The Queensland Health Rural Generalist Pathway: providing a medical workforce for the bush

Sen Gupta, T.K., Manahan, D.L., Lennox, D.R., and Taylor, N.L. (2013) The Queensland Health Rural Generalist Pathway: providing a medical workforce for the bush. Rural and Remote Health, 13 (2). 2319. pp. 1-10.

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Abstract

Introduction: Queensland Health's Rural Generalist Pathway is a supported career pathway for junior doctors to train in rural and remote medicine. The pathway joins evidence with policy to achieve professional recognition, credentialing, and industrial recognition.

Methods: This article describes the principles underpinning the notion of rural generalism, the background to the establishment of the Rural Generalist Pathway in Queensland, Australia, how the pathway has been developed to meet the needs of Queensland's rural and remote communities, the implementation of the pathway, and the implications for other jurisdictions.

Results: In 2007, 30 trainees commenced on the pathway, with total enrolment now of 182 in 2012. Trainees commence at the start of internship, completing their prevocational training component in postgraduate years 1 to 2. After prevocational certification they undertake advanced specialised training in a range of specialties, and then complete vocational training in a rural location, usually in their 4th to 5th postgraduate years. Trainees complete their general practice training through a Regional Training Provider, and achieve vocational registration by completion of appropriate fellowship assessment requirements. The pathway is managed by a geographically dispersed team of educators, clinicians and managers. The Rural Generalist team provide training and career advice, advocate for trainees and assist with negotiating posts. They map progress of trainees through the Vocational Indicative Planning process and arrange other educational activities including Rural Generalist workshops. Applications are often oversubscribed, with the intake growing to 41 in 2012, located at 10 intern training hospitals. In total 90 trainees have completed advanced specialised training as at the end of 2012.

Conclusion: The Rural Generalist Pathway 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 and appears to be proving an attractive choice for medical graduates seeking a challenging and varied career. Early evidence suggests that by recognizing and rewarding the worth of rural and remote practice, this strategy is creating its own supply line. From its initial roll-out in Queensland, rural generalist training continues to generate increased interest and enthusiasm across all Australian states and territories wishing to join this new wave of generalist practice. This new generation of health professionals for a new generation of services has the potential to provide the rural medical workforce the bush needs.

Item ID: 31569
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1445-6354
Keywords: Australia, generalism, pathway, Queensland, rural generalist, rural medical education, vocational training
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When an article is accepted for publication in RRH, all authors are required to sign and return a form assigning copyright to James Cook University, which administers the journal, before publication can proceed. When an article is published, James Cook University grants to the authors the rights to make the final published version of the article available in digital form over the internet on a website under the control of their employer or through any digital repository under the control of their employer. http://www.rrh.org.au/background/InformationForAuthors.asp

Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2014 23:48
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111717 Primary Health Care @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920506 Rural Health @ 100%
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