Townsville pilot site for innovation in dermatology training
Dermatology trainees in Townsville will take part in a hybrid face-to-face and remote model of supervision, thanks to the Federal Government’s Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program.
The Australian College of Dermatologists has been awarded $455,731 to implement and evaluate the model, which will test the feasibility and effectiveness of a networked model of supervision linking dermatology services at Townsville University Hospital (TUH) with the Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA; Sydney, NSW).
Trainee dermatologists will have access to both remote telehealth-based supervision and local on-site supervisors with critical expertise to deliver improved detection and diagnostic and patient management approaches.
Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said the initiative was about supporting ways to keep specialists in regional areas.
“We’re very fortunate to have a fantastic community of medical specialists in Townsville, but sometimes we see junior doctors moving away to capital cities to do their specialist training,” Mr Thompson said.
“I’m really happy the Australasian College of Dermatologists have chosen our city to trial this model of hybrid supervision, which will hopefully keep doctors in regional areas for longer.
“It’s important we do everything we can to ensure locals have the access to the best possible care without having to vast distances, which is why we’ve funded this pilot program.”
The FATES program will run for four years from 2021-22, providing a total of $29.5 million for new and innovative approaches to non-GP medical specialist training, and support for trainee specialists to transition to rural practice.
Nationally, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) will undertake a project to identify barriers to rural hospitals delivering accredited surgical training and includes the design of an accreditation model and process that will be tailored to support increased rural surgical training opportunities and pathways.
Meanwhile, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) will establish a non-GP Specialist Trainee Support Program (STSP) to augment the recruitment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander doctors who wish to commence or are currently undertaking specialist medical training.
ENDS