The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) program is a 19-week apprenticeship model of experiential learning in a rural community for Year 5 JMP students. Students see patients with their GP supervisor and then follow the patient journey to hospital, allied health services, rehabilitation, aged care and returning home to their community.
Here, we meet LIC supervising doctor (Inverell) Cheryl McIntyre, of Inverell Medical Centre and Inverell Hospital.
Tell us a little about yourself.
After studying in Sydney, we left to return to my husband’s hometown of Inverell. We were both very happy to leave the big smoke and head rural. I joined Evans St Surgery as a registrar on the Family Medicine Program in January 1999 and stayed here ever since. Evans St Surgery moved to our current site in July 2015 and renamed ourselves Inverell Medical Centre (as we were no longer on Evans St). I used my time in Sydney well with the aim of providing women’s health and GP services and did additional training in obstetrics/paediatrics with that goal in mind.
How are you involved with the LIC program?
I co-supervise the LIC medical students during their time in Inverell Medical Centre and in Inverell Hospital for deliveries and in theatre for caesareans.
Why should med students participate in the LIC? Why should they train in Inverell?
I think it would open the eyes of the young doctors of tomorrow to see what the challenges and rewards are for providers of health care in rural towns. The continuity of care and connection with community over many years is amazing and the provision of care away from the larger referral centres will ensure you use all of your skills.
Tell us about the facilities you work in.
We have three full-time GPs, a couple of part-time ones, GP registrars (numbers vary), five nurses/midwives, five reception staff, visiting specialists and allied health. There is plenty of variety in our work and in the locality, as we also cover a couple of nursing homes. There is no time for boredom and, as we have been a teaching practice since the 1970s, everyone is used to having students as a part of our team.
What do you consider the benefits of practicing medicine in country areas?
Fresh air, great people, no traffic jams - no traffic lights either! Free parking and lots of grateful patients.
Why did you get into medicine?
To help people.
What is one piece of advice you might offer upcoming medical students?
Give rural a go!
What do you enjoy doing outside of your work?
Bushwalking and birdwatching, time with family.
What do you hope the LIC program will accomplish?
Bring more doctors for the bush.
Is there anything you would like to include?
Doing the rural LIC will equip you well for the years ahead.
