The Opportunity

Barmera Medical Centre is seeking a Vocationally Registered General Practitioner to join our collaborative and well-supported team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care. This is a 6-month contract position, available for immediate start, with potential for extension.

This role has become available due to unforeseen personal and study leave within our team and presents a unique opportunity to practice comprehensive rural medicine in a professionally rewarding and lifestyle-friendly setting.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

To provide competent patient-centred care that addresses health needs and promotes wellness. Such care is based on latest evidence and guidelines and meets legislative requirements.

As a General Practitioner you will provide primary health care including both acute & chronic illness care and duties may include but are not limited to;

· Accident and Emergency in Rural Hospital including emergency care and aftercare

· Inpatient work

· Minor procedural work if appropriate

· Cryotherapy treatment of superficial skin lesions

· Dislocated joints requiring immediate treatment in a general practice setting

· ECGs

· Genital Warts removal

· Hormonal implants

· Immunisations

· Intro articulate steroid injection

· Intravenous injection and venepuncture

· Local Anaesthetic including digital blocks

· Low level hospital admissions where the rural doctor fee for service do not apply

· Morning after Pill

· Orthopaedics – Fractures requiring no reduction or anaesthesia

· Own Pathology

· Removal of Foreign bodies from eyes under local anaesthesia

· Removal of UCDs

· Removal of sebaceous cysts

· Removal of small skin lesions

· Repair of superficial skin lacerations with closure by primary suture

· Rigid sigmoidoscopy without biopsy

· Surgical assistance

· Wedge resection of toe nail, excluding complete ablation of the nail bed

· Workcover, Insurance & Police Medical reports

· Chronic Disease Management

· Residentail Aged Care visits and patient management

· Medication reviews

· Mental Health

· Indigenous Health

OVERVIEW OF MEDICAL SERVICES

Barmera Medical Clinic is an accredited Teaching Practice with RACGP and ACCRM, Rural Intern Program and medical students from Flinders (FURCS PRCC) program.

The medical staff at the clinic include 5 full time GP’s and 3 part-time GP’s, plus 4 GP’s within a training program. General Practitioners are supported by practice staff including 5 Registered Nurses, 1 Enrolled Nurse, an administration team of 9 including our practice manager and finance manager.

The clinic building includes 15 consulting rooms, a 3 treatment rooms, dedicated study area’s and staff room, cloud based telephone system, up to date computer system and pleasant, professional reception and waiting facilities. Clinical and administration software if the latest version of Best Practice.

A SA Pathology collection centre is located on site on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays from 8.30am till 12.30pm with 2 pick-ups daily.

Our practice provides clinical services by Contractual agreement with the Riverland Regional Hospital Service - Barmera District Hospital Campus & Aged Care Facility. Our General Practitioners cover Inpatient and emergency services as well as monthly reviews with Aged Care. By personal arrangement contract work can also be undertaken at the Riverland Regional Hospital Emergency Department located at the Regional Hospital at Berri, South Australia (approx. 15kms from clinic).

QUALIFICATIONS

You will be required to have appropriate Primary Medical qualifications and produce or obtain:

· MBBS or equivalent medical degree

Vocational Registration with AHPRA

Current Emergency Medicine training (e.g. BLS, ALS, RESP)

Application and approval for credentialing in the clinical domain of General Practice (including emergency care)

Working with Children Check / Aged Care / Vulnerable Person Clearance

National Police Clearance

Evidence of ongoing CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

Current Medical Indemnity Insurance

Provider Number and prescriber number

HOURS OF WORK (including on-call):

A Full Time equivalent GP at the Barmera Medical Clinic is required to complete a minimum of:

· Standard Sessions 9 x 3.5 hourly sessions per week scheduled Monday to Friday between 0900 to 1230 &/or 1330 to 1700 approx. or as otherwise agreed with the Manager.

· Administration time is scheduled daily from 8.30-9am and 5-5.30pm.

· On the Day GP (Walk in’s) 1 days per week will also be designated as an On the day or walk in for appointments. A morning and afternoon session will be available for clinic patients to book on the day.

· Inpatient and Emergency Outpatients You will be required to participate in an Inpatient On Call roster. This is currently 1 week every 8-10 weeks and will not be any more onerous than any other full time GP working in the Practice. Week on call include:

o 24 hr On Call for the Barmera District Hospital inpatients and Aged Care Facility from 0800 Friday – to 0800 the following Friday.

o Cover of the emergency / urgent care department at the Barmera District Hospital form 8am to 6pm Friday to Thursday of your week on call above.

· Between the hours of 8am Monday till 6pm Friday inpatients aged care facility admitted and under your care will be your responsibility as is checking results and correspondence.

· After Hours The After Hours service from 6pm till 11pm (Monday to Friday only) is allocated to the walk in doctor of that day. The afterhours service requires you to carry the after-hours mobile phone and answer any after-hours calls from 6pm till 11pm on the day you are allocated. Advice may range from seeing the patient on site at the hospital if suitable, referring to A&E at Regional Hospital or other advice deemed appropriate.

GP RESPONSIBILITIES

You will be under the initial supervision of our general practitioners as part of a clinical team. Key responsibilities:

To provide good clinical care

To maintain good medical practice

Maintaining trust (professional relationships with patients

Working collaboratively with colleagues

Maintaining integrity in professional practice

Develop and maintain relationships with all staff within the medical practice and other health services.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOURS AND KEY ATTRIBUTES

You will in addition to the key responsibilities be expected to comply with legislative, policy and procedures and protocol requirements.

DECISION MAKING

You will be expected to be independent but at the same time recognise your own limitations on any clinical situations and where required seek advice and or assistance

SUPERVISION

We are a designated teaching Practice with RACGP and ACCRM, Flinders University Rural Medical School & RACE. In a normal year we will have at least 3 Registrars or GP’s participating in a training or intern program and two 3rd year medical students on rotation.

CHALLENGES/PROBLEM SOLVING

You will be required to meet various challenges and utilise problem solving techniques during your contract with our Practice. Examples of the types of issues you might experience in Rural General Practice are;

· Relocation to Barmera, child experiencing a new school and temporary separation from your partner

· Competing priorities between home, family and work commitments

· Learning new IT systems & working in a primary care model with colleagues, staff & Health providers.

· Understanding Medicare, PBS, Hospital Billings, Workcover, Careplans, Veterans Affairs;

· Engaging with specialists & emergency referral protocols including Retrievals and patient transfers

· Learning regulatory systems and how they affect you e.g. detention of mental health patients, mandatory reporting, blood alcohol testing, reportable illnesses, and treatment of minors.

· Developing a patient base

PERSONAL WELLBEING

Our practice has a focus on self-care and asks all staff to ensure they seek regular medical advice in regards to age appropriate check-ups, pre-screening clinics, immunisations and of course relaxation/holidays.

Our practice regular holds staff gatherings and invites all staff and their family members to be involved. We can help with accommodation, registration with community groups and advisement on local activities and events.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

Feedback and evaluation should be ongoing throughout your employment term however there will be formal opportunities for assessment and evaluation with the GP Partners in consultation with the Manager & other medical and nursing staff from the general practice.