AMA Queensland has announced a new workforce action plan aimed at streamlining for efficiency.
Exciting plans lie ahead for Queensland, with the state AMA branch announcing a new workforce action plan designed to streamline collaboration in the medical workforce.
The AMA Queensland Workforce Working Group Action plan was released after six months of research and development in both the private and public sectors.
“Governments want solutions to attract and retain doctors, and our Workforce Working Group has delivered,” AMA Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said.
“This comprehensive plan sets out how to ensure training pathways, career opportunities and workplace culture bring doctors into the system and get them to where they’re needed most.”
The Queensland government is expected to release its own needs-based workforce plan in the upcoming months with the AMAQ hoping to see action plan’s recommendations taken onboard.
General practice was a core part of the workforce plan being highlighted as the “backbone of our health system, providing world-class preventive and early intervention health services for the entire community, from the cradle to the grave”.
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As part of the plan, general practice would see major reforms in areas that have long been advocated for when it comes to change.
Increased funding for longer GP consultations was one propositions, with the AMA citing how prolonged consultations are associated with reduced ED visits outside of metropolitan areas.
“The MBS needs a big update, and this has been called from ama for many years now,” Dr Nick Yim told The Medical Republic.
“Currently, the system does not reward the complex longitudinal care of patients.
“Which is a reason why one of the goals is to flatten out the MBS tiers to ensure that we are rewarding and encouraging MBS rebates to be beneficial at the higher end.”
Further funding has also been proposed for numerous tech systems and for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
Greater interaction between general practice and tertiary was a core part of the workforce plan, with a focus on integration of primary and community care with public hospitals.
“We do know that having integrated allied health nurses into general practice, goes a long way for our patients to ensure that everyone’s under the same roof,” Dr Nick Yim told TMR.
“Because general practice is the backbone of the healthcare system, we know that if general practice continues to provide high quality preventive care to our patients, that means that there will be less hospitalizations, less pressure on our EDs, and less pressure on the high expense items.”
