Rheumatology

Competencies

• Two domains that are axes rather than topics: knowledge and skill competencies are referenced to Domain 2, and the assessments to Domain 1
• Domain 1 is the fundamentals of practice: clinical decision making, diagnosis in rheumatology, and therapeutics in rheumatology
• Domain 2 runs general knowledge, basic sciences, clinical sciences, therapeutics, clinical skills, technical skills, optional skills and attitudes
• Four core technical skills: aspiration of joints and bursae, injection of joints and soft tissue, synovial fluid analysis under polarised light, and interpretation of musculoskeletal imaging, bone scintigraphy and bone densitometry
• Seven further procedures are published as optional and may be regulated at a national level: biopsies of named tissues and organs, performing bone densitometry, musculoskeletal ultrasound, capillaroscopy, electromyography, arthroscopy, and injection under imaging guidance
• Interpreting bone densitometry is core and performing it is optional, which is the one skill that sits in both lists
• Every objective names how it is assessed, among them the logbook, the mini clinical evaluation exercise, and direct observation of supervised procedures
• By the end: able to provide unsupervised comprehensive medical care in rheumatology, at consultant level

To complete

• At least 24 months of core training in accredited clinical training positions, completed at separate sites
• At least 12 months of the core training undertaken in Australia or New Zealand
• Core training at accredited settings only, with your individual training program approved prospectively under the Progression through Training Policy
• Supervisors nominated from the list of those who meet the supervision requirements of the program
• Certification of each training period by the Training Program Committee and the Training Program Subcommittee for rheumatology
• Re-registration every year, by 28 February for the first half or the whole of the year, and by 31 August for the second half

To complete

• An approved non-core training position
• Admission to Fellowship follows a recommendation from the committee and subcommittee, so completing the time is not the same as completing the program