Elective Years 3 and 4: Occupational Medicine

Department: Medicine
Title:

Occupational Medicine

Diversification = Subspecialty Internal Medicine
Location: University Terrace
Duration: to be discussed with the placement contact at the University of Alberta
Contact:

University of Alberta Students: Placement Contact Darlene Glaser mepocmed@ualberta.ca

Visiting Medical Students: visitingelectives@ualberta.ca
Overview:

Occupational Medicine Elective

Type of Elective: Broadly based introduction to the specialty with various rotations to a number of organizations involved in providing occupational health services and work-related injury or illness services, including off site or industry placements.

Organization: The schedule will be established in accordance with the placement contact in order to offer a personalized educational experience based on the applicant's preferences. The typical schedule would include:

  • Participation in the Occupational and Environmental Health Clinic at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic (Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon),
  • Off-site placements in organizations such as Workers Compensation Board (WCB), Millard Health, EWI (ergonomic provider), industry, and occupational hygiene
  • The applicant will be invited to educational events that occur during their elective such as Academic Half Days in Occupational Medicine or other conferences.

Duties: Depends on rotation but may involve assisting in individual clinical assessments including fitness for work assessments, assisting in screening and surveillance programs, attending meetings, and review of complex files and preparation of reports on the causation and management of work-related diseases and injuries.

Typical Topics:

  • Taking a work history
  • Classifying hazards in the workplace
  • Identifying sources of information on workplace exposures
  • Work-related disease and injuries
  • Environmental hazards arising from work
  • Assessment of causation for possibly work-related illness and injury
  • Assessment of impairment and disability
  • Planning rehabilitation and return to work

Education: The applicant will be invited to participate in the Academic Half Day Friday mornings. The student may also be asked to prepare and present in teaching sessions held at the WCB. Opportunity to attend the Occupational Physicians of Edmonton Third Wednesday Club monthly
Objectives:

Completing this elective should enable you to:

  • introduce the student to the expanding field of occupational medicine, and its implications for his or her future practice.
  • provide the student with more detailed knowledge in selected areas applicable to practice, career, or research goals.
Additional Notes:

Most placements do not require night call but you should be prepared to observe emergencies or unusual incidents regardless of when they occur. You may be privy to sensitive information in the industries you may visit and must maintain the same standards of confidentiality as for patient information.

Visiting Students: NETCARE ACCESS REQUIRED FOR THIS ELECTIVE:

Students MUST request access for Netcare and/or Connect Care A MINIMUM OF 6 WEEKS before the elective start date. Students who do not place this request before the 6 week deadline will not be granted access. Once visiting students have applied through the AFMC Student Portal and their elective is confirmed, a confirmation email will automatically be generated with further instructions and the online training link for Netcare and/or Connect Care.
Last updated: February 21, 2020