CMSA Accreditations: None
Rural Allowance: Yes
Doctors Quarters:
- No comments yet.
Academics:
- There was no academics in the EC at all, and we don’t have an EC consultant. In paeds, amazing academics. Consultant will have academic ward rounds, do teachings and do academic meetings.
Supervision:
- Some departments have consultants covering you, and they are very good (e.g. paediatrics). Otherwise you are the only “MO” on call as a comm serve (except for EC- there will be another MO with you).
Clinical Exposure:
- A variety of medical pathologies seen. Lots of trauma (lots and lots… and lots of stabs, and drinking & driving). Gave 4/5 due to much less volume of patients seen compared to metro areas, as it is a rural area.
Departments worked in:
- Paediatrics, Emergency Department - “Paeds = general paeds, NICU, KMC, POPD. You will have plenty of opportunity to intubate, give surfactant, attach vent, UVC insertion, etc. Very academic. Very friendly and competent consultants. Very nice MO’s, and they are supportive, too. You will call alone as a comm serve (after first 1 month of getting used to in paeds). No intern to help you. Consultants will always be available for advice, though.
EC = No consultant. You have another MO, and 1 or 2 interns on call with you. You don’t do shift work, but normal 8h days with calls in EC till the next morning, and then work post-call. Variety of pathologies and lots of trauma. Amazing nursing staff that will do lots of procedures ECG, bloods, ABG, sedation, drips, etc. for you, if you are friendly and respectful. Be nice to them, and they will be nice to you, too.”
Social Scene:
- Most popular restaurant is Spur. My personal favourite was Mam’s, where they sell delicious egg’s benedict. All the foods here are very affordable. We (all comm serves) spent 5 days a week at Crossfit gym (R550pm) +/-30min a day. There’s a natural reserve. Went there but was very disappointed. The Klub also sells some nice food at a good price, and they deliver. Pisa Pizza also delivers, and have some big portions of chicken mayo sandwich for very good price. Essentially, you just eat and gym in your spare time in Vryburg.
Additional Comments:
- Very rural, but much less busy than metro hospitals. Call from home. No Woolworths Food!!! (only Woolworths clothes and sub-par PnP… whenever I went to JHB, I brought a bulk of groceries from Woolies). Rural allowance decent. It’s not safe all around, especially in town, even during the day. So pay attention to your surroundings and travel in a group.
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