• Ameeta Patel, Peter Underwood, Hung The Nguyen, and Margaret Vigants.
• Bath Street Family Medical Practice, Alice Springs, NT. ameeta.patelATinternode.on.net
• Med. J. Aust. 2011 May 16; 194 (10): 497500497-500.

ObjectiveTo assess the number and characteristics of potentially harmful incidents occurring during placement of medical students in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.Design, Participants And SettingA retrospective audit of medical students' files from Northern Territory General Practice Education placements in Central Australia for the period from January 2006 to December 2007.Main Outcome MeasuresNumber and type of potentially harmful incidents.ResultsA total of 163 placements were undertaken. Of these, 98 (60%) had adequate documentation to determine whether an incident had occurred. There were 28 cases (17%) where potentially harmful incidents were judged to have occurred. Most incidents fell under several descriptive categories, but clinical supervision, professional practice and administrative issues were most common.ConclusionsOne in six students experienced a potentially harmful incident during remote area placement in 2006-2007. While acknowledging the exploratory nature of this investigation and the major educational benefits that clearly arise from these placements, our findings indicate problems with clinical supervision and administration.

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