TRAUMA STUDENT ELECTIVES

Institution		Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide
Country		Australia
The Unit
Description		The Royal Adelaide Hospital is a 700 bed teaching hospital affiliated with the University of South Australia, and is situated in the centre of Adelaide (the capital city of South Australia). It provides basic and advanced medical training in a wide range of specialties, including cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, vascular, plastic (incl. burns), and neuro-surgery, as well as intensive care medicine and emergency medicine. It serves as the largest Level 1 adult trauma centre in South Australia, and is one of three major trauma referral centres for the state (2 adult, 1 paediatric). The Royal Adelaide Hospital Trauma Service has 3 Trauma Specialists including a trauma surgeon and provides a dedicated Trauma Team 24-hours per day to assess and manage all trauma patients fulfilling designated call-out criteria. Last year, 2100 patients were managed by the Service, with 612 (30%) having a NISS over 15. The Trauma Service is also closely linked with Mediflight Retrieval Service which provides a 24-hour emergency consultation and mobile intensive care service to most of South Australia, as well as adjacent interstate locations, including Darwin, Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Mildura. The Retrieval Service accordingly covers a vast area, utilising predominantly rotary and fixed - wing aircraft, and performed 850 missions in 2005.
Learning opportunities		The student will be attached to the Trauma Team, and will be expected to be involved in the assessment and management of trauma patients, under the supervision of the Trauma Registrar and Specialist. They will also be involved in the daily ward-round of admitted trauma patients, as well as the weekly audit of all patients presenting to the Service. The Trauma Service encourages participation in research activities and publication, and collects extensive data on all patients presenting to it, as well as contributing to a state-wide trauma registry. There will also be an opportunity for education in the finer points of Australian lifestyle, great wines and marsupials, as well as Aussie Rules Football and meat pies, should the student be interested.
Elective Details
Number of students accepted		1 (4 per year)
Duration of elective		4 weeks (negotiable)
Accommodation		Available in the hospital Residency Block (current charge AUD$ 22.80 per week). Single room with shared bathroom, lounge and kitchen facilities. Basic, but clean and very cheap.
Fees payable
Applicant requirements		Applicants need to have commenced a clinical level of training, and will need to provide a letter of good standing or support from their training institution, as well as a Curriculum Vitae. Applicants will need to comply with the Australian visa requirements (tourist visa).
Contact
Contact Name		Kae White
Address		Roiyal Adelaide Hospital Level 3 Trauma Service Emergency Department North Terrace
City		Adelaide
State		South Australia
Postcode		5000
Telephone		+61.8.8222 4408
Fax		+61.8.8222 4970
Email		kwhite@mail.rah.sa.gov.au
Webpage		www.rah.sa.gov.au/emergenc/geninfo.php
Student testimonials		Mail us your experiences here
Updated		04.07.2006 (11:7)