Medical research – Nurse Practitioner Rural Outreach Model pilot

Charlton Medical is pleased to be part of the Nurse Practitioner Rural Outreach Model pilot program with the Murray PHN. The pilot is one of a series of trial models set up by the Integrated Health Network (IHN) Alliance’s Sustainable Rural Health Project. The models help local health services work with community to create and test new services and strategies aimed at encouraging health professionals to live and work in rural areas long-term. 

Nurse Practitioner, Simone O’Brien, works at Charlton Medical every second Wednesday as part of the pilot. Nurse practitioners are senior registered nurses who have authority to work in an expanded clinical role. There are currently more than 2500 nurse practitioners working in Australia. 

Northern District Community Health CEO, Mandy Hutchinson, says that nurse practitioners are filling a real gap in health care and servicing this need for the community. 

“With many regional and rural towns without general practitioners, nurse practitioners are working collaboratively to ensure that the community receives continuity of high-quality health care. Nurse practitioners work as key members of the healthcare team and collaborate with other nurses and healthcare professionals including GPs, medical and surgical specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers and others,” she said. 

“Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat a variety of health-related conditions and provide some patient rebates through Medicare. They can send and receive referrals, order and read pathology and radiology test results and prescribe medications. Importantly they can help to improve health outcomes for patients, and this is why I, and I hope others, are equally excited to welcome them into our community.” 

With 30 years’ experience in healthcare, Simone credits the joy of helping people for drawing her to nursing. 

“I grew up in Healesville and have spent most of my nursing career working in Bendigo and Heathcote. Rural communities are full of amazing, resilient people. I’m a country girl who loves country people.”

Simone O’Brien works at Charlton Medical every second Wednesday. Simone completed a Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) in 2009 and was endorsed in 2013. She has spent 30 years working in rural health across acute, emergency, aged, palliative and community care. Simone has special interests in patients with complex psychosocial, physical and pain needs as well as women’s health, palliative care and cannabinoid therapies.

Patients who have seen Dr Webb in the past six months are able to see Simone for many common medical services.

Please be aware that data from your visit to Simone may be used to provide information to the pilot researchers. You cannot be identified by this information. There are ethical and legal requirements for both researchers and GPs to protect patient privacy and safety and you will have been asked to consent to your medical information being used for this purpose during your first consultation as a new patient.  It is important for you to remember that you can always request that your data is not used for research purposes and that this will not impact the medical care that you will receive.

You can read more about the research Charlton Medical is involved with in the resource tab of our website. Please feel free to speak to our Privacy Officer, Jeanne Webb, if you would like more information about how we keep your personal and health information private.