Register      Login
Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Necessity breeds innovation: GPs help prevent an emergency department closure

Riitta L Partanen, Maxine L O'Brien and Diann S Eley

Australian Health Review 33(3) 467 - 471
Published: 2009

Abstract

In January 2006 the Maryborough Base Hospital in Queensland faced imminent closure of its emergency department (ED) due to a shortage of senior medical staff. At the same time patient confidence in Queensland Health was low. During consultation forums, the community had made it clear that their priority was to maintain emergency services in Maryborough. In search of a solution, the Fraser Coast District Health Service asked Maryborough general practitioners to work in the Maryborough Hospital ED and/or in the internal medicine ward as Visiting Medical Officers. While this represented a solution to the problem, there was much to be considered before such a plan could be put into place.

https://doi.org/10.1071/AH090467

© AHHA 2009

Committee on Publication Ethics

PDF (122 KB) Export Citation

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share via Email

View Dimensions