PGPPP - Prevocational General Practice Placements Program

The Prevocational GP Placement Program (PGPPP) offers you an opportunity to undertake a dedicated General Practice placement as one of you hospital terms.  The idea of the Program is to provide you with a positive rural experience to help you make an informed decision about General Practice as a career.  Which we at QRME, hope will encourage you to invest your general practice future in rural Queensland.

The PGPPP is a great way to experience General Practice during your hospital training years.

Whether you're seriously considering a GP career or you simply want to gain a deeper insight into primary care, it's an experience that will enhance your medical training.

There are no strings attached - get a taste of general practice while you are still in the hospital system before committing to further training!

What do you get?

Hands-on experience in rural General Practice and procedural medicine in a well-supervised training post where you will be involved in direct care of patients from local communities and the opportunity for follow-up care.  You'll have full responsibility for managing your own patients;  ordering tests, prescribing, and liaising with other health professionals and specialists to develop a clinical plan to manage your patients in their community.  You get to work as a valued colleague in a country practice, live in the community and experience a real change of pace from the hospital setting.

How does it work?

When you participate in this program you will rotate out of your hospital into a General Practice training post in a rural location for up to a 10 to 12 week term.  At the end of your term in General Practice you simply rotate back to your hospital.

While undertaking a PGPPP term you will remain employed by your hospital and continue to be paid by the hospital, accrue leave entitlements, etc.  Your medical indemnity also continues to be met by your hospital.

 FAQ's for PGY 1-3

Interested in  PGPPP?  Talk to your Medical Education Officer or Director of Clinical Training.  Or visit http://www.agpt.com.au/PoliciesPublications/PGPPPBrochure/  http://www.agpt.com.au/PrevocationalTraining/PGPPPHome/

PGPPP Testimonials

St Andrews 7 Day Medical Centre

"I thoroughly enjoyed every part of my ten week PGPPP rotation.  As a hospital intern it can be hard to get an accurate perspective on what a GP career actually entails - St Andrews Medical Centre was a friendly and supportive environment where I was able to experience first hand the GP lifestyle.  I had my own consulting room and saw patients independently at the rate of a junior registrar.  Coming from the hospital environment, where residents often end up just following other people's instructions, I loved the autonomy within this rotation to make diagnoses and management plans myself.  I also felt very well supported, knowing that I could always phone my supervisors for assistance and advice when needed.  Regular hours, proper lunch breaks (!), friendly staff and weekly tutorials helped make this a great rotation and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a GP career as well as to anyone interested in understanding better the working relationship between hospitals and GPs".

Dr Rebecca Currey PGY2 2010

"St Andrews Toowoomba Medical Centre had it's first PGPPP resident at the practice from 22nd March this year.  Rebecca Currey was testing the waters as far as the residents go and she was our "Guinea Pig" as we had no idea what to expect.  Rebecca arrived and became part of the team within a matter of days.  She picked up and ran with the doctors and patients like a pro.  We are happy to say she was the perfect candidate and was more than willing to go along with whatever we had organised for her.  Rebecca was able to attend tutorials, assist with excisions and circumcisions, she also visited nursing home and hospital patients with one of the senior doctors and was more than capable of seeing 3 patients an hour plus, on some occasions, fit in appointments.  From our experience with Rebecca we look forward to continuing with the program and offering the residents a learning experience that will enhance their capabilities and hopefully push them towards becoming Gp's somewhere in the rural area".

Ms Kim Passante, Practice Manager 2010

"PGPPP provides a means for general practitioners to challenge our ways of practice.  Having to justify why and how medical practice is applied in an evidence based context provides a foundation for our own learning and ongoing education.  It is vital that new blood be introduced to facilitate a collegial environment for general practice and medical education.  No greater authentic leaning environment can be provided to a junior doctor than that in general practice through PGPPP.  PGPPP doctors provide a critical role and responsibility in primary patient care.  The true generalist nature of patient presentations provide a constant challenge to our PGPPP doctors.  This term allows junior doctors to undertake a term whereby they truly undertake roles as a doctor in real primary care contexts.For those who may be up for a challenge, get outside the mundane administrative and clerking duties of a hospital resident term through a PGPPP rotation".

Dr Damian Webb, Supervisor 2010