BSMAN3003 Exam Case Study – Semester 2, 2016.

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BSMAN3003 Exam Case Study – Semester 2, 2016Work-related stress and stress managementOne of the more distressing tasks that Carol Oates performs is turning away prospectivepatients. 'It's dreadful to have to say "sorry we can't see you",’ says the practice manager atChannel Medical Centre in Kingston, a fast-growing suburb of Hobart, Tasmania.Channel's three full-time and three part-time GPs already see up to fifty patients each dayon eleven-hour shifts, and the clinic has been unable to find enough doctors to ease theworkload. 'It is full-on work. The days are long,’ says Oates. 'There are days when doctorswork through without a break, sometimes not even a cup of tea, starting at about 8 andfinishing at 7.30’.The doctor shortage is also taking its toll at the Woodcroft Medical Centre near Adelaide,where seven doctors (3.5 full-time equivalent) are trying to cope with the needs of 10000 registered patients. The phones start ringing at 8.15 am and rarely stop until the cliniccloses. 'The first hour every day is just crazy, as patients scramble to get an appointment’, saysWoodcroft's principal GP, John Pakos, who closed his books to new patients three years ago.'We have been struggling. A lot of other surgeries around us have closed.' While doctors in Kingston, Woodcroft and other suburban communities have their shareof work overload, the shortage of medical talent and its effect on practitioners is even moreacute in country Australia. 'Many of the rural doctors are overworked and under a lot ofstress,' warns Tony Van Der Spek, who runs a practice in Bendigo, Victoria, where thedoctor-to-patient ratio is 1:2000.Robert McKimm was one of three obstetricians in Sale, Victoria, two decades ago, but hewas the only remaining obstetrician in the I990s. Fortunately, a second specialist recentlymoved into the area to ease the workload. 'If you lose a certain number of your colleagues,you get more and more responsibility thrown on your shoulders, to the point where it's nolonger a viable lifestyle,' says McKimm.Christine Jeffries-Stokes has had an equally challenging time. For two years the Kalgoorliedoctor was the only paediatrician between Perth and Alice Springs, robbing her of anypersonal time off. 'I have been doing this for ten years now and I have repeatedly toldthe Health Department that I cannot keep going on like this - my health and my family aresuffering,' she wrote in a letter to the Western Australia government, A second specialistnow works in the area and a third doctor from Perth is completing paediatric training inKalgoorlie. 'Hopefully it's just going to make my life normal,' said Jeffries-Stokes on hearingabout the most recent appointment.Source: McShane, S. & Travaglione, T. (2007). Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim. (Second edition). North Ryde, N.S.W.: McGraw Hill. P201.

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