2019 has come to an end, and we’re in that reflective mood, as is common at this time of the year :)
The last 12 months have been jam-packed: and while we’re enjoying a brief lull in proceedings, we’ve been reflecting…
As GP’s we all manage musculoskeletal injuries in athletes. Most of us will only see recreational athletes, while our presenter for this month’s post, Dr Corey Cunningham, sees professional and elite athletes. The principals are the same, and as GPs we can give advice, and investigate and manage most injuries. Sometimes, though, specialist opinion is required.
Genetics is gaining prominence as time goes by, and as GPs, we need to keep up with the developments so that we can use the latest knowledge to our patient’s advantage, and also answer questions that may come our way (either from our patients or in exams!)
In this month’s webinar excerpt, we listen in on Dr Linda Mann’s webinar for a great overview of some of the issues and new tests that are around.
Every registrar I speak to wants to know: What’s the trick in passing Fellowship exams. That’s a good question - with a complex answer.
It’s similar to “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “One bite at a time”. How do you pass the exams? One step at a time.
Unfortunately, it’s not the answer people want. Registrars want me to just tell them what to read and which exam prep course to do. If only it were that simple!
From our experience, we’ve got a few tips and suggestions. We’ll discuss an approach to passing you fellowship exams in 5 steps.
Toxicology: getting the basics right is essential for good outcomes.
As GPs, we see toxicology as poisoning or overdose … or extreme pharmacology. Call it what you like, but if you’re in front-line medicine, you’re going to see it frequently.
This month’s webinar excerpt is essential listening - an honest, realistic and practical look at GP self care. We listen in on the discussion led by Dr Louise Stone, a GP who practices in Yarralumla (ACT). Dr Stone is a clinical Associate Professor at the Academic Unit of General Practice at ANU Medical School, and she gives valuable insight into how to survive and thrive as a GP, sharing many pearls of wisdom.
We’re excited to share this special edition of RVTS4GPs with you, featuring the recording of the recent 2019 RVTS Grand Round "Stump the Chump" with Dr Casey Parker.
The case presented is a 16 year old girl who comes in with her Aunty. Casey is asked to unravel the puzzle.
Dr Casey Parker is based in Broome in WA and is well known for his blog and podcast broomedocs.com. He discusses various aspects of this case that need to be considered, with input from Marlene Drysdale (RVTS's Cultural Educator) and Dr Jacki Mein (a previous RVTS registrar based in Cairns).
It was a challenging case, with an interesting discussion, and plenty of learning points.
Imagine that you’re a GP registrar, and your supervisor has sat in on one of your consults, and now wants to give you feedback. Have you ever considered how open you are to feedback?
Dizziness is a common presentation to general practice (between 1 - 15% of consultations)1. When patients present complaining of dizziness, it’s important to gain an understanding of exactly what they mean, as various terms are used to describe different clinical presentations. In this month’s webinar excerpt, we share a short snippet from the webinar on Dizziness presented by Dr Rob Park, a GP on the Sunshine Coast in QLD. Dr Park outlines an approach to patients with dizziness to determine potential causes.
Workers Compensation and Return to Work is a topic that is challenging for registrars, but an area where we as a GPs can have a positive impact on the outcome, just by the way we approach the patient. A common presentation, like acute back pain following an injury at work, can become chronic and complicated if not managed appropriately, if incorrect information is provided, or if yellow flags are not identified and addressed early. Listen to the webinar excerpt with Dr Roger Lai to find out how to better manage these patients, and improve outcomes for workers and employers.
In this month’s webinar excerpt, we’re talking about Menopause with Dr Elizabeth Farrell, a gynaecologist and the Medical Director of Jean Hailes for Women's Health. Dr Farrell outlines important definitions, explains how the diagnosis of menopause is made, and highlights some of management options available so clearly and simply that you’ll wonder what all the fuss around menopause is about!
Welcome to 2019! We’re kicking off with one of those tricky subjects in general practice: the overlap of pain and addiction.
As GPs, we aim to relieve pain and minimise harm, but occasionally patients get addicted to medications we prescribe. How can we become part of the solution?
One of the RVTS supervisors, Ian Kamerman, speaks about this in a very practical and real way in the webinar recording excerpt this month.
This area is certainly where the “art” of general practice comes into play. Registrars are encouraged to discuss this topic further with their supervisors to refine their skills in managing opioid addiction in the community.