Pilot Program Proves Win-Win for Medical Students and Practices

Waitaha Canterbury recently piloted an initiative to integrate medical students into part-time roles at six general practices, aiming to reduce general practitioners’ (GPs) administrative workload and offer students hands-on experience in primary care.

Led by the Primary Care Taskforce (PCTF), the pilot saw students take on tasks like reviewing clinical inboxes, annotating letters and processing discharge summaries that reduced the administrative load on GPs. In the 2022 Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners survey 94% of respondents identified administrative tasks as a major factor in burnout.

Both general practices and students provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about the pilot. The evaluation of the pilot practices reported a noticeable reduction in GPs' workloads, freeing up time for more clinical work.

Four practices also noted improved GP wellbeing due to reduced pressure. Rakaia Medical Centre GP, Sue Fowlie said, “Having a medical student assist with managing my inbox was incredibly helpful. It not only saved me valuable time but also provided the student with valuable exposure to a wide range of medical results and correspondence, benefiting both of us in the process."

For the students, the pilot offered a unique chance to experience the realities of general practice. Students also reported no negative impact on their studies, noting that the flexibility to work remotely was a significant advantage.

PCTF Chair, Kim Burgess, said, “The PCTF aims to initiate small local actions that support capacity and workforce in General Practice. This project has successfully helped manage clinical admin workload, improving satisfaction and reducing the risk of burnout for GPs.”

The PCTF is now exploring how to expand the initiative, with work underway to create a sustainable model that facilitates ongoing employment of medical students in general practices and ideally helps increase the number of doctors choosing general practice as a career.