Policy on Rural Practice

<body background bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> <img src="images/noleftg.gif" alt="previous" border="0" width="34" height="34"> <a href="Practi01.htm"><img src="images/rightg.gif" alt="next" border="0" width="34" height="34"></a> <img src="images/noupg.gif" alt="Up " border="0" width="34" height="34"> <img src="images/notopg.gif" alt="Title " border="0" width="34" height="34"> <a href="Practi_c.htm"><img src="images/contg.gif" alt="Contents " border="0" width="34" height="34"></a> <hr size="4"> <h1>Policy on Rural Practice</h1> <p><center><img src="Practi01.jpg"></center><br> Editorial Group for the Policy on Rural Practice and Rural Health includes:<br> Dr Bruce Chater (Editor)<br> Dr Ian Couper<br> Dr John Macleod<br> Dr Neethea Naidoo<br> Dr M.K. Rajakuma<br> Dr Steve Reid<br> Dr Roger Rosenblatt<br> Dr Jim Rourke<br> Professor Roger Strasser<br> Ms Jo Wainer<br> Cover Design & Photographs: Mr Steve Kirkbright<br> Compositor: Ms Paula Robinson, Ms Elaine Evans<br> <b>Editorial</b><br> In presenting this Policy the editorial group has been conscious of the contribution of many to this process. Our thanks go to particularly the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice and the participants in the First International Conference on Rural practice in Shanghai/Fengxian County China in 1996 and the Second World Rural Health Congress in Durban South Africa in 1997. Special mention should be given to Jo Wainer, Steve Kirkbright, Paula Robinson and Elaine Evans at Monash University Centre for Rural Health, Australia, for their editorial and presentation skills.<br> In developing this document we were aware of the rural doctor focus of these recommendations. We have endeavoured to take into account the interests and contributions of all health workers. The conference at Durban expressed these sentiments succinctly as:<br> * The doctor alone is not the answer to the problems of rural health.<br> * There is a need for the development and support of health teams with diverse skills and including health workers and community members.<br> * We cannot speak on behalf of other health professionals but wish to join with other health professionals in partnership to address these issues<br> * Many of these proposals with respect to recruitment, support, training and other issues could be applied to all members of the rural health team.<br> It is recognised that both generalist and rural practice are described using many different terms throughout the world. Many of these have considerable significance to national or local groups. For simplicity a consistent terminology has been used throughout the document. Primary care/Family Medicine/General Practice has been referred to as <i>General Practice</i> and its practitioners <i>General Practitioners</i>. Doctors practising in rural areas are referred to as <i>Rural Doctors</i>. The practice of the extended generalist requiring usually specialist skills and broader community skills is referred to as <i>Rural Practice</i>. <i>Vocational Training</i> has been used to refer to the supervised experience and training following the standard medical qualification. This post-graduate training is designed to adequately equip the doctor with the skills required for general practice and rural practice.<br> The editorial group hopes that you, the reader, will find this a useful document whether you are a politician, a bureaucrat, an academic, a rural doctor or a community member.<br> Your contribution to the future refinement of this document through the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice will be welcomed.<br> <b>Dr Bruce Chater <a name="_Toc421594276"></a><a name="_Toc421594513"></a><a name="_Toc421602872"></a><a name="_Toc421602911"></a><a name="_Toc421961551"></a></b></p> <p>  <hr size="4"> <ul> <li><a href="Practi01.htm">Executive summary</a> <li><a href="Practi02.htm">Introduction</a> <li><a href="Practi03.htm">Principles of rural health care</a> <li><a href="Practi04.htm">The strategic framework for better rural health care</a> <li><a href="Practi05.htm">1. Preparation for rural practice</a> <li><a href="Practi06.htm">2. The development, maintenance and enhancement of the skills of rural doctors</a> <li><a href="Practi07.htm">3. Recruitment and retention of doctors in rural practice</a> <li><a href="Practi08.htm">4. Meeting community needs</a> <li><a href="Practi09.htm">5. A framework for rural health care</a> <li><a href="Practi10.htm">6. Future</a> <li><a href="Practi11.htm">WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice</a> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="Practi_c.htm">Contents</a> </ul> <hr size="4"> <img src="images/noleftg.gif" alt="previous" border="0" width="34" height="34"> <a href="Practi01.htm"><img src="images/rightg.gif" alt="next" border="0" width="34" height="34"></a> <img src="images/noupg.gif" alt="Up " border="0" width="34" height="34"> <img src="images/notopg.gif" alt="Title " border="0" width="34" height="34"> <a href="Practi_c.htm"><img src="images/contg.gif" alt="Contents " border="0" width="34" height="34"></a> </body>