Mackay Hospital and Health Service has welcomed a record number of 46 intern doctors this year.
Chief Executive Lisa Davies Jones said it was pleasing Mackay was the first preference for the new doctors.
Ms Davies Jones said some of the group had spent time in Mackay on placement as medical students.
The group includes eight on the Rural Generalist Pathway during which they will develop advanced skills they need to work in rural communities.
“We’re so pleased they have decided to come back. Mackay is the perfect place to transition from student to doctor,” Ms Davies Jones said.
“We have an excellent training program and a modern facility that is led by an experienced and dedicated team of medical professionals.
“Interns will be in a position to take advantage of the varying opportunities regional and rural health facilities present.”
Ms Davies Jones said Mackay was fortunate to have a state of the art simulation centre where interns can undertake real life case scenarios just as they would encounter in the ward or emergency department.
“The interns will go on to complete their training at the Mackay Base, Bowen, Proserpine and Mater hospitals, and a local GP exposing them to a wide variety of different experiences and medical situations.”
The internship consists of three core rotations in general medicine, general surgical and emergency medicine and electives chosen from obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, rural hospital, general practice and intensive care.
“We always hope the junior doctors choose to continue their training in Mackay at the end of their internship.
“There are good opportunities for doctors to stay here and move into programs such as the general practice training, psychiatry, anaesthetics, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and emergency medicine,” she said.
Director of Clinical Training Dr Stephen Lambert said the majority were graduates of James Cook University and the University of Queensland.
The interns will spend their first two weeks at Mackay Base Hospital completing an orientation program followed by rotations through different specialties.
Some will also spend time in Bowen and Proserpine hospitals.
“The interns are buddied with a 2020 intern as part of their orientation and we find that it helps the new doctors settle in and get some tips on how to manage their workflow and processes,” Dr Lambert said.
“It’s a confidence boost as well to get some advice from someone who has been in your shoes just a year ago.”
The 2021 intern year has allocated more time in the core rotations of medicine and surgery, to allow interns to mature their skills before gaining more experience preparing for specialty training in their resident year.
Dr Lambert said about half of last year’s interns have chosen to stay in Mackay.
“We have improved retention of interns from previous year and one reason is we have created a program where they can spend longer times in a chosen speciality such as general surgery or orthopaedics.”
More Information
Danielle Jesser, Media and Communications Manager
mhhs-comms@health.qld.gov.au
Phone 0417 756 221
