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Distressed doctors: a hospital‐based support program for poorly performing and “at‐risk” junior medical staff
Author(s) -
Dwyer Alison J,
Morley Peter,
Reid Esther,
Angelatos Cassandra
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb03063.x
Subject(s) - workforce , medicine , confidentiality , nursing , health care , family medicine , medical emergency , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Despite “safe‐hours” campaigns and doctors health programs, “at‐risk” behaviour and suicides still occur in junior doctors. A recent national survey found that 46% of junior doctors believed that their hospital administration was not supportive. The Royal Melbourne Hospital has developed a comprehensive program for preventing and identifying at‐risk behaviour and supporting junior doctors, tailored to the individual's needs. Patient and individual doctor safety is paramount, and confidential collaboration between medical workforce and medical education structures, clinical supervisors and the Victorian Doctors Health Program is required. The boundaries of the hospital's “duty of care” for those who do not want assistance is unclear, and balancing increased supervision within a limited workforce is challenging.