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CHALLENGES TO RURAL MEDICAL EDUCATION: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Author(s) -
Delaney Gabrielle,
Lim Siv Eing,
Sar Lee,
Yang Shu Ching,
Sturmberg Joachim P.,
Khadra Mohammed H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2002.tb00027.x
Subject(s) - obstacle , curriculum , perspective (graphical) , medical education , health care delivery , health care , medicine , nursing , psychology , computer science , pedagogy , artificial intelligence , political science , law , economics , economic growth
The key feature of the Greater Murray Clinical School model is the attachment of students to patients. Students follow their patients through the health care system, in contrast to the standard approach where students are attached to doctors or speciality based clinical units. The patient/student coupling occurs at the primary care level, which mostly but not exclusively will occur in the GP's office. Students anchor their knowledge by seeing the natural progression of common illnesses, the impact of behavioural aspects on health and disease, and by experiencing continuity of care. Along their path they develop good problem solving skills and learn to understand the health care system they will become part of. The main obstacle in teaching a medical undergraduate curriculum in a rural setting is that large geographical distances separate students, teachers and resources. Consequently, information technology will play an important role in terms of delivery of the GMCS curriculum. Moreover, there is potential for flow‐on benefits to the community following integration of new information technology into the local health infrastructure.