Strengthening Rural Healthcare

Describing a medical school’s rural activity footprint: setting selection and workforce distribution priorities

A recent report from Deakin University's School of Medicine has proven what we in remote Australian have long known - people who are born, bred & trained in the bush are more likely to stay there. If this report is taken seriously it will mean a significant step towards addressing the healthcare disparities in rural and remote areas of Australia.

It’s not news to RAM that Australia faces a critical issue of maldistribution in its medical workforce, with rural areas often experiencing a shortage of healthcare providers. This shortage leads to significant health inequities, with rural populations having less access to medical services and facing poorer health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. Deakin University's initiative seeks to bridge this gap by focusing on a "grow your own" strategy—recruiting students from rural backgrounds, training them in rural settings, and encouraging them to stay and work in these communities.

Defining the Rural Footprint

The core of this initiative lies in defining a clear geographical focus for recruiting and training students. Deakin University's Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program operates within the Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN), an area characterized by a mix of urban and rural regions. To accurately describe their rural footprint, Deakin used a combination of the Modified Monash Model (MMM) and the PHN boundaries, along with additional criteria to include or exclude specific areas. This approach allowed them to pinpoint 965 locations that comprise their rural activity footprint.

Strategic Recruitment and Training

Deakin University's strategy prioritises students from these identified rural areas for admission into their Doctor of Medicine (MD) program's Rural Training Stream (RTS). By aligning student recruitment with the geographical areas where they plan to retain graduates, Deakin aims to address local workforce needs more effectively. This strategic focus not only helps in meeting immediate healthcare needs but also supports long-term community health outcomes.

Impact and Future Directions

The initiative's early results are promising. By prioritising local students and providing them with extended rural training, Deakin hopes to retain a greater number of graduates in rural practice. This approach aligns with growing international evidence that medical graduates are more likely to work in regions where they have strong connections or have received their training.

Moreover, the initiative enhances relationships with local healthcare providers, who are crucial partners in offering quality clinical placements and supporting the training of future rural healthcare practitioners.

We hope that Deakin University's approach to defining and implementing a rural activity footprint will be a significant advancement in addressing the rural healthcare workforce crisis. As we have defined in our Charleville Charter, focusing on place-based education and strategic recruitment, will mean a more equitable distribution of healthcare professionals across Australia. Hopefully this initiative not only benefits rural communities by improving access to care but will also serve as a model for other institutions aiming to address similar challenges.

You can read the original report here