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Medical assistants: a primary care workforce solution?
Abbe Anderson1, Judith G Proudfoot, Mark Harris
1GPpartners, Lutwyche, Queensland. abbe.anderson@gppartners.com.au
Background:
A new medical assistant training program has been developed as an innovative solution to the workforce pressures facing general practice in Australia.
Objective:
This article describes the development and implementation of the Australian medical assistant role and training program, and discusses key lessons learned in the 4 years after the first medical assistants were trained.
Discussion:
Medical assistants are trained to carry out delegated administrative and clinical assisting duties specific to the ambulatory care environment. Lessons learned thus far from the introduction of this national qualification include the need to consult widely within the health care profession in the development of new roles, the imperative to bring together health and education sector expertise, the importance of flexible course delivery and the need for clearer role and boundaries definitions. The experience from the program implementation described in this article may help inform further primary care workforce development.
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