GP Clinical Observership information

A clinical attachment is an opportunity to observe one or more doctors in our Specialised Emergency Department, Acute Ophthalmology clinic or Acute ENT clinic. Generally, you will meet with a senior Consultant who will act as your supervisor and familiarise you with staff and equipment and answer any queries. They will arrange for you to shadow one of the doctors on clinic. As an observer, you will not be permitted to treat patients as you are not indemnified.  If observing in the Emergency Department, it is highly recommended that clinical observers attend the medical handover at 7.45am Monday to Friday.

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Emergency Department has approximately 44,000 episodes of care each year of which two thirds are ophthalmic conditions and one third ENT. Sixty percent of all Victorian eye emergencies are seen in our Emergency Department.

Eye Emergencies	Cases per year:
Chemical injury	355
Retinal detachment	324
Penetrating eye injury	140
Acute angle closure	240
Uveitis	850
Microbial keratitis	460
Corneal foreign body	1800
Corneal abrasion	1600
Posterior vitreous detachment	700
Viral conjunctivitis	1360
ENT emergencies	Cases per year:
Epistaxis	576
Post tonsillar haemorrhage	15-20
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss	138
Otitis media
Otitis externa
Ear cerumen

 

You must be a registered medical practitioner (proof of AHPRA registration will be required). All attachments are subject to availability and require approval by the Head of Unit. You must sign a confidentiality agreement.

For Observers attending less than 5 working days, a Statutory Declaration is required to be completed stating that you do not have any criminal convictions or matters pending in relation to offences involving children and/or drugs. For observers seeking a period of observership greater than 5 working days, a Police History/Clearance Certificate not older than 3 months is required.

Send an Expression of Interest to Kerryn Baker (see below). Detail your preferred dates and availabilities, your learning objectives, any specific skills you hope to observe and also if you wish to observe in one or more of our clinics. Please nominate which clinic(s), or nominate the Emergency Department, or both. Dates and specialties are subject to availability. However, we will endeavor to coordinate with our ED Director or a member of our Senior Medical Staff. Attachments on weekends or public holidays, or during mid December through to mid February are not offered.

For a list of clinics, please go to:
Specialist Clinic Information

Once approved, you are required to complete the application form and send it to:

Kerryn Baker,
Medical Workforce Unit.
T: (+61 3) 9929 8525
Kerryn.Baker@eyeandear.org.au

along with a copy of:

• GP Clinical Attachment Nomination Form
• Current certificate of registration with AHPRA
•  A brief CV
• Criminal History Statutory Declaration/Police Check Certificate
• Confidentiality agreement
• Staff Health Survey (with supporting documentation)

Previous observers have applied for and received ACRRM points and/or RACGP QI&CPD points.

Observers must arrange their own points and complete their own application forms. Some of this must be done prior to the attachment and others brought with you for comments and signing by your attachment supervisor.

Please refer to the RACGP website for forms and requirements for application for category 1 points (40 points) for a “Supervised Clinical Attachment”. Note that a minimum of 10 contact hours is required to qualify for this. Alternately, GPs may self-record up to 10 hours of nonaccredited education for category 2 points (2 points per hour).

To complete a self-directed activity with the RACGP, GPs should login to the RACGP website and navigate to ‘My CPD’ followed by ‘selfdirected activity’ and choose from the list of selfdirected activities (select ‘Supervised Clinical Attachment’).
https://www.racgp.org.au/education/professional-development/cpd/handbook-for-general-practitioners/options-for-recording-your-cpd-points