NextGen Medics encourage student doctors to consider working as mobile specialists in rural areas

The mastermind behind a mobile specialist clinic is expanding his campaign to bring vital health services to rural areas struggling to attract medical professionals. Key points: The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland says many regional patients must travel long distances for specialist care Sometimes, distance prevents remote patients from receiving any care at all The NextGen Medics program offers medical students placements with mobile clinics to show them they can live in the city and still treat rural patients Cardiologist Rolf Gomes founded Heart of Australia, which takes specialist services to remote Queenslanders on the back of five trucks. The program takes medical and allied health students along for the ride with mobile Heart of Australia medical clinics, which offer a range of specialist care services, including cardiology, neurology, psychology and gynaecology. Offering flexibility is key Dr Gomes said he was living proof you could be a city-based specialist doctor or allied health professional and still treat patients in rural areas. "We're looking at a long-term workforce sustainability program where some of these medical students might come back and say, 'We had such a good time when you took us out to the regions as a student, we'd like to contribute to regional health care'," he said.