TechTool Talk 005 with James Edwards

As part of TechTool Thursday, I thought it would be interesting to look at more than just app reviews.  This week I interview James Edwards

James Edwards is an Emergency Physician at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He has recently set up a new website for junior doctors called onthewards (onthewards.org).

Tell me a bit about your medical background/career?

I am an Emergency Physician and Deputy Director at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Emergency Department. I was the Director of Prevocational Education and Training for 6 years until taking up the Chair of NSW Prevocational Training Council within the Health and Education Training Institute (HETI) last year

What led to you starting onthewards?

In a discussion with Jeremy Faust at SMACC on the Gold Coast he mentioned the need to find a niche in the rapidly expanding FOAM resources. I recognised a gap for prevocational junior doctors in Australia.

Where did you learn your IT skills?

I didn’t. I’ve learned to delegate to others with more IT knowledge and skills.

What is the aim of onthewards?

To develop FOAM education resources for generalist junior doctors. The podcasts and blogs acknowledge the transitional phase of internship, and supplement the vast experiential learning that occurs.

Didn’t you find trying to get onthewards up and running within the hospital system to be a bureaucratic nightmare?

We run onthewards in parallel with the hospital system. Medical administration can see the attraction of improving engagement with junior doctors, but we maintain independence from the hospital system whilst acknowledging their support in providing resources to produce the podcasts

What has been the key to your success developing onthewards so far?

Supporting passionate individuals to contribute ideas and content to the website – the recognition that a website for junior doctors has to be driven by junior doctors.

What are your aims for onthewards for the next couple of years?

Updating the website and developing an onthewards app for mobile devices.

Continuing to collaborate more widely outside our hospital.

Encouraging more FOAM websites aimed at junior doctors.

Is onthewards FOAM and are you aiming to keep it that way?

We want the website to be free, independent and openly accessible to all junior doctors. But acknowledge that “free” sometimes comes with a cost and are considering carefully our next step

What or who inspires you?

The passion, enthusiasm and engagement of junior doctors that I have worked with.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

If in doubt, do what is best for the patient.

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