title: External clinical teaching visits in the regionalised environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The external clinical teaching (ECT) visit remains integral to the programs of all regional providers of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 22 regional training providers (RTPs) were contacted by mail and telephone regarding their use of ECT visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were received from 17 of the 22 RTPs. There was considerable variation in approach to visitor training, reporting formats, provision of manuals, and the stated purpose of the visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has provided a clearer picture of how ECT visits are functioning in the regionalised environment. There remains considerable variation in the use of these visits in Australian general practice training. New national guidelines promoting educational quality in ECT visits and protecting the diversity of regionalisation should be implemented. The use of these visits for performance appraisal needs further discussion.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Western Clinical School, The University of Sydney.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kefalas
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usherwood
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans