Doctors trading places: the Isolated Practitioner Peer Support Scheme

We describe the outcomes of a practice exchange in which an isolated general practitioner from a remote region traded work and living arrangements with a rural group practice GP. An exchange can provide an opportunity for mid- and senior-career professionals to refresh their outlook on their careers. Involving the rural medical workforce in practice exchanges can enable the development of peer networks that can improve retention of isolated practitioners in Australia. A fresh experience in a new setting can provide opportunities for practitioners to improve practice management and sharpen their clinical skills. Uprooting families and preparing homes for unfamiliar visitors add stress to doctors and their families on exchange. Patients in isolated practices could feel concerned that they may lose their doctor as a result of an exchange. In this instance, the benefits far outweighed the difficulties.