University study examines ways to deliver better medical care to northern Australia

The University of Queensland and The Flinders University of South Australia have joined forces to investigate ways to deliver better medical care to Australia's north.

The joint study, funded by a $50,000 Higher Education Innovation Program grant, began in October and involves the medical schools of both institutions.

Both medical schools are active in Australia's north - the University of Queensland through its North Queensland Clinical School in Townsville, Cairns and Mackay and The Flinders University of South Australia through its clinical school in Darwin.

According to the University of Queensland's Graduate School of Medicine head, Professor Bryan Campbell, the three main issues to be addressed by the study were ways doctors could be trained to meet the needs of people in the north, ways they could be encouraged to stay once qualified and facilities for keeping them in touch with modern developments.

Advanced technologies such as the Internet and telemedicine were one strategy for training and retaining doctors and specialists in remote areas, he said.

Both schools were concerned about inadequate numbers of general practitioners and specialists servicing the needs of people in remote areas, he said.

'Small populations in northern Australia are geographically remote and patients must travel long distances for medical, especially specialty, care,' he said.

'These small towns find it difficult to attract or retain medical staff. Doctors and specialists struggle to maintain skills to practice. They are also concerned about isolation from social and cultural activities, for example their children's education, and professional isolation from colleagues and experts to help in caring for their patients.'

He said those doctors who did set up practices in remote areas were often under stress because of the need to be adept at managing a wide range of conditions.

Advanced technologies such as the Internet and email could be used to provide courses and information to doctors training in northern Australia, he said.

'Using satellite and video technology, specialists from southern cities could sit in on patient consultations and even operations and offer advice if needed. This system known as telemedicine is not a new concept given the world was watching a man landing on the moon almost 30 years ago,' Professor Campbell said.

He said the University of Queensland's Graduate School of Medicine had already developed programs encouraging students to experience rural practice in the form of rotations to rural centres and to cope with the wide range of problems they faced there.

For more information, contact Professor Campbell (telephone 07 3365 5321).