Why Doctors Don’t Want to Work in Rural Communities (And Why They Should Reconsider)

Doctors in nearly every speciality are flocking to the big cities, like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, to practice medicine. But what’s keeping doctors from working in rural areas where there are just as many deserving cities, towns and communities?

These rural communities have a high need for physicians and are willing to pay qualified candidates high wages for permanent and locum positions. But even with this in mind, doctors are still unconvinced. They aren’t ready to make the sea and tree change into the bush.

We’re here to explain the great benefits of becoming a rural doctor. Here are three debunked myths doctors have about working in rural communities:

1.   “It’ll get lonely out in the middle of nowhere.”

Life is all about opportunity, and moving and working inland will provide you with a chance to actually expand your network of friends and acquaintances. There are plenty of hospitals in rural cities that have a close team of doctors on staff. Not to mention, there are plenty of social groups and a lot of city-like amenities such as sporting arenas, music festivals, and shopping centres. The country isn’t made only of small farming towns.

While you might not be able to see your friends back home as often, you’ll be making plenty of new ones. So you definitely won’t be lonely—or bored for that matter.

2.   “It’s hard to make a name for myself as a small-town doctor.”

On the contrary, you’ll be better known by your patients and the surrounding communities than in the cities. City doctors actually are often forgotten since there are so many of them, and the vast bureaucratic system they work under makes it more difficult for them to advance in their career.

If you were to work in a permanent or locum position inland, then you’ll be one of a few doctors, if not the sole doctor, in the community. This places you in the spotlight and will provide you with well-deserved recognition and respect.

3.   “Business will be slow, and I won’t be able to make a living from it.”

Healthcare is less available to rural citizens. This means sicker people are waiting to be treated which also means there are long waiting lists for patients. Your business won’t be slow in the slightest. And since doctors are in such high demand, hospitals and clinics are willing to pay a pretty penny for you to work for them. The government is even providing subsidies for doctors who are willing to move and work inland, so why shouldn’t you consider making the sea and tree change?

Prescript Can Connect You with Rural Hospitals and Clinics

If you’re convinced and ready to make the move, then we can help. Prescript is a locum and permanent recruitment agency for doctors, hospitals and practices. 

Go to  www.prescript.com.au for more information on our recruitment services, blogs, location reports, and other resources.

1300 755 498 // contact@prescript.com.au

Never Presume Anything (and other tales)

I've just come back from a visit to a radiology clinic in Sydney. This time my appointment was for personal rather than for business reasons.  

It was my first X-ray and so the experience was all new to me. Before having my scan, I was shown to a cubicle where the radiographer told me to "get undressed." Did this mean that I had to go for the scan without clothes? Thankfully not - I only needed to remove my shirt and replace it with a trendy paper gown to cover my modesty. Once finished, I was asked to wait back in the cubicle but keep my shirt off. I waited for a few minutes before I was passed a sticky note with my name on.

Sitting for a while longer in the cubicle sporting my paper gown, I wondered whether I could get dressed again. A peep through the curtain revealed an empty room; the radiographer looking after me had vanished. I got dressed. Back at reception, I deduced that the sticker with my name on should be handed over. I was good to go. What about payment? Nothing for me to pay for, apparently – great! What about my results? They’d be emailed to my doctor, of course.

I left the clinic feeling glad that I had finally got around to having the scan done (it’d been on my “to do” list for weeks) but the whole experience made me feel a bit lost and puzzled. I realised something about good service and the way that we communicate with people.

The clinic staff were unquestionably friendly and efficient but by presuming that I knew what was going on throughout the process, I ended up feeling confused and a bit of an idiot at times - especially when waiting for no reason in my paper couture. 

This short interaction has made me reflect on the service that I provide to my clients and candidates. One of the things that I've learnt during my time in medical recruitment is to never presume anything and to explain and clarify each step of the process, no matter how obvious it might seem.

I once arranged a locum for a doctor in a rural Queensland town that she had never been to before. She told me that she would arrive at 4 o’clock the day before she started work. I made the necessary arrangements and emailed her the details of her hotel booking. Waking up that Sunday morning, my phone was lit up with missed calls and voicemails from the doctor asking why she had no hotel booking. As planned, she had arrived at 4 o’clock… in the morning!

I had assumed that she knew that her hotel would only be ready the night before her job started. She thought that it was obvious that she was driving through the night and would arrive early morning. I was so used to sending doctors to work in that particular country town that I had missed important details. 

“If I’d spent more time explaining things and asking the right questions, it would have saved her from being left outside in the cold.”

— Ian Ormesher

This was definitely an important lesson for me. Working in recruitment, it’s so important to be articulate about the way we do things and why. I send doctors to work in rural locations all the time but for each assignment I make sure that they understand where they need to be and what they should expect when they arrive. I never underestimate how nerve-racking travelling to a strange part of the country to work in an unknown clinic can be.

In offering a tailored and highly personalised service, it’s vital that I anticipate every bump in the road along the way. I’m proud to be able to provide this as part of the Prescript team. So far, our doctors have been pleasantly surprised by the level of detail that we go into and I’m yet to hear of one being left out in the cold - figuratively or otherwise.

Why not give us a try for your next locum or permanent job search?

For more information on Prescript, who we are and what we do, go to www.prescript.com.au

Far North Queensland - Prescript Trip

Last week I visited Far North Queensland. It was great to be able to explore Cairns, Port Douglas and see first-hand the communities that Prescript helps find doctors for.

It has been a busy year of travel for the Prescript team - we have been to Launceston, Adelaide, North West Tassie, Canberra, Melbourne, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.  Our aim is visit all the hospitals we work with on at least an annual basis. These visits also help us write our location reports for doctors. Click to see where else we have been since early 2015 and what we think.

Where will we be going next? Western Australia for the RANZCR ASM in Perth. Please tell us your favourite things to do in WA and we'll make sure to do as many of them as we can fit in!

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About Prescript Recruitment

For more information, a great place to start is www.prescript.com.au

You'll find information about our locum and permanent recruitment services for doctors, hospitals and practices.  You'll also find links to our blogs, location reports and other resources.

1300 755 498 // contact@prescript.com.au

Adelaide - Location Report

QUINTESSENTIAL ADELAIDE

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Pike & Joyce Winery

The vastness of Australia offers a unique opportunity to become a tourist within the country when venturing to other states, cities and towns.  Incredible diversity of landscape, climate, culture and food can be found. Scale means we perhaps don’t know where to start when we’re looking at a few days somewhere and want to make the most of it.

Locals or those of you who have also explored Adelaide and South Australia, we would love to hear your recommendations. These can then be added in to help others next time they travel here.

BEST BREAKFASTS

We sampled a few – in the interests of sound research – and drew the conclusion that another few weekends at least, would be needed to thoroughly explore the wonderful, cafes, artisan coffee making, local food proponents and the general great vibe of the many places we whizzed by and added to the ‘next time’ list.

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Peel Street Kitchen

Seriously good coffee from a local roaster – Great start. Peel Street has a short, well-balanced breakfast menu written up on a small blackboard each day. Friendly, relaxed staff and a lovely, sunny situation with an industrial yet warm feel.

We sampled the ‘The Fry Up’ – which in fact, was delicately presented with the fried items – eggs, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes; expertly balanced by a generous salad of herbs and leaves in a zesty, preserved lemon dressing.

Of course, it’s always all about the ingredients and The Leg Ham Toastie was pretty perfect. The slabs of good sourdough, thickly sliced ham and quality mustard - then compressed and toasted to just the right crispness was savoury and satisfying.

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Perfect spot for a morning coffee meeting - Peel Street Kitchen

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Breakfast at Peel Street - Industrial feel with some Middle Eastern touches

Art Gallery Food + Wine

A very civilised place to go for breakfast, or lunch for that matter, is Art Gallery Food + Wine. Sitting in the lovely Adelaide University campus, as well as attached to the Art Gallery, it offers a tranquil place to sit and dine. Popular dishes for breakfast include the Persian Style Eggs and their list of "Morning Bevvies" are ideal when you need a good quality Bloody Mary with local Kangaroo Island vodka; or a Marmalade Martini which showcases locally made Settlers Gin from McLaren Vale in South Australia.

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BEST LUNCHES

Peel St Kitchen

Back to Peel Street we go – This place really is sensational. Consistent quality, generous, tasty, clean flavours and perfect service – relaxed yet efficient.

The menu is chalked up on the blackboard. The wine selection is carefully thought out and compliments the food. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Peel Street itself is a laneway that shares its namesake restaurant with a number of small bars, cafes and restaurants.

The flavours at the lovely Peel Street kitchen lean towards Asian and Middle Eastern and are perfectly balanced and put together with an artistic eye and a keen palate.

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Browsing the menu at Peel Street Kitchen

Good vibe at Peel St.

Fresh flavours and local wine at Peel Street Kitchen

Pike & Joyce Winery

In under an hour from the CBD, after a really scenic drive that winds up into the Adelaide Hills, we arrived at Pike & Joyce, one of the well established and beautifully situated wineries in the region.

The vista, out over the vines and the beautifully set tables set us up for what was certainly a wonderful lunch, accompanied of course with Pike & Joyce wine that we first selected in a tasting that is hosted within the restaurant by the friendly staff.  The emphasis is on good quality, local, seasonal produce, simply prepared and beautifully presented.

Scallops from Pike & Joyce - Perfect winery lunch

BEST SUNSET DRINK

Float up in the lift and emerge onto the rooftop of 2KW for an incredible view out over Adelaide and surrounds and a sunset drink and snack.

BEST DINNERS

Gin Long Canteen

Fun vibe, great Asian food delivered with flair by the efficient, friendly staff. Gin Long Canteen is packed but seems to just keep on delivering at high speed and top quality. We chose a selection of small and large plates to share and they were all delicious, generous and well presented.

Cocktails with a very fresh Asian twist; well-planned wine list, many of which are local.

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Gin Long Canteen

Sean’s Kitchen

Sean O’Connell has opened a restaurant/gourmet bistro, Sean's Kitchen, linked to the casino and right by the Conference Centre, river, CBD. The style is cool, stylish, yet casual enough to feel comfortable and relaxed. Something from the freshly shucked oyster bar is a great way to start an evening- paired with a fresh local white wine perhaps?

Sitting under the beautiful vaulted ceiling and taking in the general style is worth a visit in itself.

BEST LOCAL FOOD SHOPPING

Central Market

Bustling, full of produce and local products, this market is a must-visit during an Adelaide trip. It’s a practical, functional market that is large, utilized by locals for their daily shopping and very popular with tourists who can get a great taste and look at a whole lot of local food in one, under-cover venue.

The Market Shed on Holland Street

Sunday morning?  The Market Shed on Holland Street is the place to go if you like local food and produce. Small scale producers, artisan products; food to eat there and supplies to gather up and take home. Bliss for a food lover. Most of the food is organic and there are lots of healthy options as well as a few indulgences.

We tried a breakfast pizza, made fresh in the wood fired pizza oven. The coffee was great and a green juice seemed fitting to balance it all out.

Market Shed on Holland Street - Sunday morning essential visit

Breakfast Pizza at Market Shed on Holland Street

BEST PLACE TO STAY

We loved staying at The Mayfair Hotel, Adelaide’s newest 5 star, boutique hotel, perfectly situated in the CDB and appointed beautifully.  We felt very well looked after by the friendly, genuine staff.

We'd love to hear from you with any locations on your 'wishlist' for either working in as a locum or moving there permanently; or for a location guide that we can send out to give you a good feel for the local experiences on offer.

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If you are a doctor and would like to know more about living and and working in Adelaide then Prescript would be very happy to help.  Call 1300 755 498 or click the button below.

Merry Christmas From Prescript!

Merry Christmas from the whole team at Prescript Recruitment! We are still open throughout the festive period - you can either call us on 1300 755 498 or click below.

Contact Prescript

Contact Prescript

Sunshine Soup - A Hearty Bowl of Goodness

When winter settles in, we're naturally drawn to foods that are warming, nourishing and bring a cosy feel to our meals - Comfort food. Soup offers infinite possibilities - from the most rustic and hearty, to the ultimate in refined sophistication. They all have their place.

This is a healthy, hearty and nourishing soup that uses orange vegetables for a dose of sunshine coloured goodness. It's delicious, simple to make, easy to reheat, can be frozen and reheated (valuable for an easy meal when time is short).

The proportions can be adjusted to suit - Both for quantity, and for the mix of vegetables selected.

Shades of orange - Simple, healthy ingredients

INGREDIENTS

1 leek

3 cloves of garlic

1 teaspoon of ras al hanout (Moroccan spice mix)

50 grams of butter

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

500 grams of pumpkin, peeled and diced

500 grams of orange sweet potato, peeled and diced

250 grams of carrots, roughly chopped

1 bay leaf

1/2 an orange

1 1/2 - 2 litres of water, chicken, meat or vegetable stock

ACCOMPANIMENTS

4 tablespoons of caramelised onion

Coriander leaves to sprinkle

Extra virgin olive oil to drizzle

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Wash the leek thoroughly and slice finely. Peel and chop the garlic. Melt the butter gently in a large, heavy pan, add 1/2 a teaspoon of salt. Put the leeks and garlic into the pan, cook until soft but not browned. Add the ras al-hanout and stir through. Add the vegetables and bay leaf, stir. Pour over the stock or water, squeeze in the juice of the orange.

Simmer until the vegetables have cooked down to a nice, soft consistency. Turn off the heat and allow to cool slightly, remove bay leaf before blending to a velvet-smooth puree - Season to taste. Bring back up to heat before serving.

TO SERVE

Ladle hot soup into warmed bowls. Spoon over some warm, caramelised onion, scatter some fresh coriander leaves, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper.

This is just one serving suggestion - the options are endless. You could try:

- Crumbled blue cheese and fresh thyme

- Toasted nuts and seeds, scattered with some chopped parsley

- Crisp fried bacon and sage leaves

- Spoonful of yoghurt and sprinkle of dukkah

It's a good time of year to enjoy a bit of hibernation and some soul food - And to get out and embrace the chilly weather, knowing you have a warm soup to come home to - or to enjoy at work for an easy, healthy lunch.

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Nicola is passionate about good, clean cooking and sharing great food ideas for doctors. Click below to read more from Nicola's series of seasonal food articles:

Always on the go?

The perfect travel kit for you.  

Prescript knows that long hours travelling and being away from home can take their toll.  If you locum in 2016 through Prescript you'll receive either a (MALIN+GOETZ) Essentials Bag or an Aesop Jet Set Kit. Perfect for the weary traveller.  

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If you're a doctor that would like to partner with Prescript Recruitment, we would be delighted to talk to you. Click on the button below to request a call, subscribe for updates or register as a candidate.