| Project Objectives / Summary:
In order to improve the interface between General Practice and Public Health and to promote population health activities in the general practice setting, a training model was developed which placed a population health registrar within a Division of General Practice.
AIM:
To identify opportunities to enhance the interface between Australian General Practice and Public health practice and encourage general practitioners to take on more population health activities within their practice
METHOD:
The project was developed between the North Queensland Division of General Practice and the Mt Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health and funding for the position was obtained through the Division of General Practice. The position is based in Mt Isa and is supervised by two of the authors (EC and KMcT). Recruitment targeted medical graduates who had completed a Masters in Public Health and who were eligible for admission for FAFPHM training. The activities for the position are tailored to meet the population health needs of the Division's GPs and also meets requirements for training in Public health. These included:
- A qualitative review of the barriers and enablers to developing and operating a population health framework in rural and remote general practices.
- Practice-based registers and recall systems established and operating in 4 private practices, RFDS clinics, Aboriginal Community controlled Health service and 1 remote hospital clinic
Development and evaluation of an Indigenous community education program - chronic disease.
- Systems to utilize practice reception staff in opportunistic screening trialled and documented.
- Evaluation of experiential training as a mechanism for change within general practice.
- Collaboration with the roll out of the Q Health Northern Zone Chronic Disease Strategy.
- Collaboration with Mt Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health in relation to primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development and Population health Education for Clinicians (PHEC) programs.
RESULTS:
There was some difficulty attracting suitable applicants but eventually one was employed and work commenced on the Division?s population health activities working alongside local GPs.
Some of the projects such as the establishment of registers and recall systems were commenced prior to the position being filled and the original outcomes from the project were modified accordingly. Engaging the general practitioners to become involved became a barrier in itself and this has taken a long time to achieve. The project has provided opportunities for collaboration with other agencies such as Queensland Health and the Mt Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health and some of the difficulties that can arise. Working with members of the indigenous communities has provided insights into indigenous culture and an understanding of some of the factors contributing to the poor health status of this group.
This project is due for completion in mid December 2002. A full abstract will follow on completion of the project.
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