The rural generalist pathway: preparing our future rural and remote workforce
Prof Tarun Sen Gupta, Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Christian Rowan, Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Leanne Browning. Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Dan Manahan, Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Andrew McKenzie, Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Dale Hanson, Queensland Health, Australia
Ms Natalie Taylor, Queensland Health, Australia
Dr Denis Lennox , Queensland Health, Australia*
Aim: This paper describes the development of the Rural Generalist Pathway, a Queensland Health initiative which provides a fully supported incentive based career pathway for junior doctors wishing to pursue a vocationally registered career in Rural Generalist Medicine.
Overview: The Rural Generalist training pathway provides a sustainable, integrated service and training program, the foundation to supplying the Rural Generalist workforce rural and remote Queensland needs. Developed in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and Queensland Health, the pathway aims to provide advice, support and training to achieve Rural Generalist Medicine Prevocational Certification, and vocational registration whilst ensuring trainees have the confidence and capacity to practise safely in a rural setting. Prevocational Certification assessment includes knowledge, skills, and professional, personal and family readiness to progress to rural practice. Methods of assessment include logbook, term reports, biannual interviews, and attendance at additional educational activities including the Rural Generalist Trainee Workshops.
Results: The first cohort of 44 Trainees who commenced in 2007 completed prevocational assessment at the end of 2008 and will graduate in 2011 as vocationally registered Rural Generalists. The popularity of the program has generated a need to increase the number of new training positions from 30 to 45 in 2010, with a total of 156 trainees enrolled.
Conclusions: Rural Generalist Medicine has been recognised in Queensland as a medical specialty since 2008. This recognition has provided the means to develop an attractive, incentive based career pathway in Rural Generalist Medicine to address rural workforce needs.
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