Paging Dr

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Life as a Doctor

The following is a (largely accurate) explanation of the role of doctors after graduation. Please refer to the forum discussion for further clarification and discussion of this topic.

Interns

Medical hospital employees who are in their first year after completing the formal medical school course. Interns are medically supervised, and are the lynchpins of patient care in the system. Their major duties include clinical assessment and clerking of patients, completing the required paperwork, arranging medical tests and compiling test results in an orderly manner, and instituting the medical care plan established for the most part by other team members.

Resident Medical Officers

This is a broad term that covers in-hospital medical employees who are registered medical practitioners. In general, RMOs are not working in an established specific training scheme, although some are in the Family Medicine Program (FMP), to become registered GPs. A RMO may be one year more experienced than an intern, termed a junior RMO (JRMO or RMO-1), or two years or more advanced, termed a senior RMO (SRMO, or RMO-2). Some RMOs have a dedicated career as RMOs, and are called Career Medical Officer (CMOs). RMOs often undertake many of the same roles as interns, although there is more latitude to make medical decisions about patient care, and in some specialties and terms, RMOs take on a role more like that of registrars.

Registrars

These medicos are more experienced in years than RMOs. They are commonly on a formal vocational training scheme, although some registrars are still in the process of 'making it' onto a scheme. Registrars provide the 'middle level' of medical care, and they make most of the day-to-day management decisions about patient care. Those on a general training scheme, such as Basic Physician Trainees, or General Surgical Trainees, are rotating registrars, who, from one term to another, progressively move between sub-specialties. The general trainees are in the process of passing their basic Trainee exams. Their general knowledge is commonly very up-to-date and comprehensive, their time availability limited, and their sub-specialty skill is variable.

Advanced Trainees

Advanced trainees have completed their general specialty training and have been accepted onto a specialty or sub-specialty training scheme. They progressively acquire 'more and more' knowledge and skill about 'less and less'. Some advanced trainees are Fellows, who may be from overseas and visiting (Visiting Fellows) for a limited period, and/or may be undertaking a period of research (Research Fellows).

Staff Specialists, Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), and Academics

Staff Specialists, Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), and Academics are recognised specialists, at the 'top of the totem pole' in the medical care of patients. They take ultimate responsibility for patient management, and medical in-patients are admitted under their care. They have a wealth of experience in patient care, and special skill at perceiving the 'overall picture', including the critical decision-making steps, and what strategies and issues are important in the medium and longer term medical care of their patients. They are commonly consulted formally by other specialists to aid in the care of patients. VMOs have a different employment arrangement with the hospital, compared with Staff Specialists, and are employed on a sessional basis, whilst Staff Specialists are paid a salary. Full Academic Professors, Associate Professors, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers, are generally salaried by the University, and they have a clinical responsibilities through their appointment, as specialists.

  • Internship   ( 2 Articles )
    The following info comes from Paging Dr's thread for internship guidelines .
  • Post Graduation   ( 0 Articles )

    The following is a (largely accurate) explanation of the role of doctors after graduation. Please refer to the forum discussion for further clarification and discussion of this topic.

    Interns

    Medical hospital employees who are in their first year after completing the formal medical school course. Interns are medically supervised, and are the lynchpins of patient care in the system. Their major duties include clinical assessment and clerking of patients, completing the required paperwork, arranging medical tests and compiling test results in an orderly manner, and instituting the medical care plan established for the most part by other team members.

    Resident Medical Officers

    This is a broad term that covers in-hospital medical employees who are registered medical practitioners. In general, RMOs are not working in an established specific training scheme, although some are in the Family Medicine Program (FMP), to become registered GPs. A RMO may be one year more experienced than an intern, termed a junior RMO (JRMO or RMO-1), or two years or more advanced, termed a senior RMO (SRMO, or RMO-2). Some RMOs have a dedicated career as RMOs, and are called Career Medical Officer (CMOs). RMOs often undertake many of the same roles as interns, although there is more latitude to make medical decisions about patient care, and in some specialties and terms, RMOs take on a role more like that of registrars.

    Registrars

    These medicos are more experienced in years than RMOs. They are commonly on a formal vocational training scheme, although some registrars are still in the process of 'making it' onto a scheme. Registrars provide the 'middle level' of medical care, and they make most of the day-to-day management decisions about patient care. Those on a general training scheme, such as Basic Physician Trainees, or General Surgical Trainees, are rotating registrars, who, from one term to another, progressively move between sub-specialties. The general trainees are in the process of passing their basic Trainee exams. Their general knowledge is commonly very up-to-date and comprehensive, their time availability limited, and their sub-specialty skill is variable.

    Advanced Trainees

    Advanced trainees have completed their general specialty training and have been accepted onto a specialty or sub-specialty training scheme. They progressively acquire 'more and more' knowledge and skill about 'less and less'. Some advanced trainees are Fellows, who may be from overseas and visiting (Visiting Fellows) for a limited period, and/or may be undertaking a period of research (Research Fellows).

    Staff Specialists, Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), and Academics

    Staff Specialists, Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), and Academics are recognised specialists, at the 'top of the totem pole' in the medical care of patients. They take ultimate responsibility for patient management, and medical in-patients are admitted under their care. They have a wealth of experience in patient care, and special skill at perceiving the 'overall picture', including the critical decision-making steps, and what strategies and issues are important in the medium and longer term medical care of their patients. They are commonly consulted formally by other specialists to aid in the care of patients. VMOs have a different employment arrangement with the hospital, compared with Staff Specialists, and are employed on a sessional basis, whilst Staff Specialists are paid a salary. Full Academic Professors, Associate Professors, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers, are generally salaried by the University, and they have a clinical responsibilities through their appointment, as specialists.