RACGP - What is General Practice
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Transcript of RACGP - What is General Practice
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BecomingaGPinAustraliaWhatisGeneralPractice?
Generalpracticeprovidespersoncentred,continuing,comprehensiveandcoordinatedwholepersonhealthcaretoindividualsandfamiliesintheircommunities.
Asasector,generalpractice,itspracticeteamsandtheirprimaryhealthcarerelationshipscomprisethefoundationsofaneffectivehealthcaresystem.Asarelationshipbasedspecialistmedicaldiscipline,generalpracticecliniciansaredefinedbythecharacteristicsoftheirdiscipline,whichare:
personcentredness:generalpractitionersunderstandthathealth,illnessanddiseaseareultimatelypersonalexperiences,andthattheirprincipalroleistorelievepersonaldiseaseinallitsforms,inthemannerbestsuitedtoeachindividual.Thepatient'sneeds,valuesanddesiredhealthoutcomesalwaysremaincentraltothegeneralpractitioner'sevaluationandmanagementprocesses.
continuityofcare:longtermrelationshipsbuildmutualknowledge,understanding,andtrust:allessentialelementsinatherapeuticrelationshipwhichgeneratesthepotentialforhealing,empowermentandbeneficialchange.Generalpractitionersseektobuildhealth,wellbeingandresiliencethroughthecontinuingpatientdoctorrelationship,applicationofbestavailableevidenceintheuniquecontextofeachconsultation,andplannedcoordinationofclinicalteamwork,resourcesandservices.
comprehensiveness:generalpractitionersarenotlimitedbyage,gender,bodysystem,diseaseprocessorservicesite.Thescopeofclinicalpracticeischallenging,spanningprevention,healthpromotion,earlyinterventionforthoseatrisk,andthemanagementofacute,chronicandcomplexconditionswithinthepracticepopulationwhetherinthehome,practice,healthservice,outreachclinic,hospitalorcommunity.
wholepersoncare:appreciationoftheinterplaybetweenbiopsychosocialcontributorstohealthleadstoadeepunderstandingofthewholeperson,andtheabilitytomanagecomplexconditionsandcircumstances.Thegeneralpractitionerfunctionsasaphysician,counsellor,advocateandagentofchangeforindividuals,familiesandtheircommunities.
diagnosticandtherapeuticskill:generalpractitioners'highleveldiagnosticandtherapeuticskillsappliedwithincontinuingrelationshipsdelivercosteffectivecarethatishighlyvaluedbypatients.Generalpractitionersareskilledinmanaginguncertainty,undifferentiatedillnessandcomplexity,abletoutilisebestpracticeevidenceinthelightofindividualcircumstances,andengagepatientsandfamiliesinunderstanding,planningandmanagingtheirhealthaccordingtoindividualcapacities.
coordinationandclinicalteamwork:generalpractitionersworkincloseandrespectfulrelationshipstodeliveraccessible,integratedpatientcare:leading,supportingandcoordinatingtheirflexiblyconfiguredclinicalteamscontributingappropriatelytoexternalclinicalteams,andengagingwithdiversespecialistsandothersectorservicesaccordingtoindividualpatientorfamilyneeds.Thegeneralpractitionerisincreasinglythecustodianof,andconduitfor,keypatientclinicalinformation.
continuingqualityimprovement:generalpractitionersareabletoassesstheirprofessionalcapabilities,expandexistingskillsandacquirenewskillsoveraprofessionallifetimeinresponsetochangingclinicalandcommunitycontexts.Atthepractice/servicelevel,qualitycarerequiresleadership,teamwork,planning,systematicinformationmanagementandcontinuingqualityimprovementprocessestounderpindeliveryofcareateverylevel.
professional,clinicalandethicalstandards:professionalstandardsprovidegeneralpractitionerswiththeessentialframeworkfordecisionmakinginacomplexenvironmentwheretheethicaltensionsbetweenprovidingbestpossiblecareforindividualpatients,thecosteffectiveutilisationoflimitedpublicresourcesandachievingequityforthosemostdisadvantaged,mustconstantlybeconsideredandresolved.
leadership,advocacyandequity:generalpractitionersunderstandthesocioeconomicandenvironmentaldeterminantsofhealthandthecontributionmadebyotherhealthprofessionals,sectorsandcommunitygroups,resultingincollaboration,advocacyandleadership,influencinglocalenvironmentstothebenefitofindividuals,familiesandcommunities,especiallythosemostmarginalisedandatrisk.
continuingevolutionofthediscipline:generalpractitionerscontributetotheevolutionoftheirdisciplineaccordingtoindividualinterests,skillsandcircumstancesthroughdiverseinvolvementsinteaching,mentorship,researchandlocalhealthserviceplanningandservicedevelopment,withallelementsunderstoodasbeingintegraltoclinicalpractice,qualitycareandcontinuationofahighqualityworkforce.
Generalpracticeisauniquediscipline.Rigorousscientificmedicaltrainingandtheabilitytoapplytheevidenceappropriatelyincommunitysettings,placesgeneralpracticeatthecentreofaneffectiveprimaryhealthcaresystem.Thesesamequalitieswhencombinedwiththediscipline'sholistic,relationshipbasedphilosophyandbroadgeneralistpractice,distinguishthedisciplineinlargemeasurefromothermedicaldisciplines.
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Everypersonneedsamedicalhomeingeneralpracticewheretheprovisionofpersoncentred,continuingcareisbasedonthefoundationsofarelationshipoftrustbetweenpatientsandtheirchosengeneralpractitioner,whileitsconsistentdeliveryrestswiththepracticeorprimaryhealthcareserviceasawhole.