Staff Specialist Geriatric Medicine in Hobart

Our Aged Care Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital has 106 inpatient beds for acute older persons’ care across 3 sites in central Hobart – 60 older persons’ acute care beds, 36 subacute beds (Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM)), plus 10 beds for patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia requiring slow stream rehabilitation; including an additional 12 bed GEM at Home service.

The Team Royal Hobart Hospital is Tasmania’s largest hospital and major referral centre. As the major clinical teaching and research centre, RHH collaborates with the University of Tasmania and other institutions. All our services work closely together to focus on delivering excellence in healthcare to achieve improved outcomes for our consumers, our workforce, and the Tasmanian community.

There is strategic vision for an Older Person’s Emergency Department geriatrician role. The Aged Care specialists provide multiple services to inpatients (including a consultative service and shared care orthogeriatrics model of 10-20 patients) and outpatients, as well as provide a robust educational program. Clinics include memory, falls and balance and movement disorders. All clinics involve Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and are supported by a dedicated aged care clinic nurse and closely associated with the Community Rehabilitation Unit which is co-located on the site. Clinics include a mix of face-to-face and telehealth (video/telephone) consultations. There is also the option to participate in regional TAZREACH Outreach clinics. There are opportunities to pursue research interests as part of this role. The department provides a strong education program to undergraduates, allied health, nursing and postgraduates. There is strong collegiality, stability, and energy within the group of 17 geriatricians.

The Aged Care Department has an establishment of 9 FTE registrar positions which includes up to 4 advanced trainees in geriatrics, with the remainder being registrars in Geriatric Medicine. These positions are supported by 6 interns in acute geriatrics and 1 intern in orthogeriatrics; and 6 resident medical officers across the subacute services.

The successful applicant will provide services in Geriatric Medicine including diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The role also includes participation in an after-hours roster and on-call service, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs, and continuous quality improvement activities.

You will need:

• To hold specialist registration
• To demonstrate commitment to personal and professional development
• To demonstrate a commitment to the provision of an interdisciplinary approach to clinical care

Hobart has become a cultural centre, with year-round art and music events and restaurants serving gourmet local produce. Excellent educational opportunities and easy access to outdoor pursuits make this the perfect place to raise a family. Enjoy a more tranquil, community-orientated lifestyle while remaining only a short flight from the busy mainland. Experience beautiful beaches and pristine alpine regions where you can enjoy a vast variety of sports and outdoor activities to suit everyone on the doorstep of a bustling capital city while enjoying the advantages of a short commute and excellent work-life balance.

In Tasmania you will be encouraged to be yourself, to learn, to grow and to develop meaning in your work. You will have a powerful connection to your patients and your colleagues, and the community will encourage your success. Our isolation helps drive a culture of creation and human connection, which feels both old fashioned and… like the only future worth pursuing.

Permanent full-time day worker position, working up to 76 hours per fortnight, commencing as soon as you can join our team.

Applicants should note that, for a period of twelve months from the date of publication, this selection process may be used to fill subsequent or similar full time, part time and casual vacancies.

Successful applicants will be required to meet the essential criteria:

• Holds specialist registration; or
• Is a registered Medical Practitioner who is an International Medical Graduate (IMG) who is on the specialist pathway; or
• Is a registered Medical Practitioner who is an International Medical Graduate (IMG) who has a recognised overseas specialist qualification and is assessed as having sufficient experience in the speciality.

Registration/licences that are essential requirements of this role must remain current and valid at all times whilst employed in this role and the status of these may be checked at any time during employment. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that registration/licences remain current and to advise the Employer if their circumstances change. This includes notifying the Employer if a registration/licence is revoked, cancelled or has its conditions altered.

Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellent are the key values to work in the Department of Health. We strongly encourage applicants from key communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living with disabilities.