Boots on the ground in Goondiwindi, aka Wendy's adventure in MM4.
Was it Dr Bruce Chater* who said “if you've seen one rural town, you've seen one rural town”?
Age 60, PGY37, I stepped outside my comfort zone and, for the first time since I worked as an intern for one term in Bundaberg Base Hospital (1988), I worked outside of MM1.
And it was fine.
My skill set was adequate.
The CDM nurse was happy that I "got" CDM.
The bush does need rural generalists, but mostly what they need is general GPs. A well-trained, skilled workforce that can flex to meet a variety of clinical needs. That is you and that is me. The GP workforce.
Every town is different. Every MM1 practice is different. Every MM4 (or MM whatever) practice is different.
My experience won't be yours, but for what it's worth, here is my 2 1/2 cents:
If you are interested in working outside of MM1/MM2 etc, then ask around. There are multiple models - from the one Dr Jo Butterfield is doing as a QHealth/GP Locum 1:2 DIDO from the Sunshine Coast to Tara and the one Dr Maggie Robin used to do 1:4 FIFO GPO roster from Brisbane to Charleville, to the Brisbane GPs who are providing TH support to Goondiwindi Medical Clinic, Drs Yong Suk Jeon and Aye Aung, to the GPs who are working with Dr Sarah McLay in Clermont, to the VIP model being researched and part funded (I think) by UQ https://medical-school.uq.edu.au/.../virtual-integrated... to the work I have started to do in the past month.
If you've missed my previous posts, I am providing TH support one session a week and I will provide F2F services for 1 week at a time 2 - 3 weeks a year.
My choice is to choose a practice, and once I'm confident we are a good fit, to stay (there is no shame in trying something and realising it's not right for you - failure is ALWAYS an option - I usually learn more from what doesn't work than I do from the stuff that does). So from here until retirement, I plan to work with GMC.
Why? Because I was the child of country GPs. Because I have family who live in regional Qld. Because I have a son who was working FIFO in rural and remote parts of Qld. Because there is a need I can fill. Because it worked just fine. Because I can. Because, why not?
If it is of any interest to anyone, I will think this through more formally and come up with some ideas/suggestions/a checklist (those of you who know me know I love a good checklist). Please add your own input/ask questions/reach out.
We have a workforce crisis and the ability to provide telephone/telehealth services from the comfort of your own home is a game changer for the delivery of medical services to some of our fellow Australians. If you link with a practice who have seen the patient in the past 12/12 then Medicare funding follows. You may or may not choose to do F2F work, but it's a great way to see the country and explore other models. Take your kids/partner/parents! Life is too short to be a spectator!!
* Turns out it was Dr Bruce Chater who is well known in Australian rural medical circles who became known for this quote, however the original quote is much older and from an American rural GP, Dr Roger Rosenblatt. With thanks and acknowledgment to Dr Ian Kamerman for knowing and sharing this.
