News
Finalist 2008 Telstra NSW Business Awards
18th August 2008
Ochre Health Group are finalists in the 2008 Telstra NSW Business Awards. We're up against the brightest out there, and that's fantastic! Well done to all the team at Ochre. We wouldn't be here without…New doctor starts in Lightning Ridge
8th July 2008
Dr Obinna Ekeocha started as a GP in Lightning Ridge at the Ridge Medical Centre. He will also be covering the roster for the Lightning Ridge Multi Purpose Service. Ochre Health is currently progressing other…Three Ochre medical centres selected for Australian Primary Care Collaboratives program
7th May 2008
The objective of the program is to encourage and support general practice in delivering rapid, measureable, systematic and sustainable improvements in the care they deliver to patients. This is an exciting opportunity…Area Health Services
The Ochre Health Group provides a range of specialist health services to government tailored to meet the needs of rural and remote communities.
These services include recruiting permanent doctors to staff rural community Medical Centres and hospitals. Ochre Health’s specialist recruitment division maintains a comprehensive database of more than 1,000 registered medical practitioners. This resource allows Ochre to efficiently source medical staff to meet a rural community’s specific health service needs.
Ochre Recruitment has a proven record of effectively recruiting doctors in all Australian states and territories and in New Zealand. The company is highly experienced in recruiting doctors who are both Australian Graduates and International Medical Graduates. Additionally, Ochre has several Area of Need positions and a proven record in meeting immigration, District of Workforce Shortage and Medical Board supervision requirements for overseas doctors.
Ochre Health is diligent in implementing its duty of care to screen every doctor it contracts to ensure they are capable of delivering an excellent standard of health care. This diligence is supported by a commitment to provide ongoing continuing professional development to recruited doctors. This includes the capacity to deliver Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Paediatric Advanced Life Support training.
Drawing on a comprehensive base of medical and management experience, Ochre Health can establish and manage a highly-professional Medical Centre in rural and remote locations. All Ochre Medical Centres meet the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners accreditation standards. Nurses are also engaged at Ochre Medical Centres to assist doctors in chronic disease management.
Ochre’s experience and research clearly shows that providing quality primary care reduces the demand on hospital services and benefits government and the public.
By contracting Ochre Health to supply a fully-managed health solution, governments responsible for providing high-quality health services have more control of budget outlays compared to fee-for-service arrangements. The contract arrangement also allows the health service to stipulate minimum service guarantees for a quality medical service.
Case Study 1: Increase in Number of Doctors
In a town of 1,500 people, a hospital with 8 acute beds and 12 long-stay beds had been historically staffed with one doctor. That doctor left and was followed by a string of 22 locums over the next 12 months. Within one week of the hospital contracting Ochre Health to supply medical services and manage the town’s Medical Centre, two medical practitioners were in place - one being the community’s first female GP. The service has been very successful with at least one permanent doctor based in the town for the past five years.
Case Study 2: Continuity of Procedural Services
In a community of more than 3,000 people, a hospital of 20 acute beds and 12 long-stay beds and operating theatre was at risk of losing is Visiting Medical Officers and obstetric service. Since signing a service contract with Ochre Health in 2003, the hospital has been staffed with no gaps in the general on-call roster and maintains an obstetric service.