Every time you got hurt or felt some minor inconvenience, did you run to make an appointment with a specialist? Certainly not. Instead, it is a general practitioner (GP) who will help you examine and provide the first medical care. A general practitioner (GP) is a qualified doctor who works in general medical practice. They are not specialists but in most cases whenever there is any health concern, the first point of contact is a GP. Dural medical centre has some of the most revered GPs in the town and are qualified to provide health care for wide range of health conditions.
Did you know that 46.1% of GPs were female in Australia? Also, most Australian GPs are generally self-employed.
General services offered by any GP –
· Providing diagnosis and treatment
· Involved in family practice / general practice
· Regular medical and health check-ups
· Giving information and advice
· Health and nutrition advice
· Prescription of immediate medications
· Early intervention of the medical conditions
· Prescribing screening and medical tests
· Referrals to specialist as required
All Doctors have to satisfy the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia’s English Language Policy
Depending on the treatment required and whether they are vocationally registered (VR), the cost for GP might vary.
Basic responsibilities of a GP in Australia
With a career in general practice, the professional is responsible to diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care. People interested in this profession need to have a sense of analytical thinking and a genuine concern towards others. The primary role is to help patients get relief from the illness and they should be able to treat each individual according to their needs and values. To create a therapeutic relationship, it demands understanding and mutual knowledge which can eventually create bridges of trust. It is the responsibility of GP to build health, wellbeing and resilience by proper application of clinical practices.
Care beyond diagnostic approaches
General practitioners have to face a challenging scope of work every day. From diagnosing acute, chronic and complex conditions, they are constantly serving an interplay between bio-psycho-social conditions of people. They need to extend their therapeutic skills beyond medical diagnosis and plan and manage individual health according to the specific capabilities.
GPs need to take decisions in complex medical conditions and that is only developed through professional standards. They have to have a clear understanding of the socio-economic and environmental determinants that are essential contributors of health. This is particularly important to understand for the marginalised communities and people.
Are GPs specialists?
General physicians are those who review the patients in their pre and post operative stages. They recommend appropriate management and understand the patient’s risk status. They are also trained in complex interactions of medications that are sometimes required in case of emergencies. However, they are not the same as other medical specialists. This is because their experience deals with the entire range of the patient’s medical problems and not just any particular one. Their clinical decision making expertise helps in understanding the overall health of the patients rather than treating a particular condition.