A full-time nurse practitioner will be based in Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria, after a successful three month trial.
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The trial was to change the model of service provision in Karumba after the North West Hospital and Health Service could not secure a doctor to live in the town full time.
Acting Executive Director of Medical and Clinical Services, Dr Karen Murphy said the nurse practitioner would become the ongoing service model, along with doctors visiting Karumba every fortnight.
"There has always been difficulty in recruiting doctors to remote communities, so we needed to find an appropriate level of care for the residents and visitors," Dr Murphy said.
"One of the models we looked at was basing a nurse practitioner in town that act similarly to a GP, prescribing, diagnosing and referring at the Karumba Health Clinic.
Dr Murphy said the feedback on the trial was highly positive.
"NWHHS received 145 compliments from the Karumba community about the service, during the three month trial, which was great," she said.
"The community found the service superb as they've had a health professional they could see on a more regular basis instead of waiting three weeks to see a GP. They also made it quite clear they were happy for the trial to remain as their day-to-day standard service."
Dr Murphy said NWHHS is working closely with North Queensland Primary Health Network and Gidgee Healing to incorporate allied health services in Karumba.
"We are working build the allied health support service including dietitian, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatrist, speech therapy and how we can build their attendance at Karumba into our model of care.
"Ideally I would like to see two day visits of allied health professionals in between the GP visits on a rotational roster. We would then have a team based approach to the community care in Karumba."
Dr Murphy said this incorporated model would offer the Karumba residents a more comprehensive model of care then the community had previously.
"The team up there have done a fantastic work to develop the service," she said.
"This is a unique trial of services. We are sharing support across different health sectors which is difficult to do sometimes, so the Primary Health Network and Gidgee Healing have been very supportive of NWHHS.
"Because of this trial and its success we need to start looking to replicate it in other areas of remote communities where they may not be getting a comprehensive service."
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