Rural Allowance: Yes
Duration of Rotation: 12 months
Doctors Quarters:
- No comments yet.
Academics:
- There are only CSMOs and MOs here. They attempt ward rounds occasionally, but you often have more knowledge than the chromos.
- District hospital run by MO’s and Comserve doctors. No consultants.
Supervision:
- 3 people are on call per night - one in casualty, one in maternity and one covering the wards. You are alone during your calls, however, you can always call the others on call with you or the CEO for assistance at any time.
- There is always a MO or Colleague to ask for advise. No consultants working in the hospital. You are responsible for making clinical decisions. Specialist advise is available telephonically.
Clinical Exposure:
- You’re exposed to a variety of conditions, but working in a district hospital, you often refer the patients on for work up and treatment.
- Wide range of conditions seen and treated every day. You are expected to treat Ortho, Paeds, Elderly, Maternity, Psych etc patients all in one day.
Departments worked in:
- Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthetics, Emergency Department, OPD’s - In the male and female wards you are exposed to medical, surgical, gynae, and uro patients. The only surgeries we performed are c-sections and ectopics. You have to do spinals and GAs, and they want you to cut.
- Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthetics, Emergency Department, OPD’s - You rotate between OPD, casualty, maternity, female, male and Paeds ward. You are also expected to go to theatre for C-sections/ectopics.
Social Scene:
- Very small town. One or two bars, a few restaurants. I drove back to Joburg often.
Additional Comments:
- Typical small town district hospital. Very frustrating work as referrals are difficult to get accepted. But not the worst place. There are many game reserves in the area and living in the bosveld was quite peaceful.
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