Manahan, Dan, Sen Gupta, Tarun, Lennox, Denis, Taylor, Natalie, Rowan, Christian, Hanson, Dale, McKenzie, Andrew, Telfer, James, and Browning, Leanne (2011) The rural generalis: a new generation of health professionals providing the rural medical workforce the bush needs. In: Proceedings of the11th National Rural Health Conference. pp. 1-9. From: 11th National Rural Health Conference, 13-16 March 2011, Perth, Australia.

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Abstract

Rural generalist medicine was recognised in Queensland as a medical discipline of specialist equivalence in 2008. Since the introduction of the career pathway in 2007, approximately 140 trainees have commenced training on this education continuum to rural generalist status.

The Rural Generalist Pathway—which includes a challenging prevocational start to the career, the opportunity to specialise in a procedural skill or skills of interest and obtain general practice vocational training in a rural setting—is certainly proving an attractive choice for those searching for a challenging and varied career.

Although currently a Queensland phenomenon, this unique and exciting career pathway continues to generate increased interest and enthusiasm across all Australian states and territories now wishing to join this new wave of generalist practice. This new generation of health professionals for a new generation of services will, in turn, provide the rural medical workforce the bush needs.

As the number of trainees increases, so in turn does the competition for advanced skills training posts. The pursuit to identify, accredit and develop not only a range, but an appropriate number of advanced skills training posts is now a major focus and challenge to the ongoing expansion of the training pathway. A collaborative approach to identifying posts, selecting appropriate applicants via an open merit selection process and providing ongoing orientation and support throughout the advanced skills training year is currently a major state wide project of the pathway.

A significant outcome of the pathway currently being researched concerns the advanced skill(s) being pursued including identifying how many trainees go on to use the skills, in what location(s), and for how long.

This paper will identify and report on the outcomes of the research into the advanced skills being pursued and used by rural generalists in Queensland and the new collaborative state wide approach to securing, selecting and supporting advanced skills trainees. It will also outline applicability of the concept of the rural generalist in other jurisdictions, and perhaps in other disciplines.

Item ID:	19123
Item Type:	Conference Item (Non-Refereed Research Paper)
ISBN:	978-1-921219-20-7
ISSN:	1445-3363
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2011 00:47
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920506 Rural Health @ 100%
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