There are 4 clinical attachments available for Sturt Fleurieu registrars during general practice training.
They are available in
1. Medical education
2. Diabetes
3. Sexual assault and domestic violence.
4. Chronic pain and addiction medicine
1. For the first time an attachment in medical education is being offered in 2009 in conjunction with the Flinders Medical Centre simulation and skills laboratory. This 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 a very hands on one 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 to this stage.
3. 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 do it 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 2ce yearly but ideally should be undertaken prior to commencing the attachment.
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.