Most of us have a pretty good idea about
what we think makes a good GP. Most of us expect good
access to a GP when we need it. We also wanted good
interaction with our GP. We wanted to be listened to and
to be taken seriously and we also want our doctor to be
on time.
There are three main ways to ensure you're on the
track to finding a good GP
- Find someone who is recommended
- Find someone who is recognised by the profession
(on reputation and study)
- Find someone who is interested in you
Asking friends or family, who they recommend can be
one of the most useful ways of finding a good GP.
When you find someone who you think you'd like to see,
they should have RACGP after their name.
GPs can undertake particular postgraduate study in
general practice. These GPs have gained the Fellowship of
the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and
they will have FRACGP also after their name.
Your GP is a professional, whom you want to be sure is
capable of looking after your health. Medical
professionals provide an important service within society
and have undertaken a significant academic study of
health, along with extensive training in health care.
Two remaining points when seeking out a good GP
- You need someone you can afford to see
- You need someone who is willing to learn
The best GP is no good if you can't afford them, and
the cheapest GP is no good to you, if they are someone
you don't want to see.
The GP you're looking for doesn't have to know all
about your particular condition, but if they're willing
to learn from you and from others, they can be streets
ahead already. If money is an issue you should be able to
talk to your GP about that.
What to expect when you find your GP?
There are a number of things you can expect the new GP
to do for you over the first couple of visits. You can
expect the GP to take your full history as well as your
relevant family history. Your GP should also carry out a
relevant clinical examination, as well as any routine
health checks according to your age and sex. This
includes pap smears for sexually active women and
prostate checks for men over the age of 50.
Lastly, all good GPs keep one eye on preventive
health, such as annual flu injections, risk of heart
disease by considering cholesterol, blood sugar, what
your mental health is like, how much you smoke, drink and
exercise and any other issues considered appropriate
because of your particular personal and family
history.
Standards in General Practice
GP Standards help guide GPs and their staff. For
example, when providing a quality service to you, one
example of the standards is practices must provide
reminders for patients. Another example is practices must
provide facilities for out-of-surgery and after-hours
care with tiered options.
A new GP Standard is practices can provide secure
electronic communication with patients.
Practices that are willing to measure how well they
come up to the standards undergo accreditation. Look for
the logo in the practice that says the GP Practice you
attend is accredited.
How can you get the most from your GP?
Now that you have found your GP. How do you go about
getting the most from the consultation time you have with
that GP?
Generally consultation time with GPs are either 20
minutes or 40-45 minutes. You are able to let the office
staff or receptionist know if you have time pressures (I
have to leave at 2.30 to pick the kids up from school)
and they should also do the same (Dr is running 10
minutes late behind today would you like to
reschedule?).
As strange as it sounds, one of the best things you
can do for yourself and your GP is to make a list. Become
a partner in your healthcare, and make a list of the
things you need to talk about with your GP. Flag the most
important thing on your list with your GP early on in the
consultation. If there is insufficient time to address
everything on the list, you can decide together what to
look out in this consultation and what to leave for
later.
Some new initiatives to help patients and GPs
These are referred to as EPC items or enhanced primary
care items. These are activities like GP management plans
(GPMP), team care arrangements (TCA) and home medication
reviews (HMR).
GP management plans offer incentives to GPs to prepare
and review patient management plans for patients with
chronic medical conditions. For patients requiring
multidisciplinary care from a range of specialists, your
GP can also provide you with documents that let you get a
Medicare rebate for some allied health attendances. This
is recognised by Medicare, as a Team Care
Arrangement.
A home medication review assesses a patient's
medication management needs and then refers the patient
to a community pharmacist for this review. The pharmacist
visits the patient at home, where the pharmacist, patient
and anyone else the patient desires to be part of the
discussion can discuss prescribed medication,
over-the-counter medication, and any other drugs or
active foods the patient uses for their health.
With the patient's consent the GP provides relevant
clinical information for the review. The GP then
discusses with the reviewing pharmacist, the results of
the pharmacist review. The suggested medication
management strategies are reviewed by the GP, who
develops a written medication management plan following
discussion with the patient.
Improved access to allied health practitioners like
psychologists have been added to that toolkit for
GPs.
The allied health professionals that can provide
services include psychologists, social workers, mental
health nurses, occupational therapists, Aboriginal Torres
Strait Islander health workers dieticians, diabetic
educators, podiatrists, exercise physiologists and
chiropractors.
On the horizon and mentioned in the 2006 budget, there
will be a special Medicare item number, to fund planned
annual health reviews for all people, aged 45 with a
chronic condition.
Studies have demonstrated that having a regular GP
improves an individual's health, decreases the likelihood
of hospital admission, decreases the risk of readmission
and improves coping skills and mental health.
For GPs, having patients with complex and even rare
conditions permits use of skills that distinguish general
practice from consultant practice. We get to know you, we
age together, and we seek more knowledge to be able to
provide the best health-care for you.
Along with gains for the patient there is an increase
of professional satisfaction for the doctor as well. We
can create a very satisfying and fruitful partnership
together.
For more information
Dr Linda Mann MB BS, BSc (Med), FRACGP
Dr Linda Mann is a principal of Inner West General
Practice <http://www.ladydoc.com.au/>,
an award winning general pracitice (Best practice 1988,
Innovation award 2004). Linda practices in Hay with the
Royal Flying Doctor Service <http://www.flyingdoctor.net/>
Women's GP project, and at Balmain General Practice
Casualty.
RACGP Standards for General Practice
http://www.racgp.org.au/standards/
The RACGP Standards for General Practices are used by
general practice accreditation agencies, but the
principal aim of the RACGP Standards for General
Practices has always been as a tool to assess and improve
the care of GP practices.
Australian General Practice Accreditation
http://www.qip.com.au/
Quality Practice Accreditation (GPA Accreditation
plus)
http://www.gpa.net.au/
