Role description
Key result area Key duties and responsibilities
• Develop diagnostic skills, communication skills, clinical management skills (including therapeutic and
procedural skills) evidence-based care approaches, and professionalism.
Clinical Practice • To undertake the initial assessment and day to day management of patients with range of medical
conditions including chronic conditions under the supervision of more senior, experienced medical staff.
This would include pre-operative evaluation, operative management and post-operative care.
- Participating in resuscitation and trauma management as required.
- Communicating any significant change in the patient’s condition to the Attending Medical Officer and/or
taking appropriate action as required and/or directed.
- To organise and co-ordinate any investigations and procedures needed for patients and/or as requested
by senior medical staff.
- Review of all pathology, radiology and other diagnostic reports and advising the Attending Medical Officer
or Registrar of relevant results for the patients under the Interns care.
- Observe and perform a range of procedural skills.
- Care for patients who together represent a broad range of acute and elective general surgical conditions,
and exhibit the common features of surgical illness, including the metabolic response to trauma, infection,
shock and neoplasia.
- Discharge planning, including preparing a discharge summary and other components of handover to a
general practitioner, subacute facility, residential care facility, or ambulatory care.
- Liaise with other Departments and other clinical and non-clinical staff
- Communicate with General Practitioners whose patients are under their Unit’s care
- Clear and concise documentation of daily events in the patient record and methods of communication
appropriate to ongoing care
- Assist with the preparation and organisation of any unit meetings, case presentations as required by the
unit.
Communication To develop doctor/patient relationships by:
Skills • Where appropriate, obtaining informed patient consent, discussing poor outcomes and end of life care in
conjunction with experienced clinicians
- Providing appropriate reassurance
- Explaining tests and procedures
- Preparation of tests and procedures
- Providing support for bereaved relatives
- Being available to speak to close relatives
- Counselling skills including effective listening skills
Develop multi-disciplinary team skills by:
- Regular attendance at unit team meetings
- Demonstrated respect for all team members (including nursing and allied health staff)
- Active contribution to unit team meetings
- Develop and demonstrate communication skills needed for delivering care in an emergency setting through
interaction with peers (particularly through handover), supervisors, patients and their families, and other
medical practitioners and health professionals
Clear and concise documentation, demonstrated by:
- Timely and legible documentation in patient notes
- Accurate and concise discharge summaries
- Maintenance of patient drug/IV charts and appropriate clinical information when ordering patient tests
- Ensuring all arrangements required for autopsy, death and cremation certificates are made expeditiously
and appropriate support to other staff and family is given
Professionalism and • Develop skills in prioritising workload to maximise patient and health service outcomes
Leadership • Understand the roles, responsibilities and interactions of various health professionals in managing each
patient, and to play an active role in the multidisciplinary health care team.
- Develop and reflect on skills and behaviours for a safe professional and ethical practice (consistent with
the Medical Board of Australia’s Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia)
Patient Assessment • Understand and apply the process of correct patient identification at all times
Skills • Consolidate, expand and apply knowledge of the aetiology, pathology, clinical features, natural history and
prognosis of common and important emergency presentation at all stages of life.
- Be able to conduct an appropriate history and examination relevant to the patient’s presenting symptoms.
- Identify and understand the investigations relevant to a patient’s presenting problems and conditions.
- Use investigation results appropriately to guide patient management.
- Be able to develop differential diagnoses based on the presenting problem and subsequent investigations.
- Recognise the role of other health professionals in patient assessment.
- Identify relevant and succinct information when making a referral
- Develop knowledge of legislative issues arising in an emergency care setting, particularly those relating to
capacity and mental health
Attendance and • Be punctual
Training • Attend department ward rounds, including the continuing education activities
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