RVTS : The ”Secret Sauce” for Successful Rural and Remote Workforce Retention and GP training

Welcome to this very special podcast episode where we discuss in-depth the recent Medical Journal of Australia supplement collection of five research articles highlighting the successes of the RVTS programme. I am joined by RVTS CEO Dr Pat Giddings and Assoc. Professor Belinda O'Sullivan from the University of Queensland who conducted the research that led to the publications.  

This episode will be of interest to anyone concerned about General Practice rural workforce shortage, those wanting to know how to support GP registrars in rural and remote areas, the special ingredients required in a successful remote supervision model, the training and support of Overseas Trained doctors to gain GP fellowship and providing meaningful First Nations Cultural training and support for GP registrars.  

 

This is a long episode, so grab your coffee or plug-in as you drive to and from work to hear the research findings detailing what has made RVTS so successful in achieving impressive workplace retention as well as fellowship success for the past, nearly 25 years.  

Timestamps are noted below in case you want to fast forward to an area of special interest but I thoroughly recommend you taking the time to listen to the whole episode as there are many hidden gems.  

Have a great day. 

Dr Meryl Nicol 

 

The link to the MJA supplement is here and a published editorial in Insight+ is here 

 

Time 

Notes 

00.16 

Introductions 

1:41 

How did the publication come about? 

3:10 

How is RVTS different as a GP training provider? 

5:23 

Location-based training - benefits to communities and participants 

5:39 

500 doctors to 350+ communities 

6:02 

Research results - reported benefits of communities and participants 

7:38 

Policy maker gains - Closing the Gap, Rural work force and Cruck review 

8:52 

Overseas trained doctors or IMG's and keys to success 

11:03 

Comfort 

11:42 

Confidence 

12:15 

Competence 

13:21 

Belonging and face to face workshops 

14:01 

Bonding 

15:25 

RVTS support, Overseas trained doctor satisfaction 

20:57 

RVTS supervision model 

25.32 

RVTS - how cost effective is it? 

29.12 

Retention years of return 

30.14 

Years of service in the community of RVTS registrars 

34.08 

Hidden costs of locums 

36.15 

70% of registrars are inland not coastal 

37.53 

Targeted recruitment model - rural workforce solutions for remote and very remote locations 

46.56 

Contribution to First Nations Health and Reconciliation Action Plan 

49.48 

RVTS Reconciliation Action Plan 

52.21 

Cultural mentor research findings 

53.05 

Surprises for the evaluator -multilayered support 

55.22 

Cumulatively, NOT a small programme 

56.29 

Scalability 

57.41 

Best practice model for supporting doctors especially IMG's in resource-poor environments, 

58.26 

Transferable model to other disciplines 

58.47 

Making a difference 

59.25 

Wonderful to work with the team at UQ 

1.00.36 

Final comments from Assoc Prof Belinda O'Sullivan 

1.02.38 

Final thanks