Combine your general practice experience with a special interest opportunity - the shape of modern GP training.
Providing a unique chance for registrars to explore different areas of health management, Clinical Attachments are delivered concurrently with GP training. There are a range of 6 different Clinical Attachments available for Sturt Fleurieu registrars during general practice training.
In most instances Registrars are required to provide hands-on assistance in delivering programs, and are also provided with a high degree of supervision. A number of health providers work in conjunction with Sturt Fleurieu to provide the Clinical Attachmentsincluding hospitals, medical centres, trauma support centres and aborigional health organisations.
They are available in
- Medical Education
- Diabetes
- Sexual assault and domestic violence
- Chronic pain and addiction medicine
- Disability medicine
- Palliative care
1. Medical Education - In conjunction with the Flinders Medical Centre simulation and skills laboratory there will be an attachment of 12 full days and will involve developing skills in education techniques, lesson preparation, giving effective feedback and the use of simulation in medical education. This exciting opportunity is available to 4 Registrars each year and the position will be very hands-on with the unit relying on the registrar to help the education program run smoothly.
2. Diabetes - Attachments are available to 4 Registrars each year and are arranged at Noarlunga with Specialist Supervisors and there is a high degree of supervision and back up. They are held on Monday mornings and are for periods of 12 weeks. These have been in place since 2006 and are very popular with very positive feedback from all registrars.
3. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence -Yarrow Place offers a unique opportunity for Sturt Fleurieu registrars to learn more about the appropriate and effective management of sexual assault issues and victims in particular. This attachment has been available since 2006 and feedback from registrars has been without exception very positive. The attachment is for 12 full days with the timing reasonably flexible. It is also possible to complete the training as half days. Some registrars have asked for extensions of this attachment and where possible this has been allowed by Sturt Fleurieu.
To this point it has often been combined with a placement in Aboriginal Health at Nunkuwarrin Yunti but it is possible to be done in different settings. Each registrar undertaking the attachment is required to do a 3 day course which is an introduction to the subject. This is held twice yearly but ideally should be undertaken prior to commencing the attachment.
4. Disability Medicine - With this unique opportunity doctors are able to breifly join the Disability SA organisation. This specalised health opportunity provides shared care with general practitioners in the community to cover the complex interaction between disability health conditions and personal and environmental factors. The clinic and its staff are committed to providing registrars experience in the specific health needs of people with an intellectual disability at the clinic.This health experience can be done at any stage of training and is available all day on Tuesdays for 12 consecutive weeks under the supervision of Dr John Entwistle.
5. Palliative Care - Attachments through the PEPA (Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach) enable doctors a unique experince to improve the quality of life for individuals with an eventually fatal condition and is a skill virtually any doctor who has clinical responsibilities will need at some stage. This unique experience enables doctors to overcome any initial intimidation to learn the principles of palliative care and to learn several strategies to help minimise illness impact on the patient and improve the patient’s and family’s quality of life.
In an effort to constantly improve our Clinical Attachments program, Sturt Fleurieu and supervisors are expected to provide detailed formative assessments.
Highly popular among registrars, Clinical Attachments are an excellent way to further develop specalised skills while still in a general practice placement.
All clinical attachments are allocated according to a first in first served principle and so it is important to respond early when expressions of interest are called.
All attachments require a logbook to be kept and registrars are asked to provide feedback to Sturt Fleurieu and supervisors are expected to provide detailed formative assessments. Each attachment will have a pre and post attachment questionnaire which help us with quality control.
Although these attachments are generally taken up quickly, there may be rare occasions when vacancies exist and in that case they will then be offered to basic term registrars.
All the attachments are a great opportunity to develop further specialised skills while still in a general practice placement.
Payments are made to registrars at the minimum rate on receipt of logbook documentation.