A/Prof. Alison Dwyer1, Dr Tony Sara1,5, A Prof Peter Thomas1,3, A Prof Andrew Johnson1,4, Ms Debbie Greenberger1
1Eastern Health, Australia, 2Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, Australia, 3Northern Beaches Hospital, Healthscope, Australia, 4Townsville University Hospital, Australia, 5South East Sydney Local Health District, Australia
RACMA Members are often the sole individual Medical Administrator in an organization. The roles require significant, complex clinical and corporate judgements which are often sensitive and confidential. Many Members report feeling professional isolation due to the nature of the decisions they have to make, and may be compounded geographically by rural and regional location.
Under the guidance of a Medical Workforce Planning Working Group, a 6 month pilot Peer Support Group (PSG) was commenced in 2021, to explore the College’s role in facilitating new Fellows or geographically or professionally isolated Fellows to connect in the concept of community practice and peer support.
The PSG comprises three, geographically linked, facilitated groups who met for six sessions over six months. The objective of the meetings was to provide a forum in which its participants can discuss topics with their peers where they are not able to do so via other means due to their professional isolation. They would include but are not limited to:
- Problem solving and brainstorming.
- Confidential collegiate discussions.
- Peer support, collaboration, and consultation.
- Reflective practice.
Facilitators were required to have more than five years’ experience post Fellowship. An evaluation of the participants and facilitators experiences of the Peer Support Program is due in June.
This presentation will outline the development of the Peer support program, and key learnings arising from the evaluation and implications for ongoing sustainability of the Peer Support Program within RACMA.
Biography:
Alison Dwyer is the Chief Medical Officer at Eastern Health, a major tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne. Alison is also a Board Director of Peninsula Health, and Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee. Alison is the current Chair of the Medical Administrative Workforce Planning Group for the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, and has a strong involvement in the training of medical administration registrars as a current Supervisor, Preceptor and Examination Censor.
Alison has a strong passion for medical staff well-being, engaging medical staff in quality and the role of the Medical Administrator in health services.