Riverland Mallee Coorong Training Network

Barmera Health Service is a 20-bed facility for people receiving acute medical treatment. It also features 81 residential care places and 62 independent living units on site. Maternity services for the Barmera community are available at the nearby Riverland General Hospital in Berri.

Riverland Community Health Services provide therapeutic nursing and allied health professional services, specialised assessment, in-home support services, health promotion and advice on health issues.

The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) is run in collaboration with the Barmera Health Service and the Barmera Medical Clinic, which is recognised for their highly experienced doctors who will provide you with excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities. The Barmera Hospital is an integrated aged care facility and hospital inpatient facility collocated with comprehensive general practice in a single campus.

Services provided in Barmera include, ​Aboriginal health, aged care (community and centre based), allied and community health, mental health, inpatient care, residential aged care (Bonney Lodge – 50 beds, Hawdon House – 31 beds and 62 Retirement Village Units) and a  comprehensive general practice.

The RACE will provide training opportunities in 2022 for Internship in Barmera Health Service and Barmera Medical Clinic is Aged care/General practice and in 2023 for Advanced Skill Training in palliative care.

Barmera Health Service

Barmera Medical Clinic provides general practice consulting from rooms attached to the Barmera Hospital and offers care for hospital inpatients and a large number of residents of two residential aged care facilities also co-located with the clinic and hospital.

Barmera Medical Clinic was the first Riverland general practice to achieve accreditation through AGPAL on 17 December 1999 and have maintained accreditation since. This is an ongoing process which requires a team effort from all our staff and doctors.

As a RACGP accredited teaching practices in South Australia (since 1990), Barmera has regularly been involved in the Rural Registrar Program and each year they have welcomed and train these registrars. Since 1997 Barmera Medical Clinic have hosted Flinders University Rural Clinical School (FURCS) 3rd year PRCC students.  The clinic has also taken the opportunity to host medical students from the John Flynn program as well as Flinders nursing students. They value their reputation as a general practice which has provided excellent ongoing medical education to numerous students and young Doctors over the years.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Annette Newson former RACGP Rural Faculty Board member and who is interested in all aspects of general practice and family medicine.

Dr Raphael Torome who is an experienced rural generalist who is interested in general practice, skin cancer medicine, men’s health and geriatrics.

Barmera Medical Clinic

Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence program will be situated in the Riverland General Hospital and in collaboration together with the Berri Medical Clinic, a modern family general practice and an AGPAL accredited general practice and are highly involved in the promotion of rural general practice training and education of young doctors. The practice and local GP’s also provide after-hours emergency care, 24 hours per day, every day to the wider Riverland community through a shared on-call roster in the emergency department of Riverland General Hospital. This includes surgical, medical, paediatric, anaesthetics and obstetrics inpatient, on-call and emergency services. Medical students from Flinders University study at the clinic and GP Registrars from the GPEX training program work under the supervision of the clinic’s experienced senior doctors.

The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence program will provide training opportunities for Internship based at the Riverland General Hospital and Berri Medical Clinic are surgery, general medicine and emergency/general practice. Positions available for PGY2 are anaesthetics/general practice, emergency/general practice and obstetrics/general practice. Advanced skill training positions available in 2022 are adult internal medicine, anaesthetics (JCCA), emergency medicine, mental health and obstetrics (DRANZCOG). Future advanced skill training opportunities may be indigenous health, palliative care, surgery and women’s health.

Riverland General Hospital

Berri Medical Clinic is part of the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence program partnering with the Riverland General Hospital (RGH). It is a modern family and AGPAL general practice highly involved in the promotion of rural general practice training and education of young doctors. The practice and local GP’s provide after-hours emergency care, 24/7 to the wider Riverland community through a shared, on-call roster in the RGH emergency department. This includes surgical, medical, paediatric, anaesthetics and obstetrics inpatient, on-call and emergency services. Medical students from Flinders University study at the clinic and GP Registrars from the GPEx training program work under the supervision of the clinic’s experienced senior doctors.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Kevin Stanton our most experienced PRCC supervisor in Australia and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1980. After further in hospital training in anaesthetics, obstetrics, paediatrics and psychiatry he spent four years in general practice in Adelaide. He moved to Berri in 1988 fulfilling his ambition of being a country GP. His current medical interests include obstetrics, paediatrics, emergency and trauma medicine, and general practice. He teaches the Advanced Life Support course in obstetrics throughout Australia.

Dr John Dunn studied at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1981. After spending his intern year in Adelaide, he went to the UK to study obstetrics, paediatrics and general medicine. He had been in Berri since 1984 and is interested in all aspects of general practice with special interests in obstetrics, paediatrics, mental health and skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Berri Medical Clinic

Loxton Hospital Complex is a comprehensive hospital, separate from a modern, purpose-built general practice. It is part of the RMCLHN and is located within the District Council of Loxton Waikerie.

Loxton is approximately 263 kilometres north east of Adelaide and 20 kilometres north east of Riverland General Hospital (RGH) in Berri. Services provided at the Loxton Hospital Complex include accident and emergency, anaesthetics, acute inpatient, aged care, elective surgery, maternity and obstetrics, paediatrics, mental health, community services and various associated and clinical support services.

The hospital features 22 beds and has four renovated suites offering comfortable surrounds during the patients’ health journey. There are 58 residential care places and domiciliary care. The practice supports the nurse practitioner who provides services to the Murray and Mallee region.

Several visiting specialist services are provided at the hospital including urologist, psychiatrist, gynaecologist, dentist, orthopaedic surgeon, general surgeon and an allergist. The Community Health Service works in partnership with the acute services and other providers to promote, maintain and restore the health and wellbeing of residents of Loxton and the surrounding area.

The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence (RACE) program will provide training at the modern Loxton Hospital Complex together with the Loxton Medical Clinic, which is recognised for its strong team of rural obstetricians and experienced doctors who will provide you with excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities.

The RACE training opportunity provided at the Loxton Hospital Complex and Loxton Health Centre is PGY2 in paediatrics/general practice.

Loxton Hospital Complex

Loxton Health Centre is a general family practice that aims to enhance the quality of life of the people of Loxton and surrounding areas. The practice is committed to medical education and trains medical students to become future doctors. It also trains junior doctors to become general practitioners, ultimately benefitting our practice and rural family practice in general, and recognizes the importance of maintaining their own medical knowledge and skills to ensure the quality of their services is maintained and improved.

The practice encourages good health through preventive medicine and active health promotion and strive to achieve of values of excellence, accountability, compassion, teamwork, integrity, respect and collaboration. There is a large team of highly experienced doctors in Loxton who provide excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities.

The practice and GP’s also provide after-hours emergency care, 24/7  to the wider Riverland community through a shared on-call roster in the emergency department of Loxton Hospital Complex. This includes surgical, medical, paediatric, anaesthetics and obstetrics inpatient, on-call and emergency services. There are a number of visiting specialist services including urologist, psychiatrist, gynaecologist, dentist, orthopaedic surgeon and a general surgeon.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Cameron Robertson has been at Loxton practice since the end of 1996, apart from a sea-change year in 2008 when he went to Port Macquarie. Whilst in Loxton, he continues to enjoy a healthy anaesthetic practice both in the Loxton Hospital Complex, and the Riverland General Hospital. He has also maintained an enthusiasm to help in the training and supervision of GP Registrars over many years. His other significant medical interests include diabetes, sports medicine, skin cancer screening and management and older person health.

Dr Jo Rutzen graduated from The University of Adelaide and worked at Modbury Hospital and the Lyell McEwin Health Service before her first experience of working in Rural General Practice in Barmera in 1998. In 2000, after several months in Germany, she returned to the Riverland to work at Loxton Health Centre as a Rural General Practice Registrar and apart from 12 months working in anaesthetics at Lyell McEwin Health Service, she has remained in Loxton ever since. She works part time and her special interest areas include anaesthetics, women’s health and medical student education.

“What excites me about Rural General Practice is the unique journey that I take with each patient who walks through the door, presenting a challenge to my knowledge and skills and an opportunity to improve his/her health and subsequently that of the local community.”

Loxton Health Centre

Mannum District Hospital and Karoonda and District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital are the local hospitals for a large component of the Mallee region. In addition to acute inpatient care, the hospitals collaborate with the Community Health Service to promote maintain and restore the health and wellbeing of residents.

Services provided at the Mannum Hospital include residential aged care services (including dementia), acute inpatient care, 24/7 accident and emergency, outpatient services, antenatal and post-natal maternity services, palliative care (hospital and community based), domiciliary care, diversional activities (day centre), allied health services, mental health services, community health and out of hospital services and access to medical services (General Practitioner and specialists).

The RACE training opportunity provided at the Mannum District Hospital and Karoonda and District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and Mannum Medical Clinic is PGY2 in paediatrics/general practice, obstetrics/general practice and mental health.

Mannum District Hospital

Karoonda & District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

Mannum Medical and Karoonda Medical Centre are a busy general practices that provides comprehensive general practice, emergency and inpatient services to the people of Mannum and Karoonda and surrounding areas.  The practice’s doctors are enthusiastically committed to providing 24-hour comprehensive general practice care to all individuals and families in the community. The Mannum Medical is situated adjacent the Mannum District Hospital and overlooking the River Murray. It has grown in recent years due to the increasing population and tourists demands.

The Practice also provides an ideal training ground for registrars and medical students and currently hosts an intern on rotation from Adelaide and several GP registrars. The practice is also an exemplar teaching practice for the Flinders University PRCC program.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Peter Joyner is a GP at Mannum and Chair of the RMCLHN Governing Board. In 2007, Country Health SA brought active GPs into its administration and Peter was appointed the first GP Consultant covering the area of emergency medicine. In 2009, he became the first GP employed as a Director of Emergency Services for Country Health SA. He is the former Executive Director of Medical Services at Riverland General Hospital and former Chairman of the Adelaide to Outback Training Provider.

Dr Stephen Napoli our GP at Mannum and recently completing a Certificate in Emergency Medicine with the intent to pass on this information through training and teaching other students and doctors in the Medical Centre. He also has post graduate qualifications in obstetrics and paediatrics and find these aspects of rural practice very rewarding.

Mannum Medical

Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital is the major regional health provider for the Mallee Coorong region. It is collocated with Murray Mallee Community Health Service and provides a range of services to the community including 24-hour emergency department, day surgery, operating theatres, maternity and obstetric services, medical imaging services, same day and overnight stay. General medical and surgical care includes, chemotherapy, gastroenterology, general dental, gynaecology, inpatient, obstetrics, orthopaedic surgery, outpatient, plastic and reconstructive surgery, renal dialysis, surgery – general, urology and vascular surgery.

The hospital provides birthing facilities across the lower River region and offers support to patients in their homes by adopting a shared care arrangement with the Bridge Clinic GPs and community midwives, to assist women with care and treatment before, during and after childbirth.

Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital features a state-of-the-art Emergency Department that opened in late 2020, following a $7 million investment by the State Government.

The RACE program will be based in the modern Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital and run in collaboration with the Bridge Clinic – a previous winner of the RACGP National General Practice of the Year award and is recognised for its highly experienced doctors who will provide you with excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities.

The RACE training opportunities provide in Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital and Bridge Clinic for PGY2 are anaesthetics/general practice, emergency medicine/general practice and obstetrics/general practice. Advanced skill training position in obstetrics (DRANZCOG) is available in the 2022 training year.

Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

Bridge Clinic is a modern, architecturally designed clinic, built in the central business district, giving easy access to patients. The doctors are a vibrant group with extensive experience in rural general practice and the clinic is a past winner of the RACGP General Practice of the Year in 2005. The clinic is also serviced by 32 visiting specialists. The practice is an accredited RACGP training practice and not only hosts trainees but also medical students during their sixth-year attachment.

Bridge Clinic is part of The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence program partnering with the Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital and recognised for highly experienced doctors that provide excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities across obstetrics/general practice.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Martin Altmann our RDAA Rural GP of the Year 2013 and former Chair of MIGA medical indemnity company. His interests include obstetrics, gynaecology, surgery and paediatrics.

Dr Fiona Altmann also a RDAA Rural GP of the Year 2013 and her special interests include anaesthetics and emergency medicine.

Dr Peter Rischbieth who is the President of the Rural Doctors Association of SA and his special interests include teaching, medical administration, anaesthetics and emergency medicine.

Bridge Clinic

Renmark Paringa District Hospital is a 17-bed hospital including medical and surgical services, and an 89 bed Aged Care Ageing in place home. It is situated approximately 250kms east of Adelaide in the Riverland of SA. Renmark and surrounding district have a population of approximately 10,000 people.

The hospital provides general medical and surgical care, including day surgery, acute care, palliative care, outpatient services and short-term respite. Visiting specialists include a general surgeon, ear nose and throat and gynaecological surgeon.

This service provides low and high level residential care and respite options. The facility is fully fenced and a suitable environment for people with dementia. Rehabilitation and support services for residents include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech pathology. Assessment by Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) required for residential care. Some low level care places are set aside for people of Greek ethnicity and for veterans, depending on availability and need.

The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence provides training opportunities at the Renmark Paringa District Hospital and Renmark Medical Clinic for internship in aged care/general practice.

Renmark Paringa District Hospital

Renmark Medical Clinic is a rural general practice which aims to improve patient quality of life through whatever medical, health or counselling measures are deemed appropriate. The practice is currently staffed by nine general practitioners and two GP registrars and has a multicultural patient demographic and high family patient attendance.

The practice also provides care for hospital inpatients and a large number of elderly patients in residential aged care. The nursing staff and administrative team are led by a practice manager. The clinic has 11 dedicated consulting rooms and a modern well-equipped multi-room emergency treatment area in a purpose-built facility. The nurses are responsible for triaging patients and assisting doctors with procedures and has a vertically integrated teaching approach and there is a large team of highly experienced doctors who provide excellent teaching, supervision and training opportunities.

Renmark Medical Clinic GPs also provide after-hours emergency care through a shared on-call roster in the Riverland General Hospital Emergency Department.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Assoc Professor David Rosenthal is the former Executive Director of Medical Services at Country Health SA and RMCLHN. He is also a former President of Rural Doctors Association of Australia and GPEx Board Director.

Renmark Medical Centre

Waikerie Health Service is part of the RMCLHN. The hospital includes 30 acute care beds and 42 Multipurpose residential places for people requiring high levels of care. Waikerie Health Service also offers acute services including accident and emergency, medical services, day and inpatient surgical and obstetrics.

The practice and GP’s also provide after-hours emergency care, 24/7 to the wider Riverland community through a shared on-call roster in the emergency department. This includes surgical, medical, paediatric, anaesthetics and obstetrics inpatient, on-call and emergency services.

The Community Health Service works in partnership with the acute services and other providers to promote maintain and restore the health and wellbeing of residents of Waikerie and the surrounding area.

The Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence provides training opportunities at the Waikerie Health Service and Waikerie Medical Clinic for PGY2 in mental health and paediatrics/general practice.

Waikerie Health Service

Waikerie Medical Centre strives to provide excellent quality health care to all patients who require treatment or medical advice. Our team of professionals are committed to an environment of caring and excellence, respect the rights and needs of all patients and individuals, and aim to uphold and fulfil them.

The focus of the Waikerie General Medical Practice is working professionally in a team environment that encompasses honesty, integrity, sincerity, goodwill and cooperation. The practice is committed as a team to work alongside each other upholding the confidentiality, moral and professionalism of the Practice always. Their focus is to remain a leader in the field of general medical practice with a commitment to continued advancement in medical and computer technology by updating and reviewing technology resources biyearly or as required.

Continued education and training for all staff is a commitment the practice believes is vital to be able to deliver top quality service, management and quality care. To uphold this commitment the practice will provide all staff and doctors with the opportunity to enrol and participate in continued education on an annual basis or as required by management.

Come and learn from experienced Rural Generalists

Dr Ian Gartley who has an interest in family medicine, obstetrics, student/post graduate training and holds an active role in the local divisions of general practice

Dr Ken Wanguhu who is interested in all aspects of general practice with special interests in family medicine, obstetrics, paediatrics, minor surgery & specialises in anaesthetics.

Waikerie Medical Centre