RHEUMATOLOGY
sub-menu:

SUPERVISING COMMITTEE

DEFINITION OF SPECIALTY

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

COMPONENTS OF TRAINING

Core Training

Non Core Training

Procedural Skills

Logbook

Project or Case Reports

Research

Training Sites

Rural/Regional Training

SPECIAL SOCIETY
Vocational Training
Rheumatology
Supervising Committee
Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) in Rheumatology.

Definition of Specialty
The diagnosis and management of rheumatic disorders, including all forms of arthritis; connective tissue disease; spinal and soft tissue disorders; chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes; and certain metabolic bone disorders, particularly osteoporosis.

General Principles
Rheumatologists practise in a number of different ways in Australia and New Zealand. Some practise ‘pure’ rheumatology within a large metropolitan hospital, an academic post, or in private practice, while others practise rheumatology in a more general setting. They are all expected to be competent in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases as well as non inflammatory conditions, spinal and soft-tissue disorders and chronic musculoskeletal pain-syndromes.

Components of Training
Core Training
A minimum of 2 years’ core training is required. During this time, the trainee must have direct and supervised responsibility for inpatient and outpatient care in a rheumatology unit.

Specific Objectives of Core Training
  • Acquisition of knowledge of aspects of basic and applied medical sciences relevant to rheumatic and connective-tissue disease. This should include appropriate aspects of morbid anatomy, chemical pathology, pathophysiology, immunology and microbiology.
  • Training in statistical methods, research techniques and critical evaluation of the results of investigation, and of the published literature.
  • Competence in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate to rheumatology including:
    • knowledge of the indications for, and interpretation of, various imaging techniques used in rheumatology, including skeletal and soft-tissue plain radiographs, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, CT scanning and MRI
    • physical methods used in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and an awareness of the value of and indications for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and allied forms of management
    • techniques of synovial, bone and muscle biopsy and interpretation of pathology
    • the application of electrophysiological diagnostic tests
    • the indications for, and an outline of, the operative and perioperative techniques in the surgery of the rheumatic diseases.
  • A detailed knowledge of, and practical experience in, clinical pharmacology in relation to therapy of the rheumatic diseases.
  • Assessment and management of chronic musculoskeletal pain, including cognitive, behavioural, and biopsychosocial components.

Non Core Training
Revised Guidelines for Non Core Training - (as of April 2009)
The STC in Rheumatology and the Adult Medicine Division Education Committee (AMDEC) have agreed to the following revised guidelines for non core training. The revised guidelines will be mandatory for advanced trainees commencing training in 2009:

Advanced training in Rheumatology in Australia is a three year program, which includes two years of core training and one year of non core training. The non core year is an opportunity to diversify experience and consolidate skills that contribute to the practice of Rheumatology as a specialist physician.

The STC will consider the following options for approval as a non core year:
  • 12 months working as a Rheumatology registrar;
  • 12 months of full-time enrolment in a PhD, MD or relevant Masters Degree. Studies need to be deemed relevant to the practice of Rheumatology and must be prospectively approved by the STC.

The STC will also consider one (or a combination) of the following optional areas for approval as non core training on a case by case basis:
  • General Medicine
  • Geriatric Medicine or Paediatrics
  • A medical specialty (e.g. immunology, haematology, gastroenterology, nephrology or neurology)
  • Orthopaedic surgery
  • A pain management service
  • Laboratory medicine, particularly immunology
  • Rehabilitation medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Radiology and/or Nuclear Medicine
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Regional/Rural training

TheThe non core year should generally follow core training. Prospective approval, including the written support of the trainees’ current Rheumatology advanced training supervisor, is required by the STC unless a third accredited core Rheumatology advanced training year is planned.
Trainees should submit a proposal for their non core training program to the STC before June in the year prior to the commencement of the proposed training to determine whether it will meet the non core training requirements of the STC.

In New Zealand, time spent in one of the following areas may be approved as non core training:
  • a medical specialty e.g. immunology, haematology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology or geriatrics;
  • orthopaedic surgery;
  • pain management service;
  • laboratory medicine, particularly immunology;
  • rehabilitation medicine;
  • epidemiology;
  • radiology and/or nuclear medicine;
  • clinical pharmacology;
  • general medicine;
  • PhD or MD studies.
Trainees who are contemplating other types of non core training should submit a proposal to the SAC Chair at least six months prior to the commencement of the proposed training.

Rheumatology next >>

[ Table of Contents ]

 

  HOME  |  INTRODUCTION  |  BASIC TRAINING  |  EXAMINATIONS  |  ADVANCED TRAINING  |  CONTACTS  

Copyright 2002 © The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
This page was last edited: June 2011