The Medical journal of Australia
-
Explore stakeholder perspectives of the benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice in distributed locations via the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). ⋯ The RVTS model was perceived to offer diverse benefits for different system stakeholders which could improve quality of learning, service delivery and community care. It also aligned with key policy directions for a distributed and sustainable generalist workforce under the goals of the National Medical Workforce Strategy 2021-2031 and the directions set by the independent review of overseas health practitioner regulatory settings led by Robyn Kruk. However, models like the RVTS largely rely on distribution levers to recruit more doctors to the locations it supports.
-
To develop theory about how and why the supervision and support model used by the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) addresses the professional and non-professional needs of doctors (including many international medical graduates) who are training towards general practice or rural generalist fellowship while based in the same rural or remote practice. ⋯ This theory depicts how a remotely delivered supervision and support model addresses the place and practice challenges faced by different doctors, meeting their professional and non-professional needs. The participants felt valued as part of a special professional group delivering essential primary health care services in challenging locations. The theory could be adapted and applied to support other rural and remote doctors.
-
To explore the policies of key organisations in Australian health and medical research on defining, collecting, analysing, and reporting data on sex and gender, and to identify barriers to and facilitators of developing and implementing such policies. ⋯ Most of the organisations included in our study had policies regarding the integration of sex and gender in health and medical research. The implementation and evaluation of these policies is necessary to ensure that consideration of sex and gender is adequate during all stages of the research process.
-
To explore the results of a targeted recruitment strategy designed to attract and retain new doctors in remote and Aboriginal medical services where they can access Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) training and support to qualify as general practitioners. ⋯ The Targeted Recruitment Strategy is still maturing but the early results suggest it is a unique and proactive model for attracting and improving access to general practitioners in places with high needs. It could be strengthened through formal agreements between communities and agencies, ensuring coordinated implementation, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and developing clear pathways for risk and quality management.
-
To explore continuity of service and longer term retention outcomes of participants of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). ⋯ Strong service continuity outcomes have been achieved by the RVTS, which supports mostly international medical graduates in locations typified by the highest workforce turnover. This suggests that continuity of service could be improved for remote and First Nations communities through place-based retention-focused programs like the RVTS.