L to R back row:
Jasmine Davis – President of the Australian Medical Students Association, Kerrie Duggan Nurse Practitioner and Co-owner of Cygnet Family Practice,
Paul Wappett – CEO of the RACGP
Front row:
Dr Tim Jackson – TAS Faculty Chair (GP on the eastern shore)
Dr Michael Clements – Rural Faculty Chair (GP based in far north QLD)
CEO Paul Wappett, Drs. Tim Jackson and Michael Clements, and Medical Student Jasmine Davis have been visiting Tasmanian general practices to listen to their members and practice teams regarding issues for people attending general practice and to gain feedback on how the organisation can assist.
It can be challenging for people to get in to see their GP when needed, and in some areas of Tasmania, waiting times can be weeks. Sometimes in country areas, the only option when injured or sick on the day, is to go to the hospital emergency department, for care that could be given in their local general practice.
Cygnet Family Practice have been using an innovative model of care by having a Nurse Practitioner providing an urgent care clinic which increases access to healthcare on the day needed by people. They use a team approach to acute care with a Nurse Practitioner triaging and caring for patients for minor illness and injury, and escalating care to the GP or the emergency department when needed.
This model supports GPs who are then not interrupted from their booked patients, (less time for people waiting), and has provided a supportive workplace which leads to doctors staying in general practice.