Intensive Care
Intensive care medicine practice includes assessment and management of critically ill patients, admitted usually from ED, wards or operating theatres.
Intensive care medicine meets the needs of doctors seeking not only intellectual satisfaction of practicing cutting edge, advanced clinical medicine that demands diagnostic reasoning and problem solving skills but also provides opportunities to maintain practical procedural skills
Advantages of Starting a Career at TPCH
- 24 hour on site supervision by advanced trainees and specialists
- Structured education program that caters to all levels of trainees starting with the junior most viz. basic trainee, new to the specialty, to the most senior viz. pre and post fellowship exam candidates.
- Dedicated teaching time every week which includes a simulation session
- Workshops conducted in-house for ICU specific procedures such as basic ultrasound familiarization and ultrasound guided vascular access placement i.e. central and arterial lines, renal replacement therapy (dialysis modes), IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump), basic bronchoscope dexterity.
- Participation in inter-hospital and inter-departmental education sessions e.g. Best of Grand Round series was won by the ICU presenter in 2012.
- Support for trainees sitting for their primary or Fellowship ICU exams in the form of practice exam cases/ vivas etc.
- Exposure not only to the ‘standard’ critically ill medical/ surgical patients but also to complex cardiac and respiratory patients e.g. heart and lung transplants and patients requiring advanced mechanical cardiac/ respiratory support such as ECMO, VADs, etc.
- Research opportunities via CCRG (Critical care research group) which is the research arm of TPCH Adult Intensive Care Service (AICS). CCRG is well represented at the local (hospital) level and also at the wider national and international intensive care level. A couple of the research project winners of the prestigious Felicity Hawker prize, awarded for the best research project by a trainee at the annual scientific meeting of the college (CICM ASM) , have been TPCH ICU trainees.
Training Overview
Entry requirements to Training Program
- General or Limited Registration with AHPRA
- General hospital experience for 12 months post graduation
- Apply to register with the College of Intensive Care Medicine
- Apply for positions through QH RMO Campaign
- Selection is usually by a centralised selection process; however direct contact with the unit director or supervisor of training to present one’s candidacy for prospective jobs may be possible
Overview of Training Program
Six year training program comprising: 36 months of basic training and 36 months of advanced training.
An overview of the current CICM (College of Intensive Care Medicine) training requirements is attached below. Modifications to some aspects of the training pathway by the college are anticipated to occur in the near future. Other relevant details can be obtained from the CICM or QITP (Queensland Intensive Care Training Pathway) websites.
Are there accelerated training pathways?
- A specialist degree in intensive care from another country or
- Another specialty degree e.g. FACEM, FANZCA or
- Significant training in another specialty.
All above may be taken into account towards basic training. It must be noted that this is entirely at the discretion of the College of Intensive Care Medicine.
What rotations are recommended prior to applying for training
- ICU exposure [preferable]
- Emergency Medicine
- Anaesthetics
How to improve your chances of selection
- BASIC Intensive Care Course
- Any other acute medicine related courses e.g. critical care events management course
- Any research related to acute medicine maybe beneficial
- Demonstration of having an open mind, a hardworking attitude and enthusiasm to learn are attributes that will be given consideration
Frequently Asked Questions
- it offers the intellectual satisfaction of practicing clinical medicine which necessitates diagnostic reasoning and problem solving skills and also provides opportunities to be proficient at practical and procedural skills
- no outpatient clinics
- generalist approach
- An open mind, a hardworking attitude and enthusiasm to learn are attributes that are necessary
- The ability to cope with ‘after-hours’ and ‘on call’ work is also desirable
This varies from unit to unit but usually periods of clinical work eg a week at a time including weekends (1: 6-7) and some on call components through the weekdays ( 0- 2 pw).
- provides a good balance of intellectual and procedural practical skills
- satisfaction of playing a substantial role in the recovery of extremely sick patients
- Deferred training or part time training is feasible
- Rosters usually flexible to allow time for recreational, research or professional development activities
- None from the perspective of an Intensivist!
- The after-hours and / or on call work may be considered a deterrent for trainees considering any acute medicine specialities (e.g. ICU/ ED/ Anaesthesia) and most clinical medicine specialities (e.g. general surgery/ medicine )
- Future specialist job prospects have raised questions in most specialities including ICM but with an expanding population that is living well into their 80’s with more co-morbid conditions, the demand for more intensive care units and therefore intensive care specialists is inevitable.
Contact us
Medical Education Unit
Email: TPCH-Medical-Education@health.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3139 4221
Further Information
Dr Jayshree Lavana – contact via ICU Administration Officer
Phone: (07) 3139 5488