TRAUMA STUDENT ELECTIVES

Institution		Johannesburg Trauma Unit, Johannesburg
Country		South Africa
The Unit
Description		The Johannesburg Hospital Trauma Unit is based at Johannesburg Hospital, and approximates to the USJCAH Guidelines for a Level I Trauma Centre. As such, it is the only comprehensive unit of it’s kind in South Africa. The Johannesburg Hospital is a multidisciplinary teaching hospital, situated in the centre of Johannesburg. There are approximately 1200 teaching beds in all disciplines of medicine. The unit is self-contained, staffed in conjunction with the Department of Surgery of the University of the Witwatersrand, and consists of the following sections: An accident receiving area (Accident Service: area 163) An in-patient ward (Trauma Ward: ward 377) A trauma intensive care unit (Major Injuries Unit: ward 376) The accident service has the following facilities: 6 Treatment cubicles 2 Major injury resuscitation rooms for up to 6 patients 2 operating theatres 1 plaster room In-unit x-ray facilities for major trauma. In addition, the Unit has full, 24 hours per day, access to all diagnostic, laboratory, and therapeutic support facilities of a modern teaching hospital. The Trauma Ward (377) is a 20 bed ward, divided into 4 High Care, 4 High Care Admissions (with the facility for over-night ventilation) and 6 Low Care Admissions beds, 6 moderate to low care beds, for all general surgical trauma. The Trauma ICU (376) is a separate unit, consisting of 8 intensive care cubicles. The staff are fully responsible for all aspects of the patient's care in close association with intensive care staff from the Hospital's protocol intensive care unit. The Unit therefore cares for all aspects of the trauma patient, from minor injuries to major polytrauma. The Unit's staff deal with all aspects of the patient's care, including some delegation to other specialities (e.g. Orthopaedics, Plastics and Neurosurgery). The Unit’s influence, therefore extends from the roadside (pre-hospital care) to rehabilitation. The annual patient workload is approximately 20 000 trauma patients per year, including in excess of 2000 admissions and 1700 major resuscitations annualy. The Unit is one of two major referral centres in the Johannesburg area, receiving patients from throughout the Province, neighbouring provinces and neighbouring states.
Learning opportunities		The Unit is keen on involving Medical Students who wish to do their elective periods in the Unit. We regularly host students from England, Australia and Germany, as well as from our own University. Elective students participate fully in all aspects of the Unit, and receive extensive teaching as well as exposure to minor and major trauma. All elective periods are arranged in conjunction with the University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences.
Elective Details
Number of students accepted
Duration of elective
Accommodation
Fees payable
Applicant requirements
Contact
Contact Name		Mrs A McLean
Address		Faculty of Health Sciences 7 York Rd
City		Parktown
State		Gauteng
Postcode		2193
Telephone		+27 11 647 2045
Fax		+27 11 647 4318
Email		elective@chiron.wits.ac.za
Webpage		www.wits.ac.za/trauma/
Student testimonials		From: Matthew Boylan Final Year student, UWCM Cardiff. UK Spent Sep/Oct 2001 at Jo'burg Gen trauma unit. The staff there were brilliant and keen to involve me in everything that was going on. Got to attend the Wits students' Trauma training, ATLS course (as observer/cas-sim 'actor'), as well as a mortuary session with Mr Plani during which we got hands on teaching in emergency surgical skills (ICD /thoracotomy /sternotomy /perc trachy / suprapubic catheter / surgical airway / etc). With gunshots/stabbings/RTAs (mad taxi minibuses!) as common in Jo'burg as the sprained ankle is in UK emergency departments, I had more than ample practical experience. Intubation, chest drains, suturing, cannulation, central lines, more suturing, ABG's, catheters, more suturing, DPLs, thoracotomy, (and more suturing) were the daily routine. There were also numerous opportunities to go to theatre and assist. With so much penetrating trauma, damage control surgery is the norm - therefore excellent if you have a military leaning (TA / RAMC medical cadets). If you are into the pre-hospital scene you can do ride-alongs with the paramedics/doctors (hold on tight!), or go up in the 'Flight for Life' helicopter (recommended). Jo'burg is a safe place if you are sensible, and there are loads of great places to visit. Everything is cheap over there, including beer (Beware dodgy karaoke nights out with the staff in 163!). In short, if you are into your trauma (especially military trauma), you will love this place. However, be prepared for some severe withdrawal symptoms on your return - somehow sore throats in general practice don't quite match cracking open chests in Resus. From: Nandita K.Parmar Final Year Medical Student, St.Georges' Hospital Medcial School, University of London, UK I have recently just returned from my extremely rewarding four week elective at the Johannesburg Trauma Unit and am writing to briefly share my experiences. On arrival, what first strikes the visitor immediately is the sheer number of gunshot wounds, stabs, assaults and vehicle related accidents that the Unit deals with. It may come as a surprise but gunshot wounds, etc no longer induce the wonderment or even the fear that would be seen elsewhere. Uncomplicated gunshot wounds are even managed on an outpatient basis! In addition to exposure to both minor and major truama, I got to assist in numerous resuscitations and exporatory laporatomies for both blunt/other trauma and a even a number of thoracotomies! There was ample opprotunity to do numerous intercostal chest drains, central lines, suturing of lacerations and minor procedures like arterial blood gases, cannulations & catheter/NG/OG tube insertions. Furthermore, there is always ample opportunity to conduct research (retrospective/prospective) for the research & evidence minded individuals among ourselves. All in all, with the added friendly atmosphere and great bunch of people working in the Trauma Unit, I could not have chosen a better place and would strongly recommend this wonderful place- both for medical elective and future surgical training purposes! From: Eske Sindby, Denmark I have been on an elective clerkship i Johannesburg, SouthAfrivca and would like to recommend the traumaunit at Johannesburg General Hostipal. Lots of GSW, MVA, stabs, cuts, you name it, they got it! I learned more in one month i Jo´burg, then 3 years of study in Denmark. 04.05.2001 Mail us your experiences here
Updated		23.06.2001 (6:6)