Principles for supporting task substitution in Australian general practice.
The workforce crisis in Australian general practice provides an impetus to consider new roles for other health professionals. Any innovations need to be appraised in advance for their potential risks and benefits. We propose six principles for this appraisal. These are the need for the new roles to: support the relationship between patients and their general practitioners; be clearly defined, aligned with competency and with relevant professional registration; be supported by practice systems providing safeguards against medical error; be underpinned by a system ensuring informed patient consent to activities being undertaken by members of the general practice team; be supported by effective medical indemnity insurance and be supported with appropriate financing.
Kidd
Michael R
MR
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Watts
Ian T
IT
Mitchell
Christopher D
CD
Hudson
Lynton G
LG
Wenck
Beres C
BC
Cole
Naomi J
NJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003406:Credentialing; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D024382:Professional Role; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce