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rural workforce

The following articles have the tag rural workforce

Rural practice a family-friendly move

JUNIOR female GPs have been urged to consider working in rural Australia as a family-friendly alternative. WA-based GP Dr Rebekah Adams, herself a young mother, will next week address delegates at the 11th National Rural Health Conference in Perth on the issue of young female GPs delaying their plans to start a family in order to build a career in general practice. According to Dr Adams, while it may not be “the norm yet”, some rural Australian towns were leading the way in providing well-supported, flexible practices for young mothers.  “I had basically been told in ...

Nice knowing you: rural GPs last just 3 years

Nice knowing you: rural GPs last just 3 years

RURAL practices have long been painfully aware of the difficulties in retaining staff, but data released last week showed just how bad things are: most  can expect to replace half their GP workforce every three years. A pair of studies commissioned by the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) to assess the success of rural retention strategies has for the first time quantified workforce attrition rates in rural and remote areas. The study, based on surveys of 44 practices across the country, found that rural practices could expect to replace half of their GP workforce every ...

Govt cashes in as GPs snub mental health training

THE Government has saved more than $1.4 million in the first two months of the year on rebates for mental health care plans, as many GPs continue to shun additional training that could earn them higher rebates.  Under new arrangements that began on 1 January, GPs who have completed Level 1 mental health care training are eligible for a rebate of $160.45, while those who have not qualified are eligible for a rebate of just $125.95. According to Medicare data, almost 40% of all rebates for mental health care plans were paid to GPs who had not ...

Isolated GPs trade places, stay sharp

INVOLVING isolated solo GPs in practice exchange programs could improve the overall retention of doctors in remote locations, according to researchers at the University of Sydney. Early results from a program being trialled in NSW, under which isolated GPs trade work and living settings with GPs from group practices, show the experiences gained in a different setting can help isolated GPs sharpen their clinical skills and refresh their career outlook. The program also proved useful in helping isolated doctors to establish valuable peer-support networks, which in turn could support them in staying in remote communities for longer. ...

More GPs are seeking help for stress, RACGP says

THE number of stressed GPs turning to help and counselling support services has risen in a year plagued by natural disasters and the global financial crisis. According to RACGP president Dr Chris Mitchell, anecdotal evidence suggested the number of doctors accessing the college’s GP Support Program had increased noticeably in recent months. “It has been a bugger of a year – there are clearly the financial issues that have been impacting general practice, but also some major disasters, including floods and fires,” Dr Mitchell said. “Those issues make it very hard for us.” The service, ...

Call for rural institute to revamp men’s health policy

RURAL groups have called for the establishment of a rural health research institute to shape a strategic approach to redesigning men’s health policy. In a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Men’s Health, the National Rural Health Alliance listed limited access and reluctance to use Medicare – particularly mental health services – as significant contributors to higher male death rates in rural Australia. The alliance of peak rural health organisations called for a new rural health institute to investigate “barriers to men better managing their own health and to seeking help” as part of a longitudinal ...

More rigorous GP education needed: coroner

RURAL GP access to ongoing education and training has been thrust into the spotlight once again, following a recent coroner’s inquest into the deaths of four patients.  The South Australian coroner’s investigation into the deaths revealed that despite each patient presenting to a GP with acute coronary syndrome, the doctors failed to recognise the symptoms. In his report, deputy state coroner Anthony Schapel recommended that the RACGP and ACRRM include “more rigorous training” on identifying acute coronary syndromes and interpreting ECG results as part of their curricula. There was also confusion over the availability of specialist ...

Rugged conditions deter rural practice

NO-ONE can deny the huge task before the commissioners on the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC), who recently released their interim report. The duty assigned to them is no doubt one of the most critical and overwhelming in the health system today and into the future. That said, it was disappointing to read the interim report and realise they had largely overlooked the number-one priority for fixing the rural health crisis: getting more health professionals to the bush. The commission recognised there is a shortage of health professionals in rural and remote Australia but ...

Health department loses track of rural schemes

THE Federal Health Department has been forced to admit to having failed to monitor the progress and effectiveness of initiatives aimed at improving rural workforce levels. In a damning report released by the Commonwealth’s Australian National Audit Office the department was found to: “[lack] a performance information strategy to inform government and the Parliament about the quality of the health workforce and its distribution across rural and remote Australia.” RDAA president Dr Nola Maxfield said the organisation had been “stunned” by the report, which showed less than one-third of stakeholders felt they were regularly consulted by the ...

Fears government review could spell end of rural initiatives

SUCCESSFUL initiatives that support rural workforce needs could face the axe as a result of a poorly targeted government review, the RDAA has warned. A confidential discussion paper has been distributed to key stakeholder groups as part of the Federal Government’s year-long review of all rural health programs. However, RDAA CEO Steve Sant said the paper contained insufficient detail for rural groups to provide meaningful feedback. “The questions [the paper asks] are like ‘Should we [rationalise] scholarship programs?’ and ‘Should we consolidate other programs?’,” Mr Sant told MO . “Surely we should look at those ...

More doctors first, then health reform

GETTING additional GPs into a community can significantly increase life expectancy. This international research finding – while not surprising – does emphasise the crucial role of primary care in improving the health of all Australians, particularly those living in the bush. It also underlines why reforms for this critical sector must build on what’s already working well – not only what isn’t – and why many more health professionals are needed across Australia to ensure primary care can deliver maximum bang for the healthcare buck. Primary care reform is firmly on the Rudd government’s agenda. ...

Rural towns need an image overhaul to attract graduates

ENSURING rural and remote Australia gets its fair share of new medical graduates is high on the agenda for new RDAA president Dr Nola Maxfield. A GP with the Wonthaggi Medical Group in south-east Victoria, Dr Maxfield said rural doctors' associations needed to make sure the new graduates didn’t just end up in metropolitan areas. “It’s not just about doctors, it’s about rural communities. If rural Australia is not going to be an exciting, rewarding place for doctors, they are going to be even less likely to go there and there will be even fewer services for ...