Overview
The Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program was established as a mechanism for improving the health outcomes for rural Australians by increasing access to medical specialist services.
The program aims to improve the access of regional, rural and remote communities to medical specialist services. General Practice Queensland is one of the two contracted fundholders for the MSOAP in Queensland. General Practice Queensland works in conjunction with Rural and Provincial Divisions of General Practice and other key stakeholders to administer the MSOAP.
The MSOAP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (AGDHA).
Objectives
The objectives of the program are to:
- Increase visiting specialist services in areas of identified need;
- Support medical specialists to provide outreach medical services in rural areas;
- Facilitate visiting specialist and local health professional relationships and communication about ongoing patient care; and
- Increase and maintain the skills of regional, rural and remote health professionals in accordance with local need.
Program Detail
Since the inception of MSOAP, a variety of specialist outreach medical services have been established. For the financial year 2008 to 2009, General Practice Queensland contracted 44 specialists to deliver services in 51 communities from the Torres Strait Islands in the north to Cunnamulla in the south and Mount Isa in the west. The services provided covered 19 specialties, including Dermatology; Endocrinology; Gynaecology; General, Geriatric, Respiratory and Rheumatology Physicians; Gastroenterology; General, ENT, Orthopaedic, Paediatric and Vascular Surgery; Ophthalmology; Paediatrics; Psychiatry and Urology.
Listing of specialist services by speciality and location can be provided upon request.
Achievements
The following activities and statistics provide a brief overview of the outcomes for the 12 months for July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
- 12,182 patients benefited from receiving consultations and procedures from private outreach specialists funded by MSOAP.
- 1,195 of these patients identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
Resources
For resources please contact Kay Trotman
Links
Feedback
Kay Trotman
Program Coordinator - Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program
Email: ktrotman@gpqld.com.au
Phone: 07 3105 8300