Health Workforce Readiness – understanding and enhancing the preparedness of Medical Technicians of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

Abstract

Health workforce preparedness relies on effective management of, and investment in an organisation’s workforce. As the largest clinical craft group in the Australian Army, Medical Technicians provide health care from point of injury; as independent health practitioners, through to mobile or fixed medical facilities as members of multi-disciplinary health care teams, usually at short notice. By examining the preparedness of the Australian Army’s Medical Technician workforce, this research presents a conceptual model for developing and maintaining a high readiness and adaptive health workforce. Through a mixed methods convergent design, this study addresses the question of how to develop and maintain a high readiness and adaptive health workforce by examining the human capital areas of training and development, skills and knowledge maintenance. While human capital is generally limited to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes embodied in individuals, to be effective, human capital management must also consider workforce retention. The lived experiences and perceptions of 179 Medical Technicians from Private to Warrant Officer Class Two were examined, using a mixed methods survey instrument, open forum discussion, and eight focus group discussions. The research findings suggest that current Medical Technician training model is flawed by focusing on “front loading” soldiers with all the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they may require throughout their career, during their initial training. The trade model does not incorporate the concept of lifelong learning, or consider how one’s work changes as Medical Technicians are promoted. The study found that training towards nursing and paramedicine qualifications, and registration is failing to prepare Medical Technicians for the work they undertake for the majority of their time, primary care. It also found that operational tempo, the current approach to training, skills maintenance and professional development is a contributing factor to the high turnover of Medical Technicians at the ranks of Corporal and Sergeant. This research recommends a review of current Medical Technician training and proposes a range of skills and knowledge development and maintenance initiatives that are evidence based, which will improve Medical Technicians preparedness in the Australian Army, and which can be applied to other high-readiness health workforces.