After taking the Victorian title in August, the Gateway Health Wodonga Medical Practice was this morning announced as the winner of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2021 Practice of the Year!
Gateway Health General Manager, Primary Care, Jonelle Hill-Uebergang said the Medical Practice team is entirely deserving of the award.
“I am delighted for and very proud of our team of GPs, nurses and support staff. They are truly amazing and committed to delivering innovative solutions for complex health needs in our diverse local community,” Ms Hill-Uebergang said.
“They embrace diversity and engage with their patients and community with acceptance and respect; they are known and trusted because of their non-judgemental attitude,” she said.
Practice Business Manager, Jo Zamperoni said staff choose to work at the practice because of their interest in supporting people with diverse health and cultural needs in their wellbeing journeys.
“There’s a genuine commitment of the team that all people, no matter their circumstances, should be able to access high-quality health care,” Ms Zamperoni said.
This is reflected in the range of services the Wodonga Medical Practice offers.
“These include the gender service, sexual health including HIV clinics (Clinic 35), multicultural and refugee health, chronic disease management and unplanned pregnancy counselling. We also provide pathology, dental and hearing services,” she said.
“We offer on-site telehealth access for patients who don’t have access at home or require a safe space for health and wellbeing appointments.
“Ours is the only local medical practice that operates within a community health service. This means we offer a seamless connection to a broad range of community services through Gateway Health. These services include access to alcohol and drug support, Gambler’s Help services, LGBTIQA+ groups, counselling and mental health programs, and support for family safety and healthy ageing, just to name a few.”
Ms Hill-Uebergang said the practice is dedicated to delivering excellence in clinical care and contributing to both medical and nursing rural workforce development through its role as a teaching clinic.
One of the practice’s GP Registrars and Senior Registrar Liaison Officer for Murray City Country Coast GP Training, Dr Amanda Cohn said GP Registrars at the practice have a unique opportunity to gain experience in a variety of special interest areas of medicine, including transgender medicine, refugee health and HIV.
“It’s been a brilliant learning experience I couldn’t have had elsewhere,” Dr Cohn said.
Watch the video of CEO Leigh Rhode and Business Manager Jo Zamperoni accepting the award.
