What do you enjoy most about being a rural hospital doctor?
“I love the diversity of what we see,” Matilda says. “From acute resuscitation across all ages to in-patient care, rehabilitation and palliative care, we get to work across a huge range of areas. That can also be a challenge; you don’t have the luxury of getting really comfortable in a single area. You need to be able to jump into a lot of different things, and you need to be constantly reviewing the guidelines and seeking advice – you must be open to learning.”
“From acute resuscitation across all ages to in-patient care, rehabilitation and palliative care, we get to work across a huge range of areas. That can also be a challenge; you don’t have the luxury of getting really comfortable in a single area. You need to be able to jump into a lot of different things, and you need to be constantly reviewing the guidelines and seeking advice – you must be open to learning.”
One of the biggest highlights for Matilda is the continuity of care she is able to provide her patients.
“We see the patients from the day they arrive until the day they leave and get to build really good relationships with them along the way.”
For Matilda, the diversity offered by the DRHM programme and the people contact were real highlights.
“You get to nurture your skills so that you can do a wide range of jobs. You’re working in small, tightly knit communities, where you can really get to know those you work with – and those you care for – in a meaningful way.”
While Matilda really enjoyed the programme, she says being a rural hospital doctor is not without its challenges.
“I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility. You know, I’m aware of the struggles our rural areas are facing…hospitals reach saturation point very quickly, and that is a hard burden for one person to carry, when you can only do so much yourself.”
Despite this, Matilda says she’d encourage up-and-coming doctors to undertake the DRHM programme.
“If you enjoy diversity and connection with the community that you’re servicing I would definitely suggest doing rural medicine. There are so many options – you can really create your own pathway. The other great thing is that the teachers and senior doctors guiding you have a vested interest in helping you – so you’ll have a great experience and gain a lot from the programme.”
“If you enjoy diversity and connection with the community that you’re servicing I would definitely suggest doing rural medicine. There are so many options – you can really create your own pathway. The other great thing is that the teachers and senior doctors guiding you have a vested interest in helping you – so you’ll have a great experience and gain a lot from the programme.”
To find out more about the DRHM programme, visit our website. Matilda’s CME-webinars will be held on 14 October at 7.30pm, and you can pre-register here.