POSITIVE IMPACT OF RURAL ACADEMIC FAMILY PRACTICES ON RURAL MEDICAL RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• Published in: The Australian journal of rural health Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 29 - 33
• Main Authors: Wilkinson, David, Symon, Brian, Newbury, Jonathan, Marley, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2001; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Academic Medical Centers; academic practice; Academic staff; Australia; Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee; Family Practice - manpower; Female; General practice; General practitioners; Humans; Male; Medical practitioners; Medically Underserved Area; Models, Organizational; Nursing; Personnel Selection; Personnel Turnover; Professional Practice Location; Recruitment; Retention; Rural areas; Rural conditions; rural family practice; Rural Health Services - manpower; South Australia; South Australia: Social conditions; South Australia
• ISSN: 1038-5282; 1440-1584
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1584.2001.00293.x

Difficulty recruiting and retaining doctors in rural and remote Australia is well recognised. Here, we describe the positive impact on recruitment and retention of general practitioners of a network of university‐linked rural family practices in South Australia. Between August 1995 and October 1999, 17 doctors were recruited; eight (47%) were female and six (35%) worked part time. Four doctors left the practices after an average of 20 months service (annual turnover of 6%). Of the two general practice registrars placed in the single accredited practice, one has since joined the practice and the other will do so in 2000. Five doctors are overseas‐trained (24%) and four are expected to stay permanently. Rural academic family practices have successfully recruited and retained medical staff in this setting over the past few years. This model of practice may be a useful recruitment and retention strategy for other parts of Australia.