As an Emergency Medicine (EM) trainee, you can expect a variety of in-depth training in the acute care of children, adolescents, and adults. You will learn how to manage the full spectrum of medical emergencies, becoming an expert in making quick decisions to provide immediate and safe care.

You will work with a variety of other health professionals to coordinate urgent care.

An Emergency Medicine (EM) Physician is responsible for the safe and effective immediate or short-term care of patients. They manage a full spectrum of physical and behavioural emergencies and are experts at identifying and treating critically ill or injured persons.

Apart from the technical skills and experience acquired in training, several skills are crucial in being a successful EM physician. Some of these skills are listed in detail below.

• Experience in several health conditions and treatment options

EM Physicians must have a broad knowledge base of medicine because they are exposed to various unpredictable and often severe health problems every day. Their knowledge base should extend across Anatomy, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology.

• Decision making & problem-solving

To successfully manage an emergency room, EM Physicians need to make quick decisions and solve the problems presented to them by patients. With several competing issues for their attention, EM Physicians must be able to prioritise in order of urgency and coordinate care for those patients efficiently.

• Attention to detail balanced with the ability to see the big picture

Whilst attention to detail is critical in the identification and diagnosis of medical conditions, EM Physicians must also be aware of the bigger picture and prioritise cases based on that.

• Good leadership, with the ability to direct and coordinate other health
  professionals

Great EM Physicians are excellent leaders who can direct and coordinate other health
professionals through effective communication. Exceptional leadership and direction will lead to positive health outcomes for patients.

Although trainees can break up their training across several years, it is not advised to do so.
Pausing the training for 1 year or more will mean the trainee must re-sit some assessments. Meanwhile, taking a break for 2 years or more may result in the trainee revisiting old content and material. Therefore, most trainees complete the Emergency Medicine training program in one block.

The Emergency Medicine Training Program welcomed 147 new applicants in 2021, although the number of trainees selected per year varies. As of 2019, there are 2279 specialists practising in Australia with 250 new trainees.

There are countless reasons why North Queensland is one of the best places on the planet to work, live, and study. No matter what stage or age you are in, Northern Queensland offers a great balance between work and leisure.

Residents here find the North Queensland lifestyle relaxed and laid-back. The people are friendly and welcoming. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, and hiking, and when the sun goes down, there are also many bars, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy.

North Queensland has the convenience of cities close by, all of which have reasonable
housing costs and expansive landscapes to explore nearby. The region combines quality
education and the chance to pursue a relaxed or adventurous lifestyle, depending on your preference. The area has a warm climate all year round, beautiful beaches and rainforests, and is home to a diverse range of cultures and lifestyles, making Northern Queensland hard to beat.

Each regional centre in North Queensland is small enough to escape the crowded nature of big city living, but they still have enough going on for you to socialise and entertain yourself. And with short commute times putting more hours back into your workday, you’ll have plenty of time to explore when offered the chance.

Networking and industry social opportunities frequently happen due to the tight-knit and
collaborative nature of the health and hospital communities here. The vision to improve the health of the communities throughout the region, unites the students, interns, junior doctors, and specialists training and working here. Together we hope to address the shortage of doctors in North Queensland.

As a trainee, you’ll have access to a wide range of hospital and health settings within our training region. All of which are of varying sizes and capabilities offering diverse caseloads and case mix. These training areas include the following health service areas: Cairns, Central West, Mackay, North West, Torres and Cape, and Townsville.

References 

• https://acem.org.au/Content-Sources/Training/Do-you-want-to-become-an-EM-Physician
• https://medinav.health.qld.gov.au/careers/emergency-medicine/emergency-medicine/
• https://acem.org.au/Content-Sources/Training