General Practitioner

General Practitioner:

·         Overall purpose of the position: To provide competent patient-centred care that addresses health needs and promotes wellness. Such care is based on latest evidence and guidelines, and meets legislative requirements.  To provide peer support to other doctors of the practice. To conduct functional relationships with the Practice Principle, Practice Manager, Nurse Manager, Administration Manager, Nurse Team, and Reception Team. 

·         Tasks and Responsibilities: To provide high level clinical care by: 

• Providing skilled health assessment, diagnosis and treatment services to patients

• Ordering diagnostic tests as needed, checking and following up of results in a timely manner 

• Referring patients appropriately to other providers if their needs exceed the range of care you are able to provide 

• Consulting and collaborating with colleagues to provide optimal care 

• Documenting all care provided and education/information given to patients within their medical health record, as per professional standards and practice protocols  

• Providing care via home visits, when this is necessary  

·         To maintain good medical practice by:

 • Maintaining professional knowledge and standards through fulfilling the requirements of the RACGP Continuing Professional Development program triennium 

• Having a working knowledge of legislation and standards affecting General Practice.  

• Maintaining trust and providing services courteously and respectfully, with regard to the cultural beliefs and needs of patients 

• Responding and following up on complaints or feedback from patients 

• Understanding and implementing codes of conduct relative to your professional association/s (AMA,RACGP,AHPRA)  and protecting all patients 

• Recognising when you are unwell or overburdened and taking action 

• Reporting as required by legislation when you believe patients or their families or public are at significant risk

• Consulting, supporting and if need be reporting colleagues who you feel are not competent to practice

• Understanding and abiding by the Australian Health Practitioners Relation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines for mandatory notifications 

• Maintaining Professional Medical Indemnity Insurance Policy  

·         Working Collaboratively with colleagues by:

• Working constructively and harmoniously with other members of the practice team to ensure patients receive optimal care 

• Involvement in practice accreditation activities 

• Collaborating in regard to rosters and providing cover to ensure patients’ needs are met. This includes collaborating with the practice manager to arrange annual leave.  

·         Maintaining integrity in professional practice by:

• Making honest claims for services provided to Medicare and other service funders 

• Charging for consultations in line with practice billing policy and annotating correctly in practice clinical software 

• Returning phone calls in a timely manner and providing documents 

• Completing documents i.e. medical reports in a timely manner 

• Sending referral letters in a timely manner 

• Clearing in tray including investigation results daily and delegating if absent or taking annual leave  

·         Using practice systems • Using the patient information system Medical Director effectively 

• Demonstrating a working knowledge of practice policy with regard to clinical practice as described in the Tweed Health for Everyone Policy and Procedure Manual 

• Using the practice internal email system 

• Reporting “events” or untoward incidents as per professional standards and practice policy

• Practicing medicine in a way that reflects the practice’s values and mission