Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine

Components of Training

• The training program in neonatal/perinatal medicine must provide opportunities for clinical and investigative experience in understanding both normal and abnormal aspects of fetal and neonatal growth and development. There must be participation in the diagnosis and management of these problems as seen in the fetus, during labour, in the neonatal period, and in the follow-up.
  
• You must have experience in the diagnosis and management of neonatal disorders affecting the cardiorespiratory, neurological, haematological, metabolic, endocrine, renal and gastrointestinal systems. You must have special competence in the management of the critically ill newborn infant, including techniques of resuscitation, ventilator support, continuous monitoring, temperature control, nutritional support and the general principles of critical care.
  
• You must gain experience in the transport of the sick newborn and have a full understanding of the principles and practice of regionalisation of perinatal care including transfer of high risk pregnancies to appropriate centres. A minimum of 25 retrievals is required.
  
• You must have access to and be directly involved in a Long Term Follow Up Program for high risk infants, so as to develop a proper appreciation of the outcome of the neonatal intensive care efforts. Involvement in such a program should be the equivalent of one session per week for 2 of the 3 years of training and include contact with community support services. Generally this contact is via discharge counselling liaison meetings but could include site visits.
  
• There should be opportunities to be involved in the teaching of residents, nursing staff, and medical students, in various aspects of well and sick newborn infants.
  
• You must have experience in collecting and evaluating information on fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. You should learn to collate and to critically interpret data on immediate outcome and on sequelae in conditions such as the respiratory distress syndrome, asphyxia, neonatal sepsis, and Rhesus incompatibility. This evaluation should extend to include the various methods of treatment used in these disorders.
  
• You should learn about research techniques, participate in laboratory and/or clinical research, and make critical analyses of research results. These experiences must be supervised by a teacher with demonstrated skills and experience in the clinical and/or laboratory research.
  
• The training program should include experience in acute crisis counselling and in the psychological and ethical aspects of perinatal care.
  
• The program must include regular learning sessions such as reviews of morbidity/mortality, case conferences, current literature discussion groups, and research meetings. You will be encouraged to establish regular contacts with other Level 3 Units in your area through attendance at rounds and other teaching sessions at the respective units.
  
• You are required to prepare 3 written projects, as per the current project requirements of the Committee for Paediatric Physician Training, on a neonatal/perinatal subject.
  
• You must meet all requirements of the Committee for Paediatric Physician Training to gain FRACP.

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