Table 2 Payback metrics
Domains of benefit | Categories of impact | Results |
|---|---|---|
Knowledge advancement | Students Presentations Podcast | 108 Students have been exposed to the MPA Program and knowledge about clinical aspects of a general practice 2 Presentations (one at MPA Conference and one to Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton) 581 Views |
MPA Conference | 64 Participants 15 Presentations | |
Online reporting | ||
Capacity building | Graduates Practices Aboriginal Medical Services Rural/Regional locations | 44 Graduates by 1 June 2021 63 Practices with at least 1 student commencing the program in 2018 or 2019 22 Practices with returned MPA graduates by October 2020 2 AMS with an MPA student 30 General practices in rural and regional locations (48% of practices) |
Indigenous graduates | 2 Indigenous graduates | |
Currently working | 22 MPA graduates working in October 2020 | |
Further education | 4 Graduates currently enrolled in further study as a result of completing the MPA Program | |
Confidence to perform skills | Since graduation from the program, 100% of MPA graduates reported increased confidence in: • Handling specimens for onsite testing, • Responding to adverse events, • Measuring height and weight, • Measuring vital signs, • Measuring blood glucose, • Conducting an electrocardiogram, • Conducting colour blindness, visual acuity, audiometry and spirometry testing and providing assistance in the provision of care 91% reported increased confidence in: • Processing reusable medical devices, • Conducting pregnancy testing, • Confirming physical health status • Providing advanced first aid management 82% reported increased confidence in: • Triaging patients, • Complying with infection control Between 63 and 72% reported increased confidence in: • Supporting quality improvement initiatives • Maintaining medication stocks | |
Practice change | Proportion of MPAs performing these tasks since graduating (who were not performing them before) | 100% reported • Measuring vital signs, • Complying with infection control • Maintaining patient records and information systems 91% reported • Measuring blood glucose, • Doing visual acuity, audiometry and spirometry testing 82% reported • Measuring height and weight, • Conducting electrocardiography, • Assisting with delivery of care • Processing reusable medical devices 72% reported • Providing advanced first aid • Confirming physical health status • Pregnancy testing • Maintaining medication and immunisation stocks |
Proportion who are performing these tasks who are competent | •100% reported performing non- clinical tasks like supporting CQI processes, triaging patients, processing accounts, maintaining patient records and information systems, complying with infection control and clinical tasks like measuring vital signs •91% are handling specimens for offsite testing, responding to adverse events, maintaining medication/immunisation stocks, measuring height and weight, blood glucose and testing to colour blindness, visual acuity, audiometry and spirometry | |
Practice nurses reported spending less time on the following tasks | •71% reported spending less time handling specimens for offsite testing •42% spent less time on non-clinical tasks like maintaining patient records, supporting CQI processes and preparing accounts •37.5% spent less time on measuring vital signs, height, weight and blood glucose, pregnancy testing, conducting ECGs, assisting the GP in the delivery of care, processing reusable devices and triaging patients | |
Improved throughput/increased productivity since MPA graduated | •1 GP reported the practice being able to see more patients for blood tests, international normalised ratio (INR) for monitoring of warfarin and electrocardiograms •3 Practice Managers reported their practice seeing between 5 and 12 extra patients per day and the Practice Nurse seeing 2–8 extra patients per day •4 Practice Managers reported an improvement in triaging practice including better medical histories, skills and confidence •3 Practice Managers reported an improvement in CQI processes resulting in better overall work practices, use of RN time and patient satisfaction | |
Community benefit | MPA Graduates | •100% Reported personal and/or professional benefits as a result of the MPA Program •82% Reported an increase in their job satisfaction since completion •90% Reported a positive impact on their practice •45% Have gone on to do further study •36% Have seen a wage increase |
Practice Nurses | •43% Reported greater work satisfaction •43% Reported less stress at work | |
General practitioners | •3 GPs claimed to have increased work satisfaction since MPA Graduate completed their course •1 GP claimed reduced stress | |
Patients | •3 Practice Managers reported an improvement in waiting times (by 50% and at the Diabetes Clinic) •2 Practice Managers had evidence of greater patient satisfaction (received positive feedback from patient and from the patients of the Diabetic Clinic) •1 GP reported improvement in patient care and more resources devoted to patient care and observations | |
Economic benefit | Increased revenue | •3 Practice Nurses claimed a 10% increase in billable items once the MPA had returned and 1 claimed a 5% increase •3 Practice Managers reported their practice seeing between 5 and 12 extra patients per day and the Practice Nurse seeing 2–8 extra patients per day |
Increased earnings for MPA graduates | •4 MPA’s reported increased earnings of between $1.50 and $3.00 per hour totalling between $2974 and $5948 per year (7 reported no increase in wages) |