Professional Practices and Health Service in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia

This article discusses the features and challenges of health service delivery in rural and remote areas of Australia, as well as the impact on health professional practices. It also provides recommended solutions for issues such as shortage of pharmacists and logistic problems.

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Professional Practices and Health Service

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Features of health service delivery..................................................................................................4
Relation of definition of remote health with respect to the Wakerman’s definition...................5
Identification of issues of health service delivery...........................................................................5
Impact of determined features and issues on health professional practices....................................7
Recommended solutions for issues..................................................................................................7
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
The main purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate the professional practices and health
service delivery in the rural and remote areas of Australia country. In relation to this, the relevant
article is referenced as Cross-sector, seasonal employment of pharmacists in rural hospitals in
Australia and New Zealand: a qualitative study exploring pharmacists’ perceptions and
experiences. In context to the chosen journal, the features and challenges of health services are
also elaborated to reach at conclusion for required actions in order to improve the health service.
In addition to this, the Wakerman’s definition of remote health is also assesses with the exploring
challenges in detailed manner. On the other hand, the suggested actions are also proposed in
order to improve the health practices in delivering the health service in rural and remote context
Australia.

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Features of health service delivery
The BMC health services research based journal has been chosen as cross sector, seasonal
employment of pharmacist in rural hospitals of Australia and New Zealand. In relation to the
evolution of health care paper, it is determined that the population of Australia is increasing with
rapid force that directly leads towards the need of significant health services in the rural and
remote areas of Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, aging population will also
increase over the 65 years from 13% to 23% which is a dynamic indication towards the
enhancement of health service (Dent, Harden and Hunt, 2017). This study is explored in the
Australian rural and remote areas where there is lacking of pharmacist where the pharmacist is
an important part of the hospital to provide the reliable and on time service to the patients. In
relation to this, the pharmacist are not found available on time where there is a need for cure of
patients.
The major features of this health service are to provide the efficient and effective service to the
patients so that the quality management of medication can be leaded into adverse manner. In
relation to this, the health services are not delivered in better manner so the sectional and cross –
sector aspects in medication is exists so the medical service can be provided in significant
manner. With respect to this, the general practitioners are providing the service at rural areas
hospital to review and deliver the primary care services. In relation to the features or
characteristics of health service, the private and public partnership also exists which is adopted to
optimize the resources in making the health service better (Fitzpatrick, Perkins, Luland, Brown
and Corvan, 2017). From engaging with interviewing the 17 respondents, it is determined that
the all the pharmacist have worked in the different hospital and have seasonal experience to

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deliver the required service at the rural and remote areas of Australia and New Zealand. From the
assessment of features of health service delivery, the collaboration and communication is also
plasticized as a major aspect for enabling the rural people to provide the service in medication
treatment.
Relation of definition of remote health with respect to the Wakerman’s definition
In context to the definition of remote context by the Wakerman, he stated that the remote health
is determined as the emerging discipline where the isolation of practices are carried out,
overlapping and changing the role of team members in the medication service. With reference to
the selected case, the role of nurses has been changed as the nurses in the rural and remote areas
providing the all types of service to the patients for improving the health in emergency case. As
the nurse engaged into the recording of information, logistic and supply of resources for the
medical treatment (Speyer, Denman, Wilkes-Gillan, Chen, Bogaardt, Kim, Heckathorn and
Cordier, 2018). At the same time, Wakerman described that the emergency discipline at rural
areas is determined as there the high population and staff is very less and providing the service
comes under the remote health. Along with this, the current edge of medical development is
integrating with the technologies but many rural and remote areas are lacking in the
technological resources so that the better cure can also be lacking into behind. Moreover, the
general practitioners are also working in the cross culture environment as general practitioners
are coming into the local and rural areas for delivering the health service.
Identification of issues of health service delivery
Over the analysis of chosen journal of practitioners health service, it is identified that the rural
areas of Australian community is facing the problem of shortage of pharmacist to provide the
positive implications as it need to enhance the treatment and the adverse impact can be reduced.

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At the same time, the pharmacist are also not found while working at on – site. In addition to
this, it is also determined that the medication management is also not carried out in effective
manner as the staff as nurses are facing the issues due to the lower management support. On the
other hand, it is also assessed that the nurses are working on behalf of pharmacist as the nurses
are providing the services of providing the medication supply and basics medical services (Tan,
Emmerton, Hattingh and Caze, 2014). In addition to this, the nurses are also facing the issues of
clinical and logistic challenges because of the lacking support from top management of hospital
service. From the interview of respondents, it is also identified that the hospitals are also facing
the challenge of not having proper resources as bed and the number of bed are found less than 50
in the rural areas so it is critical for the health service to manage the emergency in the hospitals.
Furthermore, it is also assessed that the lacking of resources might lead towards the poor quality
service which directly influences the health of rural and remote areas.
In relation to this, it is also assessed that the hospital management is also not taking any action
toward the improvement of health service in the local areas of Australia and New Zealand. It is
also pointed out that the retention and recruitment strategy is also not taken into consideration to
hire the skilled pharmacist for the rural and remote areas. Furthermore, it is also detained that the
government is also not taking seriously the matter of health service in order to provide the
pharmacist in rural areas.

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Impact of determined features and issues on health professional practices
The health professional practices will get influenced in big manner from the determined features
and issues in delivery of healthcare services. There will be opportunity for the healthcare
professionals to develop their career in the rural care services. The curricula of health
professional will be evolved in big societal context and may be influenced by the number of
different factors. The regional healthcare committee have been identified a range of number of
different forces with the possible to influence sustainability, curriculum development and
implementation in health professional practices. The factors that will influence to the
professional practices are training, licensure, and accreditation and certification requirements to
provide healthcare services in professional manner (Cunningham et al., 2012). As the population
of Australia in increasing in rapid manner so that it is generating the opportunities for the care
professionals in rural and remote areas. In addition, the aged population also covers a big part of
the total population of the country, which is indicating enhancement of health professional
practices in the country. It is analyzed that there is lack of healthcare services in rural and remote
areas of the country so that there is a big need of professional care services in these areas. These
areas are demanding the processional care services and providing better opportunities for the
professional practices (Speyer, Denman, Wilkes-Gillan, Chen, Bogaardt, Kim, Heckathorn and
Cordier, 2018). In addition, the issues such as shortage of pharmacist in rural and remote and the
logistic problems are also presenting opportunities for the health professional practices.
Recommended solutions for issues
There are several ways through which these issues can be eliminated in effective manner. The
major recommendations are discussed as below:

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Open new training and practice centers in rural and remote areas:
The Australian government can reduce the issues related to healthcare services in remote and
rural areas through opening new training and practices centers. New training and practice centers
will attract the unemployed people to take training to get job. The regional government should
invest in these areas to support the healthcare industry and reduce the lack of pharmacists and
support the nurses to provide better care services. It is a good option of reducing the issue of
health care services in remote and rural areas
Increase staffing in the rural care centers:
It is observed that the number of staff in rural care organization is less, which is a big issue in
care services. In this concern, the government should recruit new staff in rural areas to remove
this issue and support the professional care practices in these areas (Paul and McDaniel, 2016).
Improve logistic services to rural and remote areas:
It is also big issue in rural and remote areas that they are not connected to urban areas and
developed cities in proper manner. Due to weak logistic services the individuals are facing
several issues in getting proper treatment for serious care issues. In this concern, the government
should also have proper focus on this issue and improve the logistic system in rural and remote
areas.
Provide support to care organizations to open care centers in rural areas:
The authority can also reduce the issues of care services in rural and remote areas by providing
support to the care organization to open new clinics in rural areas. The government should make
flexible and easy process for the care organizations to open their care centers in rural areas. As
well as the government also provide financial support to the health care professionals to increase

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better care services in rural and remote areas (Tan et al., 2014). The government support will
motivate the health care practitioners to improve their services in these areas.
Provide additional benefits for the professionals in rural and remote areas:
Additional benefits will attract the employees to do their job in a specific area. In this concern,
the government should provide additional benefits for the care professionals who are providing
their services in rural and remote areas. Due to additional benefits the care professional will try
to go in these areas. In this concern, the government can reduce the lack of care professionals in
rural and remote areas by offering additional benefits for the care professionals.

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Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the rural and remote areas are facing a big
issue of care professional practices and health service delivery in Australia. There are several
factors and issues in care services that are influencing to health professional practices. In this
concern, it is essential for the government to consider these factors and issues to develop the care
services in rural and remote areas to develop a healthy life style.

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References
Cunningham, F. C., Ranmuthugala, G., Plumb, J., Georgiou, A., Westbrook, J. I., & Braithwaite,
J. (2012). Health professional networks as a vector for improving healthcare quality and safety: a
systematic review. BMJ Qual Saf, 21(3), 239-249.
Dent, J., Harden, R.M. & Hunt, D., (2017). A practical guide for medical teachers. USA:
Elsevier Health Sciences.
Fitzpatrick, S.J., Perkins, D., Luland, T., Brown, D. & Corvan, E., (2017). The effect of context
in rural mental health care: Understanding integrated services in a small town. Health & place,
45, pp.70-76.
Paul, D. L., & McDaniel, R. R. (2016). Facilitating telemedicine project sustainability in
medically underserved areas: a healthcare provider participant perspective. BMC health services
research, 16(1), 148.
Speyer, R., Denman, D., Wilkes-Gillan, S., Chen, Y.W., Bogaardt, H., Kim, J.H., Heckathorn,
D.E. & Cordier, R., (2018). Effects of telehealth by allied health professionals and nurses in rural
and remote areas: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of rehabilitation medicine,
50(3), pp.225-235.
Tan, A., Emmerton, L., Hattingh, H. & Caze, A. (2014). Cross-sector, sessional employment of
pharmacists in rural hospitals in Australia and New Zealand: a qualitative study exploring
pharmacists’ perceptions and experiences. BMC Health Service Research, 1-10.