RACGP Rural 2
Track 13
| Friday, October 27, 2023 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:35 PM |
| Meeting Room C4.5 |
Speaker
Dr John Buckley
Member of RACGP Rural Council; President of GPME
RACGP Rural & General Practice Medical Education Inc
Forum Revival: If our rural health systems are in crisis then General Practitioners and Family Doctors are the solution
2:00 PM - 3:35 PMSummary
Health systems are in crisis in many countries. Resources are exhausted and there is a backlog of routine and preventive care with subsequent consequences, even more evident in remote and rural areas.
GPs/family doctors have long been the efficient 'engine room' of health systems. GPs have a wide range of existing skills, are resourceful, fast learners, capable of multi-tasking in one care episode and can function autonomously and independently across a wide range of care.
This forum highlights examples of general practice leadership in the recovery of health systems, prompting discussion about influencing policy so as to recognise and activate these powerful health resources.
Recovery should be led by general practice, most effectively in rural settings. Three areas will be presented to prompt wider facilitated discussion:
1. Mental health – despite the policy approach and resource allocation viewed at government level, most mental health care occurs in general practice, often as part of consultations involving other aspects of health care and often, therefore, under-recognised. This is especially highlighted even more at times of local or national disaster where general practice absorbs the added burden within their communities.
2. Efficient service delivery case example – a GP working in a regional hospital is approached to help with a Mirena insertion clinic with a long waiting list. Within months, the waiting list is zero. Normal hospital processes could not have achieved this.
3. Rural Generalist (RG) – Remote and rural communities suffer ongoing challenges with access to secondary health care. The traditional 'do everything' rural practitioner has been declining. The resurgence in formal rural generalist training is one answer to the needs of remote and rural communities. Case example: In a remote setting a GP RG with additional skills in paediatrics was able to greatly expand capacity of a visiting paediatric service.
GPs/family doctors have long been the efficient 'engine room' of health systems. GPs have a wide range of existing skills, are resourceful, fast learners, capable of multi-tasking in one care episode and can function autonomously and independently across a wide range of care.
This forum highlights examples of general practice leadership in the recovery of health systems, prompting discussion about influencing policy so as to recognise and activate these powerful health resources.
Recovery should be led by general practice, most effectively in rural settings. Three areas will be presented to prompt wider facilitated discussion:
1. Mental health – despite the policy approach and resource allocation viewed at government level, most mental health care occurs in general practice, often as part of consultations involving other aspects of health care and often, therefore, under-recognised. This is especially highlighted even more at times of local or national disaster where general practice absorbs the added burden within their communities.
2. Efficient service delivery case example – a GP working in a regional hospital is approached to help with a Mirena insertion clinic with a long waiting list. Within months, the waiting list is zero. Normal hospital processes could not have achieved this.
3. Rural Generalist (RG) – Remote and rural communities suffer ongoing challenges with access to secondary health care. The traditional 'do everything' rural practitioner has been declining. The resurgence in formal rural generalist training is one answer to the needs of remote and rural communities. Case example: In a remote setting a GP RG with additional skills in paediatrics was able to greatly expand capacity of a visiting paediatric service.
Takeaways
1. Recognise that GPs/family doctors are in the best position to lead recovery in our health systems
2. Acknowledge that rural and remote communities have the greatest need and discuss how GP leadership can be most effective in these settings.
3. Discuss how health policy needs to be influenced to recognise and utilise the strengths of general practice/family medicine.
2. Acknowledge that rural and remote communities have the greatest need and discuss how GP leadership can be most effective in these settings.
3. Discuss how health policy needs to be influenced to recognise and utilise the strengths of general practice/family medicine.
Biography
