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The GPRIP Assessment and Support Panel Dataset Project

Project Brief

A consortium involving the Rural Doctors Resource Network (RDRN) and the Monash University School of Rural Health has been established in order to undertake the development of State and Territory Assessment and Support Panel Databases. The establishment of a minimum data set will enable the Department of Human Services and Health (DHSH) to develop an accurate, contemporary overview of areas in need of GPs across Australia as well as provide a more comprehensive set of State/Territory managed databases which may have additional elements tailored to the identified individual assessment needs of the respective States and Territories.

Significance

The minimum data set will provide consistency and objectivity to the process of identification of need and will enhance the value of the significant "local knowledge" vested in the Assessment and Support Panels (ASPs).

Aims/Objectives

The ASPs must have access to reliable data in order to effectively fulfil their designated roles. The establishment or extension of National and State/Territory databases to manage an agreed set of minimum or core data collected by each panel will enable the ASPs to develop profiles of rural and remote communities, based on community needs assessment. These profiles will assist the ASPs to objectively identify areas in need of GPs, and indicate the skills required by GPs in particular communities. To be useful and used, the proposed databases must be relevant and provide the ASPs with contemporary and accurate data to base their decision making on.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide to GPRIP and the ASPs a clearly defined minimum data set, with an associated flexible database management system, designed to meet the above objectives. The consultants will achieve these aims by employing the effective strategies detailed below to achieve the specified outputs of the terms of reference of the consultancy.

Components

  1. To define the core components of a national minimum data set that will contribute to the ongoing implementation of the GPRIP.
  2. The identification and definition of data that can provide feeder sources for the proposed minimum data set, and where needed, the design of instruments that will enable the collection of data not readily available, in a consistent manner.
  3. To determine what other data or analysis tools can be used to develop community profiles, and how this data can be integrated into the minimum data set to enhance the needs assessment process of the ASPs and GPRIP.
  4. To design an implementation strategy for the database design and development that is technically feasible, uses industry standard hardware and software, and meets the ASPs requirements for information retrieval, display and reporting.

Progress

The project will run over a six month period. The commencement date has not yet been decided, although the consultancy has been formally approved by the Department of Family Services and Health.

Expected impact

To increase the recruitment and retention of General Practitioners (GPs) in rural and remote Australia.

Further Information

The final report is available in hardcopy from the School of Rural Health