KEEPING on top of the 30,000 people across 26 locations and 90,000 square kilometres within the Darling Downs catchment will require help of the digital persuasion.

Well-known doctor and now former Stanthorpe hospital medical superintendent Dan Manahan has been promoted to Director of Medical Services, Rural, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service.

Dr Manahan graduated from the University of Queensland in 1988, starting at Stanthorpe in 1996. He has spent most of his time since then as the hospital medical superintendent.

Michael Bishop, general manager, Rural, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, said Dr Manahan would be responsible for the professional oversight and leadership of medical staff in all rural facilities through DDHHS.

Dr Manahan hoped to use his own experiences to improve on the systems of rural clinical care.

"I enjoy meeting with clinical staff throughout the rural division of DDHHS and talking about the wonderful services they are providing," he said.

"I enjoy discussing the challenges faced by medical superintendents in rural facilities and hearing how they overcome them.

"I also enjoy meeting patients in rural facilities, hearing their stories and listening to their health experiences."

There will be a fair bit of travel involved with the new gig as Dr Manahan said he "expects to put in a few kilometres".

"For example, it's 359km from Stanthorpe to Cherbourg and 500km from Stanthorpe to Taroom," he said.

"I will still be based in Stanthorpe so I will make good use of phone, video conferencing to keep in touch with colleagues within DDHHS and like-minded clinician managers around the state."

Dr Daniel Halliday is currently acting in the position of medical superintendent at the Stanthorpe Hospital.

A formal recruitment process will begin shortly.