Defining remote health
Defining remote health
Australian Journal of Rural Health
Abstract: Objective: To develop a definition of the discipline of Remote Health. Design: A broad literature search using key words and an Internet search of industry-recognised web sites were carried out. Results: Fifty-five relevant citations and nine web sites were reviewed, covering Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States. The papers offered a variety of definitions of geographical and practice-based approaches to remoteness, and definitions of remote and rural health. Conclusions: None of the single current definitions in the literature adequately reflect all of the characteristics of Remote Health in Australia. A definition is offered: Remote Health is an emerging discipline with distinct sociological, historical and practice characteristics. Its practice in Australia is characterised by geographical, professional and, often, social isolation of practitioners; a strong multidisciplinary approach; overlapping and changing roles of team members; a relatively high degree of GP substitution; and practitioners requiring public health, emergency and extended clinical skills. These skills and remote health systems, need to be suited to working in a cross-cultural context; serving small, dispersed and often highly mobile populations; serving populations with relatively high health needs; and a physical environment of climatic extremes. What this paper adds: In Australia and internationally there are a variety of measures of rurality and remoteness, which have focused on geographical or medical practice-based sociodemographic factors, often related to remuneration scales. With an increasing recognition of and interest in the distinction between Rural Health and Remote Health, there needs to be a better understanding of the characteristics of the emerging discipline of Remote Health which distinguish it from Rural Health practice. This paper searched the international literature for a meaningful definition of Remote Health in the Australian context. There was not one single, appropriate definition, but the information uncovered has contributed to the development of a definition that can inform the work of educators, researchers and policy-makers, and give appropriate recognition to Remote Health practitioners.
- Urls: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00607.x
- Keywords: remote, remote health, remoteness, rural health, rurality