A practice-management experience in rural practice

Education for rural practice in rural practice.

Despite the substantial differences between developing and developed countries, access is the major rural health issue. Studies in many countries have shown that the three factors most strongly associated with entering rural practice are: (1) a rural upbringing; (2) positive clinical and educational experiences in rural settings as part of undergraduate medical education; (3) targeted training ...

Experience Management in Communities of Practice

In this paper, we describe how Communities of Practice (CoP) can be seen as a means to realize Experience Management (EM). We start by presenting a model to guide the process of CoP formation and maintenance. This model is then extended to include methods for (1) the analysis of the different requirements of the involved parties, and (2) the design of EM support systems in CoPs that implement a...

Injuries in rural practice: their incidence and management.

Injuries in a rural practice were studied for a five-year period. Nine hundred and sixty-five incidences of injury were recorded in a population averaging 1,308 patients. There were complete records for 894 patients; the remaining 71 had left the practice. Eighty-six per cent of cases were managed entirely in the practice; when radiographic facilities used by the practice were included, this fi...

Management of Head Injury Cases in Rural Practice

Use of chronic disease management plans in rural practice.

The traditional model of general practice in Australia is one of episodic visits to the doctor initiated by the patient. Within these consults, GPs struggle to deal with presenting problems, ongoing chronic disease needs and a myriad of administrative tasks. As the population ages, more and more patients will be living with a chronic disease. Guidelines for ‘best practice’ management of these c...