SLEEP MEDICINE

Advanced Training Program in Sleep Medicine - Level I

General Principles

1. Completion of Level I advanced training in sleep medicine qualifies thoracic medicine trainees to have a substantial clinical practice in sleep medicine (e.g. manage sleep apnoea syndromes and more complex sleep-related breathing problems), and is also required to apply for credentialling for reporting sleep studies (as required by the Health Insurance Commission).
   
2. Twelve months of training in clinical sleep medicine is necessary.
   
3. This may be undertaken as an approved complementary year within the three years of advanced training in thoracic medicine, although three months of the 12 months may be undertaken during the two years of core training in clinical thoracic medicine (as the mandatory three months of training in sleep medicine).
   
4. Alternatively the training may be undertaken as post-FRACP supervised training in sleep medicine.
   
5. It may be undertaken in Australia or overseas.
   
6. Advanced trainees from non-thoracic medical disciplines will generally not be eligible to undertake Level I training.
   
7. Successful completion of Level I training will enable trainees to reach a satisfactory level of competence to report sleep studies.

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Core Training
Clinical Sleep Medicine
Quality training should include a wide exposure to all common sleep disorders including sleep breathing disorders, disorders of daytime somnolence, and other non-respiratory sleep disorders. Trainees will be expected to have a detailed practical knowledge of:

• Sleep physiology;
  
• The instrumentation, recording, scoring techniques and interpretation of polysomnographic studies.
  

They will need to obtain detailed experience and skill in the management of sleep breathing disorders (including CPAP and nasal ventilation). They should also be familiar with the diagnosis and management of non-respiratory sleep disorders.
It is desirable that training should be undertaken in a multi-disciplinary sleep disorders service.

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Procedural Skills
Essential Procedural Skills
Full polysomnography, MSLT, MWT, overnight oximetry and transcutaneous CO₂ monitoring, CPAP and nasal ventilation.

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Other Specific Requirements

• The trainee's supervisor(s) will confirm in their written report(s) that a full twelve months of training has been spent in the clinical areas of sleep medicine outlined in the program or nine months, if three months are undertaken during the two core years of training in thoracic medicine.
  
• A sufficient number of procedures must be performed to allow the trainee to develop competence in these procedures. Competence will be assessed on the basis of the written assessment by supervisors, and by interview to assess the trainee's experience and competence. A logbook of procedures will be required to support the assessment of experience.

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Training Posts
See section under Advanced Training Program in Sleep Medicine

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