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.

Everypersonneedsamedicalhomeingeneralpracticewheretheprovisionofpersoncentred,continuingcareisbasedonthefoundationsofarelationshipoftrustbetweenpatientsandtheirchosengeneralpractitioner,whileitsconsistentdeliveryrestswiththepracticeorprimaryhealthcareserviceasawhole.