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Are you a healthcare student? Then, understanding the crucial role of general practitioners (GPs) is essential for your future career. GPs are the cornerstone of primary care, serving as the first point of contact for patients in the healthcare system. These versatile physicians manage various medical conditions across all age groups, from common ailments to complex chronic diseases.
In this blog, we’ll explore the multifaceted responsibilities of GPs. We’ll delve into their responsibilities and how they ensure high-quality patient care. Additionally, we’ll discuss how GPs navigate different challenges in healthcare.
Whether you’re exploring GP jobs or aiming to become a GP in the future, this overview will provide valuable insights into this medical profession.
What Does a General Practitioner Do?
There are around 3500 GPs actively working in Ireland. While it seems a large number, GPs are still among the most in-demand healthcare jobs due to the aging population.
If you have chosen to become a GP, you have made a great choice. But before you start, you must know the role and responsibilities of a GP. The following details might help you:
Diagnosing Illnesses
As an Irish GP, diagnosing diseases is one of your core duties. It could be a cold cough or a more serious case of strep throat; your patients look up to you to find out the root cause of the issue and prescribe the proper treatment.
Your judgment should differentiate between a minor ailment that can be quickly treated and a potentially serious condition. Keen observation and a thorough understanding of the symptoms will help you make the right call and ensure that your patients receive proper care.
Referring to Specialist
As a GP, it will be your job to refer patients to a specialist. If an illness or condition goes beyond what you can handle, then it is your duty to connect the patient to a specialist who will guide them. This is an important step towards ensuring that your patients receive the most effective care.
You can have different kinds of patients with a range of symptoms coming to your clinic daily. It is your responsibility to evaluate the symptoms and determine who requires further, more advanced attention.
Attending the Walk-In Clinics
Some practices operate walk-in clinics, usually without appointments for patients. The general agreement is that doctors take turns attending these clinics, thereby leaving others free to see booked patients. Walk-in clinics are a great way to give back to the community by offering care to people who need urgent medical attention.
Most patients coming into the walk-in clinics have multiple complaints, sometimes unrelated to each other. This gives you an excellent opportunity to treat people who otherwise do not see a doctor regularly. You can take this opportunity to encourage such patients to adopt healthier habits and lifestyle modifications, thereby making a difference in their lives in the long term.
Managing Paperwork
What may be a surprise to many GPs is perhaps the amount of paperwork involved. Form-filling and letter writing are major parts of every doctor’s working day – all to support the patients. These include applications for carer’s allowance, disabled parking permits, travel companion forms, and medical card applications.
Although this may sound tedious, it is important to remember that these forms are life-changing for some of your patients. The review and time spent on completing these documents ensures that your patients receive the care they deserve.
Filling Prescriptions
This is a standard duty for any GP: prescribing medication. Once you have made a diagnosis, you need to ensure they get the right medication at the right dosage. It requires intense concentration because the quality of your patients’ lives depends on receiving proper treatment.
With a family practice, it can be overwhelming sometimes. But just as you have allocated particular time for paperwork, you can do the same for your prescriptions and stay organized. It is critical to give timely attention to prescriptions so that your patients get their medications on time and can continue to enjoy good health.
Counseling Your Patients
Your role as a GP does not involve just diagnosing and treating a physical illness; it also involves providing emotional support and advice to your patients. You will develop close relationships with all your patients, so they will first think of you when making important decisions in their lives, such as whether to take some kind of treatment or not.
In these situations, a strong bedside manner is required. Of course, medicine works its best, but combining them with your empathy and patience makes your patients feel supported and understood.
Writing Referrals
Rather than just referring patients to specialists, GPs often help with other important facets of their patients’ lives. For instance, you might write referrals for housing support or other social services that your patients need.
Patients often have physical and mental health issues that cause a variety of conditions, including homelessness. With a referral, you can connect the patient with services that will help in bettering their condition and overall health.
Caring for Private and Public Patients
While there is a public healthcare system in Ireland, some patients may choose to pay for private care. You will have to see both private and public patients in the family practice where you are working.
Whether you open up your own practice or find employment, it’s important that you treat all patients the same. They’re all there for quality healthcare, and you’re there to provide it for them.
Referring to Urgent Care
Sometimes, patients may have conditions that need immediate attention. As a GP, you need to be quick in such situations and recognize the symptoms for urgent care.
Making timely referrals to urgent care will not only help the patients but also aid in keeping the flow of your practice. Identification of urgent cases ahead of time allows for the appropriate care of such patients while other patients aren’t made to wait unnecessarily.
Coordinating with Pharmacies
You have to prescribe medications, but you also need to coordinate with pharmacies to make sure medications are delivered promptly to patients.
As a GP, you are an ambassador to all types of medical professionals and institutes. It is your duty and responsibility that all patients should be provided adequate healthcare.
Addressing the GP Shortage
The current situation in Ireland is a shortage of GPs, and most practicing GPs are nearing retirement. If this shortage is unaddressed, it will endanger the quality of healthcare in the country. You will have the opportunity to make a difference in many lives by entering this stream.
Your contribution as a GP could fill this gap and ensure that the population continues receiving the care they need.
FAQs on the Role of a General Practitioner
Q1. What is the main role of a GP?
GPs usually provide medical services as the first contact with patients and attend to the most common medical conditions. The role of the GP is very important for community health and includes comprehensive care, preventive services, and health promotion and education. For advanced treatment, they refer patients to hospitals or specialists.
Q2. What is the aim of GP practices?
GP practices operate to offer a patient-centered service and have various key purposes:
-High-quality medical care and treatment
-Involve patients in decision-making and empowering them to manage their own health
-Offer home visits when medically necessary or for homebound patients
Q3. What qualities do you need as a general practitioner?
As a general practitioner, you should have:
– Communication skills to communicate easily with patients on medical issues
– Problem-solving skills, which will be necessary when it comes to the diagnosis of several different conditions
– Empathy to help understand patients
– Adaptability to handle diverse patient needs
– Attention to detail for accurate diagnosis and record-keeping
– Commitment to lifelong learning to maintain medical standards
Final Words
A general practitioner’s job is challenging but extremely rewarding. A GP has the important position of becoming the first point of contact with the healthcare system, establishing rapport with patients, and delivering care throughout their lives. This places GPs on the front line for making diagnoses and effecting treatment for a large proportion of health-related conditions, thereby placing them at the very core of the medical community.
Besides a higher salary, you will get satisfaction from making a difference in people’s lives. This is a profession that requires dedication, empathy, and commitment to lifelong learning but gives very substantial professional and personal rewards. If you are passionate about holistic care and want to be at the forefront of healthcare in your community, then a general practitioner is your answer.
Are you looking for GP jobs? Look no further than CSE Connect. We connect talented individuals like you with reputed healthcare institutes. Contact us today!
Miguel Casali Sarasibar
Miguel Casali Sarasibar is a seasoned Family Medicine Specialist with a distinguished 30-year career in Spain, currently practicing in Ireland. He holds a Master's degree in Tropical Medicine from the General Hospital of Valencia, Spain, and boasts comprehensive training in Family Medicine and Emergency care. Miguel is also deeply versed in metabolic health. He serves as the Director of a medical services company and is the Director of CSECONNECT, contributing his extensive expertise to enhance medical service standards.