Medical Students at Westmead Hospital are now welcome to attend the Emergency Department (ED).

In order to make the experience beneficial we need to ensure medical students respect this privilege and follow some basic protocols.

On arrival to the ED, it is imperative that you introduce yourself to the Consultant or Staff Specialist who is "on" for that shift. This is essential as they are responsible for what happens on their shift.

Medical students are welcome to attend the Department after hours (after
1700 weekdays and all day on weekends) to gain more clinical experience.

To maximize your learning experience, no more than 2 students should attend
at the same time. It is at the sole discretion of the consultant on duty whether more students can be accommodated, with Year 3 and Year 4 Medical Students having priority. Two to three hours should be enough to gain some useful experience. 

Learning opportunities could include taking focused histories, performing focused physical examinations, performing procedural skills under the appropriate supervision of a doctor.

If you have never undertaken a particular procedure before you must have received prior training or direction before hand and then seek supervision before undertaking any procedures on patients or fellow medical students.

If you prefer a less active role you can observe the residents or chat informally to patients.

What you do will be influenced by what is available and what you negotiate with the on-call consultant and staff.

Dated: Wednesday, 6 August 2008