Table 1 Examples of potential (or current) task substitutions
From: Interventions to facilitate health workforce restructure
Task* | Traditional professional | Substitute professional/assistant |
|---|---|---|
Anaesthesia | Anaesthetist | Nurse anaesthetist |
Clerking of new hospital patients | Hospital medical officer | Nurse |
Closure of wound | Surgeon | Nurse |
Foot care | Podiatrist | Foot care assistant |
Foot surgery | Orthopaedic surgeon | Podiatric surgeon |
Laryngoscopy/Naso-endoscopy | ENT surgeon | Speech pathologist/Nurse |
Maternity care | Obstetrician | Midwife or GP |
Mobilisation assistance | Physiotherapist | Physiotherapy assistant |
Patient management | Medical practitioner | Nurse practitioner |
Plain X-ray | Medical imaging technologist | X-ray assistant |
Refraction | Optometrist | Orthoptist |
Reporting pathology | Pathologist | Scientist |
Reporting X-rays | Radiologist | Medical imaging technologist |