JOINT TRAINING SCHEME

Components of Training

Core Training
Clinical Haematology
At least 12 months of advanced training will be devoted primarily to clinical aspects of haematology. Ideally, this should include a period of at least six months of direct responsibility for inpatient care, preferably offering an exposure to all aspects of clinical haematology, including management of haematological malignancies, thromboembolic and bleeding disorders and transfusion medicine.

An additional six months should be spent in which the predominant responsibility is outpatient care, including anticoagulant therapy, supervision of chemotherapy, apheresis and consultation with other specialties.

Exposure to more specialised aspects of clinical haematology, such as management of inherited coagulation disorders, autologous and allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation may occur during or after the period of core clinical training, depending on the particular interests of the trainee.

Laboratory Haematology
Laboratory training in haematology is an integral part of the joint scheme, and a period of three years experience in laboratory haematology is a requirement of the RCPA training program. An initial period of at least 12 months is required before being eligible to sit for the RCPA Part One Examination. This should include experience in all aspects of the haematology laboratory, including coagulation, transfusion and immunohaematology, haemoglobinopathy, diagnostic haematology and morphology. Exposure to special areas such as flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular diagnostic techniques and tissue typing is also highly desirable.

During initial laboratory training, there should be an emphasis on direct involvement of trainees with laboratory practice, including theoretical aspects of specific test procedures, troubleshooting and quality assurance. Exposure to the haematology laboratory should continue as an important part of training beyond the FRCPA Part One Examination. Trainees should acquire experience in dealing with consultations from the laboratory perspective and with laboratory management issues.

A total period of at least three months should be spent during advanced training in a centralised state transfusion service.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

Elective Training
Elective training in haematology is actively encouraged, and is usually undertaken in the third or fourth years of the joint training program, usually after successful completion of the FRCPA Part One Examination. Elective training is usually taken as an opportunity to develop further special interests in clinical or laboratory haematology, or to undertake a research project.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

Research
It is required that all trainees become involved with some form of research activity in either clinical or laboratory haematology at some stage during their program. It is recommended that the final year of training be an elective year where the majority of time is spent in clinical or laboratory research, often at a centre other than that where the bulk of training has occurred. Evidence of participation in research activities should include publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at state, national or international meetings, and will be sought from each trainee at the completion of their training period.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

Other Specific Requirements
Trainees will undertake the Part One Examination of the RCPA in haematology, normally in the second year of advanced training, but not before or more than at least 12 months has been spent predominantly in laboratory haematology.
The Basic Pathological Sciences (BPS) Examination conducted by the RCPA will also need to be successfully completed.

The Part Two Examination of the RCPA should be attempted at the completion of the four-year advanced training program, and will ordinarily consist of a viva examination.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

Training Posts
Hospitals offering advanced training in haematology should have the following:

• At least one full-time staff haematologist.
  
• Opportunity for exposure to a full range of haematological disorders, including treatment of acute leukaemia, management of patients with severe bone marrow failure, plasmapheresis and leucapheresis, treatment of complex thromboembolic and bleeding disorders.
  
• An active transfusion service, encompassing all aspects of blood-component replacement and immunohaematological investigations.
  
• A diagnostic service allowing adequate exposure to coagulation, red cell, morphological and automated haematology problems.
  
• Access to library facilities and computer searches such as Medline.
  
• Regular meetings at clinical and laboratory levels to foster a climate of continuing education and enquiry.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

[ Home ] [ General Information ] [ Basic Training ] [ Advanced Training ]
[ Advanced Vocational Training ] [ Training outside Australia & New Zealand ]
[ Return to RACP Homepage ]

bl