Resources for Junior Medical Officers

junior medical officer

Are you ok? JMO Health

A new website to promote the health and wellbeing of Junior Medical Officers

This website contains self-assessment toolst give you a good idea of how you are going:

ProQOL - Professional Quality of Life
Kessler 10 (K10)

There are also a series of vignettes which describe some of the unique things JMOs commonly face along with tips on how to deal with them.

The website also has suggestions about looking after yourself.

http://www.jmohealth.org.au

Health and Wellbeing Guide for Junior Medical Officers

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away: a health and wellbeing guide for Junior Medical Officers", Royal Hobart Hospital Tasmania. Developed by The Postgraduate Medical Education Council of Tasmania. Free download at: http://www.pmct.org.au/JMO/health-and-wellbeing-guide-for-junior-medical-officers.html.

Topics covered include:

Background: are doctors healthier?
Self care
- What does self care involve?
- Caring for yourself
Ways to stay well
- Work Well
- Move Well
- Eat Well
- Think Well
Support for Junior Medical Officers
- Medical support
- Professional support
- Personal support
Resources and contacts
Recommended reading

JMO Survival Guide

Following taken from the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia website - WA JMO Committee & Forum - JMO Charter 2010: http://www.pmcwa.health.wa.gov.au/wajmo/charter_help.cfm

6. Where do I go for help? Resources and Supports

Professional

Intern year (as well as other JMO years) can be a challenging time and it may test your clinical confidence and knowledge many times over! A good junior doctor is one that knows how and when to ask for help. Other interns can be a great source of support and learning. Call on your residents, who should have many memories about being an intern. Registrars and consultants are always around for help and teaching, however it can sometimes be a matter of finding one with time. Your medical education officer can often arrange a bit of extra support or teaching for you. The Director of Postgraduate Medical Education is the person to talk to if you have problems with your rotation, personal issues or any other problem affecting your work.

Personal Health and Wellbeing

Talk to someone! If you, or a colleague are finding things overwhelming and/ or you are unwell, the key message is “talk to someone about it”. The second point is “ no matter how much you feel it – you are not alone”. Even though you may feel as though you are the only one who feels like they are floundering or dipping beneath the surface of coping, chances are you that you are not. There are some great contact points and resources around to help us as it is known that the early years of being a doctor is an intense and frequently stressful.

Colleague of First Contact (Doctor’s Health Advisory Service in WA)
07 9321 3098
An independent, confidential, 24-hour service staffed by experienced doctors. Calls can be anonymous and made by the person themselves, a family member, colleague or friend.
GP
You must have your own GP! The “GPs for Doctors” program provides information on self-care and a list of GPs who have a special interest in doctors as patients.

Contacts:

Kelli Porter
GP Wellness Project Officer
Fremantle GP Network
Tel: 07 9319 0555
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr Irene Fruzynski
GP Adviser
Fremantle GP Network
Tel: 07 9364 6633 (surgery)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Employee Assistance Program (for public sector employees)
1800 337 068
A professional and completely confidential counselling service is provided by ITIM, either over the telephone or in person, and is available 24 hours a day. Employees and immediate family members may receive up to 6 sessions for any issue where counselling is required. Your employer does not even find out who accesses this service.
Department of Postgraduate Medical Education
The Director of Postgraduate Medical Education and Medical Education Officer at your hospital are always available to discuss any personal or work related concerns.
Australian Medical Association (AMAWA)
9273 3000

Industrial

If you are having issues with your pay, working hours, rosters etc, there are a few places you can call on for help. As always, a first port of call may be your immediate senior staff member. Depending on the situation, this may not always be the ideal person to ask for help. Next up the list to chat to would be your medical education officer, who as you know from earlier in the guidebook, spends a lot of time looking after you. While your friendly MEO may not be able to directly help you, they may know where to point you. Industrial issues sometimes go beyond all these points and then the place to go for help is the AMA. They spend many hours representing and fighting for the industrial rights of junior doctors. The way to get help from them is easy – all you need do is be a member and then you can contact them any time with any problem.

Medico-legal

Issues of a medico-legal nature as a JMO can be quite stressful. In general, it is always better to seek advice earlier rather than later, even if you never end up needing the help. Your immediate senior staff are helpful in these situations for debriefing and support. Your MEO can help direct you to appropriate staff within the hospital (such as the staff in Legal) for your situation. Finally, always make sure you have an up to date membership of a Medical Defence Organisation (MDO) and give them a call straight away.

AMA Survey Report on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing

This report presents the findings of the AMA's survey of the health and wellbeing of 914 junior doctors at the postgraduate year 2 level and above across Australia and New Zealand. To freely download the report, go to: AMA Junior Doctor Health & Wellbeing

AMA Work-life flexibility survey - report of findings

This report summarises the findings of a 2007 survey of junior and senior-salaried public hospital doctors from across Australia. The report provides important information and feedback on public hospital doctors' access to flexible working and training arrangements and their future aspirations for work-life balance. To freely download the report, go to: AMA Work Life Flexibility Report 2007

Creating a Culture of Care - Junior doctor well-being in hospital settings

This review of the scientific literature establishes what normal working conditions are for junior doctors in Australia, and the effect of these conditions on their well-being. To freely download the review, go to the RACGP webpage - RACGP Healthy doctor initiatives: http://www.racgp.org.au/peersupport

The Student and the Junior Doctor in Distress - "Our Duty of Care"

Proceedings of a Conference of the Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils 19–20 July 2001. MJA 2002; 177 (1 Suppl): S1-S32. Free download at: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_01_010702/suppl_010702.html.