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An innovative GP matchmaking pilot program has been launched to help attract more doctors to regional areas across Australia.
Key points:
- Practice to Practice aims to link rural medical centres and GPs with urban-based doctors
- Once matched, GPs can share resources and support each other
- Opportunities to work as locums are also available
Practice to Practice was launched this week by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to connect practices and GPs in diverse geographical areas.
Dr Kate Davey has been a rural practitioner for almost 40 years. She's based in the North East Victorian town of Wangaratta but has worked across practices in Benalla, Whitfield and Moyhu.
As she neared retirement, Dr Davey was faced with a dilemma — she did not want to leave her patients without a GP to care for them, but no-one wanted to take over her job in the regions.
"Basically we need good GPs who are well trained," she said.
Supplied: The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
)Dr Davey said attracting GPs to rural and regional areas had always been a significant challenge.
"I think there's a concern by some of my metro colleagues that possibly you have to be a super doctor to work in the rural environment with high-class skills on absolutely everything," Dr Davey said.
How it works
The program enables urban practices and GPs to match with their counterparts in rural and remote Australia.
They're able to share skills and support each other, maximising quality services for patients across the country.
It's hoped the program will benefit GPs by creating professional development opportunities, providing peer support, as well as offering the opportunity to work as a locum in the matched practice.
"We hope we can encourage people to come and test it out and find out it's not so scary and there are huge benefits when you're working," Dr Davey said.
"And we can tailor our practice to our interest and we will find that there is good support for us to do that."
Telehealth not the solution
The pandemic saw a rise in telehealth appointments which somewhat helped alleviate the pressures of GP shortages in regional areas.
However, Dr Davey said there were still limitations.
"General practice is about relations and seeing patients in the flesh," she said.
More than 40 practices expressed interest in the program before its launch.