! was held for the third time in September 2025.

This three-and-a-half-day program extends the CARE curriculum into more remote, austere and outdoor settings. Participant numbers have increased with each offering, and the course is set to run again in September 2026, alongside the Annual St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update.

“Everyone who ran The CARE Course was so kind and friendly. I hope to emulate this kindness and inclusiveness throughout my career. I will never forget this.”

Participant of The CARE Course

Explore the numbers

17 courses

17 CARE courses delivered in 2025.

11 rural community courses

11 courses delivered in rural communities.

15 years

The CARE Course celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2025.

200 courses

The CARE Course delivered its 200th course in 2025.

Project Partnerships

The CARE Course is delivered through partnerships with rural communities, health care teams and provincial partners.

The CARE-R Course, designed for rural family practice residents, is delivered in partnership with the UBC Department of Family Practice and receives significant financial support from Rural Education Action Plan.
The CARE Course for Practice Ready Assessment physicians receives funding support from Rural Education Action Plan and administrative support from the PRA-BC program.
Each CARE Course is also delivered in collaboration with the health care providers in the host community. Local teams help organize the course and ensure the learning reflects the realities of care in their community.

Making a Difference

“I really appreciated the perspectives of those with rural experience, and the focus on how to maintain our longevity and happiness in our career.”

Participant of The CARE Course

Plans for the Future

Looking ahead, The CARE Course team will continue visiting rural communities across BC and delivering practical, team-based emergency education for rural health care providers.

The CARE Course goes WILDE! is scheduled to return in September 2026 alongside the Annual St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update.