Wonthaggi

Core rotations

  • Acute Care

    Bass Coast Health (BCH) has a purpose-built public-funded ED with 28 treatment spaces, managing 17,000 presentations each year. BCH’s ED is a FACEM-led unit with a Clinical Director of Emergency Services. Students completing an ED rotation at BCH will be attached to the emergency care team and gain experience in treating patients presenting to the ED with varied illnesses and injuries. Students will experience all aspects of emergency medicine, including triage, resuscitation and general consultations across a range of patients. During this rotation, students will develop their capacity to assess and manage an emergency patient in a regional/rural environment. The department runs an active teaching program for undergraduates, junior doctors, registrars and consultants including weekly half-day teaching with a consultant emergency physician.

  • Aged Care

    Students completing their aged care placement at Bass Coast Health (BCH) will be placed in the 10 bed sub-acute inpatient service that provides geriatrics, rehabilitation and palliative programs led by consultant geriatricians and supported by an advanced trainee in geriatric medicine. The Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) program provides a slow stream rehabilitation program, catering for older people with chronic or complex conditions associated with ageing, cognitive dysfunction, chronic illness or disability. The rehabilitation program involves patients and families in goal setting for rehabilitative outcomes with the aim for patients to reach optimal health and quality of life by restoring independence. There is also an opportunity to be part of outpatient general geriatric clinics and the residential aged care in-reach service. The sub-acute inpatient unit also provides Palliative Care. This program aims to assist people with life-limiting illnesses to achieve symptom control and strives to meet their spiritual, emotional and practical needs in a holistic way. Where possible, the team works with the patient, their family and community services to assist the patient to remain at home. The palliative care beds are supported by the regional palliative care service, including a palliative care physician. Students will learn valuable skills in patient assessment, aged care placement processes, rehabilitation, admission and discharge, multidisciplinary patient care and referral processes. Students will also gain additional experience in venepuncture, IV cannulation, IDC insertion and care, and medication management.Students completing their aged care rotation at BCH will have the opportunity to participate in medical education teaching that is offered to all medical staff at BCH. This includes weekly advertised education sessions, such as intern teaching, journal clubs and grand rounds.

  • Medicine

    Bass Coast Health (BCH) has a 26-bed inpatient unit. Acute medical unit services at BCH are led by the GP on ward service (GPM) and the registrars that care for medical inpatients. Students completing a medical rotation at BCH will be supervised by the medical team. Students will gain experience in all aspects of inpatient medical care, including enhancing their understanding of patients and their individual care requirements and how living in a regional setting may impact illness/care needs. Part of the medicine program includes clinical support to Hospital in the Home and the Integrated Treatment Unit, where patients are admitted as day cases for infusions or procedures such as ascites and pleural taps. Students will work closely with their supervisors to develop the skills to assess and manage a medical inpatient in a regional/rural environment.Students completing their medicine rotation at BCH will have the opportunity to participate in medical education teaching that is offered to all medical staff at BCH. This includes weekly advertised education sessions, such as intern teaching, journal clubs and grand rounds.

  • Surgery

    Bass Coast Health (BCH) has a 26-bed inpatient unit, two operating theatres, an anaesthetic recovery room and a day procedure recovery room. Services offered at BCH include dental surgery, ENT, endoscopy, general surgery, O&G, ophthalmic, orthopaedic, plastics and urology. Students completing a surgical rotation at Bass Coast will be attached to the surgical team in the hospital. The team cares for pre and post-operative surgical inpatients. Students will gain experience in all aspects of inpatient surgical care, including enhancing their understanding of patients and their individual care requirements, and how living in a regional setting may impact their illness/care needs. Students completing a surgical rotation will spend time in busy operating theatres and consulting rooms.Students will also participate in the post-operative care of patients who require overnight or longer stays post-elective surgery, under the direct supervision of the anaesthetic unit and, indirectly, the treating surgeon. Students will work closely with their supervisors to develop the capacity to assess and manage surgical inpatients and provide perioperative services in a regional/rural environment.Students completing their aged care rotation at BCH will have the opportunity to participate in medical education teaching that is offered to all medical staff at BCH. This includes weekly advertised education sessions, such as intern teaching, journal clubs and grand rounds.

Speciality rotations

  • Ophthalmology

    This rotation offers opportunities for Year 5D students to be directly involved in a busy eye clinic under the supervision of a varied group of consultants. Bass Coast Eye Centre has four ophthalmologists with a range of sub-specialties. All are ophthalmic surgeons operating at Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi and Gippsland Southern Health Service, Leongatha. The Eye Centre provides ophthalmic services to clients throughout the region. Supervision will be one-on-one and will provide ample opportunities to be mentored, along with access to education opportunities offered at the Bass Coast Eye Centre.Students completing an ophthalmology speciality rotation will gain hands-on experience in eye examinations, including visual acuity testing and slit lamp examination, and recognising and managing common eye conditions. Students will also have the opportunity to better understand the impacts of systemic diseases and ocular manifestations, along with better understanding the role that eye examination can have in early detection of many illnesses.

  • Oncology

    The Integrated Cancer Services Unit at Bass Coast Health (BCH) provides ambulatory medical and haematology oncology services under the leadership of consultant oncologists and haematologists with links to Alfred Health. Day chemotherapy treatments and outpatient clinics including radiation oncology are provided to patients. Students attached to this unit will work with the consultants treating a wide range of patients living with cancer in a rural setting. Students will learn about treatment options, cancer staging, types of cancer, along with gaining experience in critical communication skills such as delivering difficult news. Students will also have the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary team, such as medical oncologists, surgeons, specialist nurses and palliative care teams, to provide holistic patient care.Students completing their speciality rotation at BCH will have the opportunity to participate in medical education teaching that is offered to all medical staff at BCH. This includes weekly advertised education sessions, such as intern teaching, journal clubs and grand rounds.

  • Anaesthetics

    Bass Coast Health (BCH) has two theatres, one post-anaesthetic recovery room and one day surgery recovery room. Services are provided by two specialist anaesthetists and a registrar. Anaesthesia is a practical specialty and the majority of the student’s time will be spent in theatres. Students will be rostered to be with an anaesthetist and will get experience in intubation, cannulation, anaesthetic techniques and protocols. Students will also spend time in recovery with the nursing staff, have exposure to pre-anaesthetic clinics, and participate in pain rounds.Students completing their speciality rotation at BCH will have the opportunity to participate in medical education teaching that is offered to all medical staff at BCH. This includes weekly advertised education sessions, such as intern teaching, journal clubs and grand rounds.