Practice Differences

In general, the same standards of care apply.  People get about the same number of CT's, xrays, antibiotics, etc.  The names of some of the medications are different, but that only takes a few days to get used to. As mentioned in the house officer section, you are likely to spend the majority of your time in a supervisory role. Many of the nurses don't put in IV's and/or they expect the lower level house officers to do it.  I spent my first few weeks putting in lines, because it seemed the nurses expected it of me, but I probably didn't need to do so.  I also put lines in, gave meds (most hospitals have just a locked closet, no pyxis), and saw patients when it was busy. This was greatly appreciated.

As for technology in 2007 at a public hospital in Queensland,labs could be viewed on the computer, but the chart was paper, and the xrays were printed, and there wasn't a pyxis in the Emergency Department. But just as things can change fast here, they can in Australia, so the hospital you work in may have the most advanced stuff, especially if it is a private hospital.

As you probably already know, Australia has a public health system. People have free medical care, and can purchase private extra insurance or if they are veterans have what is called DVA Gold.  Those with DVA Gold or private insurance can go to many of the private hospitals. In the public system, there are delays in getting some elective procedures (cholecystectomy, etc).