A FAMILIAR face became the first locum doctor to staff Millicent and District Hospital under a new long-term staffing arrangement which started Monday.
Dr Jarvis Andrade has worked in this role for the past three years and is pleased to be now involved with International Medical Recruitment (IMR).
The major agency will provide medical staff for the hospital’s accident and emergency department, and all in-patient services for the coming four years.
According to Dr Andrade, Millicent Hospital is one of a number of hospitals across Australia where he works as a locum from his base on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
“I am used to Millicent Hospital, I know the staff well and I know the history of the patients,” Dr Andrade said.
“I enjoy drinking the coffee in Millicent.
“Working as a doctor gives me satisfaction as I am helping people.
“I want to be fair and support the community as much as I can.”
His passion is worldwide travel, and he had earlier lived in Adelaide after gaining his medical qualifications in his native Mexico.
He undertook postgraduate training at Flinders University in Adelaide.
On behalf of Millicent Hospital, nurse unit manager Michelle Galli welcomed Dr Andrade and the other locum doctors from IMR.
According to Ms Galli, each locum would stay for durations of between two and seven days.
She said they would either stay in an on-site flat or in other accommodation around Millicent.
Ms Galli said the IMR contract provided certainty for the hospital.
“We will be dealing with one agency and one team of doctors,” she said.
“We orientate the locums and the package of information about Millicent Hospital now goes to one place.”
The hospital has been entirely staffed by locums since March, 2016 following the withdrawal of doctors from the Medical Clinic Millicent.
At the time of the withdrawal of the clinic doctors two-and-a-half years ago, Country Health SA said the locum arrangement would be “temporary”.
