Emergency Medicine CMOs and General Practitioners, Nelson Bay NSW

Scenario

Tomaree Hospital provides healthcare to people living in Nelson Bay and surrounding areas. In 2012 when Hunter New England Health approached Medical Directions, the hospital Emergency Department was staffed by 1 ED doctor per 24 hours. Safety and doctor fatigue were major concerns, and turnover of permanent staff was high resulting in a dependency on expensive locum cover.

Approach

• Medical Directions worked with Hunter New England Health to develop a service delivery model meeting the needs of the community and ensuring safe working conditions for doctors
• The bespoke model consisted of multiple shifts across 24 hours and the introduction of a General Practice clinic
• A strategic market mapping, networking, and advertising campaign was executed 

Outcome

• Medical Directions recruited and managed a permanent workforce for the Emergency Department and GP clinic 
• The permanent workforce superseded the expensive locum arrangement
• Consistency and continuity of care is now provided by permanent doctors – a win for the community and hospital 
• Safety risks were reduced

Services provided

• Thorough review of presentation data
• Bespoke workforce solutions plan
• Marketing and communications strategy
• Sourcing and screening of candidates
• Permanent and FIFO doctors