Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine

Formal Course Requirements
Practical Experience
Assessment
Competencies
Training Manual

Training for the ANZCA Certificate in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine contains three main elements: course work, research and practical experience designed to attain the major objectives of training.

Attainment of the Diploma in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, as conducted under the auspices of the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS), is a pre-requisite for certification (for further information go to www.spums.org.au). The SPUMS Diploma is the only local qualification relevant to the field and is well established. The SPUMS organisation maintains a sophisticated system of research evaluation and review under the auspices of an Education Officer elected by the members, and a reviewed publication standard project is a requirement for this diploma.

Formal Course Requirements

Two periods of formal instruction --composed of the two distinct sub-disciplines of Diving medicine and Hyperbaric medicine-- must be successfully undertaken to satisfy the requirements of the certification. Each of these must be of a minimum duration of two weeks. One course focuses on diving medicine (e.g., Royal Adelaide Hospital, HMAS Penguin), while the other is primarily hyperbaric medicine-orientated (e.g., the SIG/ANZHMG Course). Courses must meet a minimum standard as required by the SPUMS Diploma.

One of these courses should be undertaken early in training, as required by the ANZCA Diploma, while the other may be completed at any time up to the end of training. This gives a total of four weeks formal, didactic training from a wide range of specialists in the field.

Practical Experience

The Diploma also requires six months of formal, full-time hyperbaric facility work experience and a further one year full-time equivalent (FTE) of facility training at a location accredited by a particular ANZCA special interest group. This gives a total of 18 months of practical experience. You may choose to satisfy this requirement over a longer period of time rather than at full-time. This is acceptable, as long as you achieve the equivalent of 18 months FT. 

In addition to a time commitment, you must keep a workbook, documenting a minimum number of essential practical tasks be completed. Each entry requires counter-signature by a qualified supervisor.  Here is ANZCA's suggested range of experience and repetitions for your workbook: 

 
*Indicates item that may be simulated.

Assessment

Processes for certification:

• Attainment of the SPUMS Diploma of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine (research and formal training component);
• Satisfactory completion of the workbook; and
• Successful negotiation of an examination to be sat at or near the end of the training period. This examination covers knowledge in the areas identified in the curriculum.

Competencies

Successful completion of the certification process will require the candidate to demonstrate a number of achieved competencies:

1. Satisfactory level of understanding of the hyperbaric physical environment.
2. Ability to develop a rational approach to the assessment, diagnosis, selection, treatment and outcome assessment of patients presenting for consideration of hyperbaric therapy.
3. Ability to diagnose and manage the complications of hyperbaric therapy.
4. Practical ability to perform investigations and treatment relevant to hyperbaric patients, including insertion of chest drains, performance and interpretation of transcutaneous oxygen mapping studies and conduct of assessments of fitness to dive.
5. Satisfactory level of understanding of the diving environment and the safe conduct of underwater diving.
6. Physical fitness to enter the hyperbaric environment.
7. Understanding of the administrative and quality management commitments required for the safe and effective conduct of hyperbaric therapy.
8. Understanding of the research process as it relates to diving and hyperbaric medicine.
    

The ANZCA Diving and Hyperbaric Program: