It will soon be easier for defence personnel to access GPs with an interest in veteran’s healthcare.
Veteran’s health is getting long-needed recognition in general practice, with the RACGP announcing a new program to boost support for military medicine.
Under the latest expansion of the college’s Recognition of Extended Skills (RES) program, it will now recognise skillsets involved with military medicine and veteran’s healthcare.
The RES in Military Medicine and Veterans’ Health applies to GPs who have extensive experience and work in roles such as uniformed medical service, defence clinical contexts and as a clinician in the Department of Defence, DVA or other government agency.
Whilst the RES is not an additional qualification, the latest recognition is aimed at providing greater visibility for specific GP skillsets within military and veteran’s healthcare.
“It’s certainly fair to say that the care for our veterans has become a more and more important part of general practice over the last 20 and 30 years,” Australian Airforce veteran and GP Associate Professor Michael Clements told The Medical Republic.
“Not just because of an increase in the number of people serving in the military and therefore being recognised as needing support afterwards.
“We are getting better at identifying some of the special needs of the veterans, so it has become more important and relevant.”
Given that veteran’s health is coordinated via the DVA, as opposed to Medicare, this recognition is being praised for spreading awareness about these unique skills.
“By having that recognition, this may help serve as a signal,” Professor Clements told TMR.
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“This should support doctors who have got that special interest and skill in terms of applying for employment within defence.
“What veterans need is good GP care, so when we train people towards the RACGP endpoint that forms a really good fundamental basis.
“I don’t think we need to do anything more specific within the normal curriculum, because at its core, what veterans need is good GP care.”
The DVA has also praised the new recognition, highlighting how it will make specialist GP expertise in veteran’s health more visible and thus accessible.
“We hope this recognition will continue to encourage interest and expertise in military medicine and veteran health, improving continuity, consistency, and quality of care for veterans,” DVA Chief Health Officer Dr Steph Davis told newsGP.
“With more than 580,000 veterans in Australia, you may have already treated a veteran and not known it.”
