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Vocational Training
Rural Medicine
Supervising Committee
The Committee for Physician Training (CPT), in conjunction with
either the SAC in General Medicine or the appropriate subspecialty SAC
(depending on the form of the training program).
Definition of Specialty
Rural medicine comprises the various forms of practice of adult medicine
that occur in nonmetropolitan Australia. It includes components of general
and subspecialty medicine depending on the site in which it is practised,
but there are certain characteristics that distinguish it from metropolitan
practice. These include:
- The need for a broad knowledge of most subspecialties.
- The requirement for procedural skills in a number of subspecialties.
- The necessity to maintain skills in resuscitation and basic intensive
care.
- Development of generic physician skills to a high level.
- Basic knowledge of telemedicine.
- Basic knowledge of indigenous health.
Although there is a spectrum of rural medicine, it is likely that the type
of practice in communities with a population of less than 20,000 will be
predominantly general medicine while that in larger centres will be predominantly
subspecialty medicine, but with a strong component of general medicine.
Rural medicine is not a subspecialty of adult medicine. However, the development
of a training program and its inclusion in the Requirements for Physician
Training is an affirmation by the College that rural practice requires
particular skills that may not be gained by participation in traditional
training programs alone.
General Principles of Training
- Career training in rural medicine consists of a structured three-year
program that includes at least twelve months in nonmetropolitan hospitals.
- It is important that the training program for the entirety of training
(and, if possible, beyond) be mapped out at the start of the three-year
period. This is to ensure that terms and training sites will complement
training already undertaken during basic training.
- In conjunction with the relevant SAC, the CPT will assist the trainee
to map out an entire training program and will, if necessary, try to
facilitate the necessary rotations to be undertaken.
- Some trainees, particularly those who plan to work in larger centres,
may wish to gain full subspecialty training and recognition. The trainee,
CPT and appropriate SAC will determine how the elective year should
be spent and whether part of specialty training can be undertaken in
a nonmetropolitan hospital.
- Some trainees may wish to undertake more than three years advanced
training, particularly if both sub-specialty and general medicine training
is sought. This may result in an advanced training program that includes
a component of post-FRACP training.
Rural Medicine
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