Interns based at the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) will find their Internship to be a challenging and rewarding year, personally and professionally. Internship will offer a range of diverse opportunities to consolidate and develop knowledge, skills and attitudes as Interns make the transition from Medical Student to Medical Officer. Interns appointed to NALHN will be assigned to rotations which may encompass terms at both Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) and Modbury Hospital where you will be well supported by
colleagues.
NALHN comprises of approximately 509 inpatient beds, with approximately 375 of these at LMH and 134 at Modbury Hospital. On site car parking is available at both LMH and Modbury Hospital. Both sites offer cafeteria services to staff and public. Library services are available with Librarians always willing to assist with research. The Library can also be used as a quiet area to study.
Both hospitals operate Emergency Departments staffed by specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lyell McEwin Hospital is the major hospital in the North and North East for emergency, complex and multi day surgery. North and North Eastern residents have access to a comprehensive 24/7 Orthopaedic Trauma Service and catheter laboratories for access to cardiology and interventional radiology services.
Modbury Hospital is a major same day elective surgery and rehabilitation hub for the North and North Eastern areas in addition to providing General Surgery, Short-stay Medical, Geriatric, Psychiatric and Palliative Care services. The state of the art Rehabilitation Centre at Modbury Hospital has eighteen treatment rooms, a gym, hydrotherapy pool, a laboratory for analysing patient mobility, prosthesis services and a kitchen where clients can re-learn and practice everyday tasks.
Modbury Hospital also has an expanded one stop Breast Service, providing women with access to a breast surgeon, a radiologist and a breast care nurse in the same location.
NALHN hospitals provide a comprehensive educational program based on the Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors (ACFJD).
All Interns receive a comprehensive Orientation and Induction Program at the commencement of their Internship. Interns are supported throughout the year at each site by a Post Graduate Medical Education Unit.
- Weekly tutorials are held at both sites. PowerPoint presentations are available electronically.
- Weekly ‘Medical Grand Round’ sessions across both sites with guest speakers presenting various topics.
- Clinical skills training sessions are scheduled throughout the year.
- Lunchtime is protected time for Interns, enabling them to attend tutorial sessions, and other education events throughout the hospitals.
- Specific teaching will occur in each term/division to supplement the work experience. This may include tutorials, bed side teaching, demonstrations, case studies, journal clubs and morbidity and mortality conferences.
- Postgraduate Medical Education Unit teaching activities are routinely evaluated by Interns. This information is used for quality assurance and improvement.
- Opportunities for research participation and recognition, including an Ellen Price Annual award and Trainee Medical Officer Project Award.
- There are plans at the LMH to develop a Simulation Suite for NALHN trainees, in the near future.
Each term of Internship has an allocated Term Supervisor as well as senior team members who will directly or indirectly support you during your transition into the Intern role. The Trainee Medical Officer Unit on site will support your administration requirements as you embark on your Intern year.
The Post Graduate Medical Education Unit (PMEU) staff at each site are available to provide support, guidance and education throughout your Internship. They are actively available for your welfare/wellbeing support and debrief when required. The PMEU also have a range of written resources that are valuable to support transition to Internship.
A peer mentoring program has recently been adopted which sees those Interns interested in this form of support receiving a mentor for the year in the form of a PGY2+.
The NALHN RMO Society regularly welcome new members (including Interns) and hold regular social activities to encourage a positive working culture amongst Junior Medical Officers in NALHN. Ask the PMEU about joining.
Once Interns are allocated to NALHN they will be asked for their indicative preference of rotations across the network via the SA MET application system.
Intern rotation preferences and annual leave requests will be taken into consideration along with the number of available positions and the service needs of the hospital. NALHN supports a system that is fair and equitable and every clinical term is accredited for Intern training. Every effort is made to ensure that an Intern’s allocated rotations reflect their preferences, interest and career direction. In common with all Intern placements in South Australia some rotations are highly competitive and NALHN is not able to guarantee that an Intern will get all of their preferred rotations.
Interns will also have the opportunity to participate in the relieving and/or nights (medical or surgical) roster. Interns will participate in an on-call roster (after-hours, weekends and public holidays) during some ward-based terms.
Interns may negotiate to swap rotations with a colleague for the final four term rotations of the year, providing the swap does not impact on their ability to meet the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) requirements for general registration. Swapping is not allowed for the first term rotation. All swaps must be approved by both the Director of Medical Services (DMS) and the Director of Clinical Training (DCT).
Feedback from previous Interns has shown that the Intern year at both LMH and Modbury Hospital has been a positive one, with Interns obtaining rotation preferences that meet their career direction and that enable them to obtain general registration.
NALHN offer a range of rotations in across all divisions including:
- AMU
- Acute Psychiatry
- Breast/Endocrine Surgery
- Cardiology
- Colorectal Surgery
- Diabetes/Endocrine
- Emergency
- Gastroenterology
- General Medicine
- Geriatric Evaluation and Management
- GP – Crystal Brook
- Gynaecology
- Medical Nights
- Neurology
- Older Persons Psychiatry
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Palliative Care
- Rehab
- Relieving
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Short Stay General Medicine
- Surgical Nights
- Upper GI Surgery
- Urology/ENT Surgery
For more information view the Intern Job Pack.