The evolving role of community-based general paediatricians: The Barwon experience

Objective: To detail the acute and chronic paediatric service and community -orientated activities and responsibilities of community-based general paed iatricians. Methodology: Data were collected over the 12 months July 1996 to June 1997 relevant to (i) acute neonatology and paediatrics, (ii) the different commu nity paediatric service organizations with which the paediatricians were in volved, and (iii) the quantification of the amount of time spent in non-con sulting paediatric work. Results: Findings revealed decreasing hospital admissions, infrequent sever e neonatal resuscitation requirements, extensive involvement in community o rganizations and a great deal of time spent in non-consulting paediatric wo rk. Conclusions: Ongoing training and upgrading in acute paediatric diagnostic and procedural skills, rationalization of resuscitation expertise, training in management and administrative skills and models of care for the chronic ally ill should become part of the training of community-based general paed iatricians.