The unit has a strong focus on education at all stages of professional development, for medical and nursing staff alike. We hold strong links to the University of Otago School of Medicine through the Department of Surgical Sciences, where many of our intensive care specialists are clinical senior lecturers.

Medical Students and Trainee Interns

Medical students from the University of Otago School of Medicine are taught by our intensive care specialists and registrars. Trainee interns rotate through the department as part of their clinical training.

ICU Registrars

We provide a five-day orientation programme covering both critical care and aeromedical retrieval. Registrars attend weekly seminar-based education and fortnightly simulation sessions. Teaching targeted at primary and fellowship examinations for CICM is available. In-house echocardiography and ultrasound teaching is also provided.

Secondments to Anaesthesia are available for registrars in ICU core training to complete CICM training requirements.

Dunedin Hospital has a strong collaborative relationship with the University of Otago, making a number of teaching and research options possible for those keen to pursue their academic careers alongside their clinical work. Statistical support is available for those wishing to complete a project as part of training (e.g. the ACEM 4.10 requirement).

Accreditation

Southern Critical Care is accredited for training in Intensive Care Medicine by CICM (general, trauma, and cardiac), including Core Training and Transition Year training. The unit is also accredited for ACEM critical care training and RACP basic training. The run provides invaluable experience for Surgical Registrars, particularly prior to application for RACS training schemes.

Courses

Our staff run multiple internal and external courses covering a range of critical care topics, including BASIC, RACEplus, advanced critical care echocardiography, and 4i. For information on externally available courses please see Courses.