Doctors and Primary Care nurses join forces to strengthen rural and remote healthcare

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) has formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the aim of strengthening healthcare teams across rural and remote Australia.

Signed by ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers and APNA President Karen Booth, the MOU recognises the organisations’ agreement to work together on a range of issues including primary health care reform, and jointly advocate to government and other key stakeholders.

“As peak professional bodies, ACRRM and APNA represent the doctors and nurses who work together to support the primary healthcare needs of rural and remote communities,” ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers says.

“These dedicated health professionals are already doing an extraordinary job, but they need further support.

“We believe greater investment in patient-centred, team-based progressive models of healthcare is essential if we are to provide equitable access to high quality, continuity of care for all rural and remote Australians.”

APNA President Karen Booth says change is needed because rural Australians tend to have higher rates of chronic disease and die younger than their city counterparts.

She says one way to address this is to shake up healthcare funding to enable the skills of every health team member to be fully utilised for the benefit of patients.

“Together, we recognise that a better future for rural health is predicated on bold, practical workforce solutions,” Ms Booth says, pointing to ACRRM’s internationally recognised model of Rural Generalist training that links junior doctors with practices and communities where they are most needed.

“APNA is keen to work more closely with ACRRM as we seek to create a national placements scheme in primary health care settings for nursing students that includes 3000 funded placements in rural and remote areas.

“Programs such as these not only equip students with broader skillsets but create a next generation pipeline to boost an ageing rural primary care nursing workforce.

“We see this MOU as a great opportunity for ACRRM and APNA to work together to build more effective healthcare teams for the millions of Australians who live in rural and remote areas.”

Watch the MOU signing video with ACRRM and APNA Presidents' here.