Trainee Positions At Blacktown
Blacktown
18 Blacktown Road, Blacktown NSW
NSW, 2148
Australia
Contact Details
Dr Nigel Wolfe
Nigel.Wolfe@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone : 02 8670 5860
www : -
Positions
Training Positions : Two
Elective Training Positions : -
Fellowships : -
Core Position Descriptions
3-monthly rotations
Ward rotation:
Management of 14-28 inpatients (wards, Stroke Unit, ICU)
Assessment of ED patients with neurological presentations
Acute stroke management including thrombolysis/arranging inter-hospital transfer for endovascular clot retrieval
Ward consultations
Neurophysiology/Clinics rotation:
Neurology Outpatient Clinics (2 general neurology clinics per week + subspecialty clinics)
NCS/EMG Clinics at Blacktown (2 per week)
Botulinum Toxin Clinic (Blacktown)
SFEMG/Evoked potentials (Westmead)
EEG reporting (Blacktown)
EEG teaching and reporting sessions (Westmead)
Both rotations:
Neuroradiology weekly meetings 2 per week (Blacktown - Tuesdays, Westmead - Wednesdays)
Monthly EEG/Epilepsy meetings (Blacktown)
Weekly Neurology Grand Rounds (Westmead) - Blacktown trainee presents monthly
Contribution to M&M meetings, Stroke Quality meeting, Journal Club and other quality improvement activities (training and education )
Blacktown Hospital Medical Grand Rounds ( present 3-4 times/year)
Westmead Hospital Medical Grand Rounds
Clinical research projects
JMO, BPT and Medical student teaching
Elective Position Descriptions
N/A
Hospital Information
Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals are two closely integrated hospitals located in Western Sydney. Together they comprise around 550 beds across the two sites with most medical specialties, psychiatry, surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and paediatrics represented. The hospitals deal with around 80,000 emergency presentations and over 40,000 admissions each year. Acute neurological, medical and ICU beds are located at Blacktown, while the majority of rehabilitation beds are located at Mount Druitt. Emergency Departments are located at both hospitals. The hospitals are part of the Western Sydney Local Health District, and have strong ties to Westmead Hospital, which provide them with Neurosurgical, Ophthalmological and ENT services. The hospitals service one of the fastest growing populations in NSW, residing in the Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Riverstone Local Government Areas. Blacktown is one of the main teaching hospitals of the Western Sydney University (WSU) School of Clinical Medicine. The WSU Blacktown/Mount Druitt Clinical School, Research and Education Centre is located at Blacktown Hospital. Blacktown Hospital has recently undergone a major redevelopment, adding significantly to the Hospital’s amenity.
Department Beds :
10 ward beds, 8 shared Stroke Unit beds
Department Clinics
General Neurology Clinics (2), NCS/EMG Clinics (Westmead and Blacktown), EEG and VEEG reporting sessions (Westmead), EEGs (Blacktown)
Department Specialty Clinics
Botulinum Toxin Clinic, Headache Clinic
Department Meetings
Stroke/Rehabilitation Meeting
Blacktown Neuroradiology Meeting
Stroke Quality Meeting
Hospital Grand Rounds
Westmead Neuroradiology Meeting
Neurology Grand Rounds (Westmead)
Department Staff
Dr Nigel Wolfe FRACP (General Neurology & Movement Disorders)
Dr Sangamithra Babu FRACP (General Neurology & Movement Disorders & Headache)
Dr Robert Boland-Freitas FRACP (Neurology & Neurophysiology)
Dr Andrew Martin ( Neurology & Movement Disorders)
Dr Susan Walker FRACP (Neurology & Neurophysiology)
Dr Jonathan Baird-Gunning ( Neurology & Neurophysiology)
Junior Staff Positions In Neurology
Two Advanced Trainees,
One Basic Trainee
Two Junior Medical Officers (1.8 FTE total)
Trainee Responsibilities
Ward rotation
1. Oversee all new admissions daily (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and review inpatients (including urgent review of any deteriorating inpatients or any patients about whom there are neurological concerns).
2. See ED patients referred for Neurology review promptly and liaise with the consultant on call.
3. See Neurology consults as they are referred and liaise with the consultant on call.
4. Round with the consultant on call reviewing inpatients and consultations.
5. Organise neurological investigations and procedures for the inpatients (and sometimes consults). Review urgent EEGs done on site.
6. Provide ward-based teaching on rounds for the BPT and JMO staff and supervise juniors in procedures such as LP.
7. Contribute to Neurology teaching for Medical Students or other staff if required.
8. Attend Westmead Neurology Grand Rounds when presenting case(s). Attend Brain School at Westmead. This is protected time and the BPT at Blacktown will cover the Neurology Trainee's duties.
9. Organise the case presentations for the Wednesday afternoon Neurology Grand Rounds on a roster alongside the Westmead-based registrars. You will be expected to do a Powerpoint presentation outlining the history of the case. There will usually be a discussion on differential diagnoses and this will be followed by investigation findings and a general discussion of the case. You can prepare a few slides from a literature review on the topic, but these should not be overly extensive.
10. Neurology presentations for Medical Grand Rounds at Blacktown Hospital
Neurophysiology/Clinics rotation
1. Attend multiple weekly general neurology and specialised clinics.
2. Attend outpatient NCS/EMG clinics
3. Read and do provisional outpatient EEG reports
4. Arrange and perform LPs on outpatients
5. Arrange investigations for outpatients
6. Arrange IVIg and other treatments for outpatients
7. Ensure all clinic letters done in timely fashion
8. Ensure follow-up of outpatient investigations
9. Contribute to Neurology teaching for Medical Students or junior doctors as required.
10. Attend Westmead for Neurology Grand Rounds when presenting case(s). Attend Brain School at Westmead.
11. Organise the case presentations for the Wednesday afternoon Neurology Grand Rounds on a roster alongside the Westmead-based registrars. You will be expected to do a Powerpoint presentation outlining the history of the case. There will usually be a discussion on differential diagnoses and this will be followed by investigation findings and a general discussion of the case. You can prepare a few slides from a literature review on the topic, but these should not be overly extensive.
12. Attend Tuesday/Wednesday morning EEG teaching sessions at Westmead
Selection Criteria
Pass in FRACP written and clinical examinations.
Acceptance to the ANZAN Training Scheme.
Philosophy Of Training
Blacktown Hospital Neurology Department seeks to emphasise
- high quality, patient-centred care
- acquisition of solid neurological clinical skills and experience
- development of a rigorous and evidence-based approach to diagnosis and management of neurological disorders
- acquisition of sound basic skills in EEG and NCS/EMG
- a high standard of documentation and written communication (eg clinical notes, letters, discharge summaries)
- the importance of high quality presentations at Hospital, Society and National meetings
- the importance of undertaking high quality research
- the importance of engaging in quality improvement initiatives
Neurology Training In State
Monthly Brain School (3 hours)
Special Society Meetings:
Stroke
Epilepsy
Movement Disorders
Neuro-immunology
Headache
Neuro-genetics
Northwest Neurological Society
Registrars Teaching Weekend (annual)
Other Information