A biased school of thought |
The short end of the sticks |
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Back of the class :
6
Which medical colleges are rated the worst by their own registrars ?
What a meaningless , biased survey .
Trainees know little about training when they are in it and generally do not understand the explicit or implicit features of training programs .
The fact that no college can poll more than “ average ” makes a case for some kind of standard setting — if that is even possible .
Dr Alexis Miller Radiation oncologist ,
Wollongong , NSW
I do not agree that these adult learners , who are absolutely hard working , do not understand their training .
There are fundamental issues with the colleges : lack of educator input into training programs , lack of properly trained educators to provide training and a lack of understanding of andragogy — most likely based on medicine being traditionally a more pedagogy-based approach .
Dr Natasha Thomson General paediatrician , Melbourne , Vic
I guess one question we should ask is how well the colleges have performed over the past decade in producing competent medical practitioners .
The answer would have to be far better than a C rating , surely ? Which country would you rather be wheeled into a hospital acutely unwell for care by clinicians unknown to you ?
College-based training and assessment are usually provided by unpaid members of the colleges . I wonder how many medical educators will be willing to match that ?
Being a trainee in any medical discipline is a lonely existence . It requires many hours spent with books and journals in a small room on your own . The malign awareness of your final exit exam is an ever-present thought .
Training is also a Sisyphean experience in many ways . Of course , we rate the experience as miserable while we are in it .
The idea that medical educators can address the issue is interesting . I want my surgeon taught by a surgeon .
The survey found that 61 % of trainees said their job responsibilities did not prevent them from meeting training requirements .
Last time I looked , job responsibilities were the most important
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part of training .
And I am not sure why the colleges are being blamed in this survey for unpaid overtime .
Professor James Muir Dermatologist , Brisbane , Qld
Where is the ( Price ) line in the sand ? Plan for cervical cancer
Dr screening in Priceline pharmacies triggers GP backlash
I have done many women ’ s health clinics over the years , and the opportunity to see a woman for her regular Pap smear — now cervical screening test — is important .
They have enabled me to uncover iron-deficiency anaemia , crippling menorrhagia that the woman thought was normal and painful dyspareunia that was ruining a relationship . She thought nothing could be done .
They have also allowed me to discuss and examine for breast cancer , along with other issues that were distressing them .
I am now retired , and looking back , I can see how much we can achieve through good , regular GP care . It saddens me to see this being fragmented and lost .
Dr Jean Foster GP , Perth , WA
I genuinely do not know where the line in the sand is for the AMA and other colleges to join the RACGP in a large-scale public campaign .
We need to put the spotlight on this absurdity , speak to the media , make noise and see if the
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politicians still want to proceed because , if we do not stick with general practice now , it will affect everyone .
Dr Chris Horton Medical practitioner , Perth , WA
This is insanity and shows a complete lack of understanding of preventive and holistic healthcare .
Good medicine is not about targeting the bitsy pieces you can extricate to make money .
Shame on anyone who is complicit and supportive of such a proposal .
Where are the regulations protecting patients here ? As doctors , we are so highly regulated , yet it seems everyone around us can do as they please .
Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko GP , Sydney , NSW
Getting the silent treatment I miss the days when
MO telephone conversations with other specialists were the norm
Dr Pam , you will be pleased to hear that , just yesterday , I — as a public hospital specialist — rang a GP colleague about a mutual patient , and we had a good chat ! I also sent the letter .
Dr Vaidy Swaminathan Psychiatrist , Melbourne , Vic
I remember that , when a new specialist came to town , they took the trouble to go to all the GP practices to introduce themselves so we could get a feel for their particular interest and expertise .
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How come all these nostalgic reminiscences seem to come from us oldies ?
Dr Frank Scheelings GP , Geelong , Vic
I completely agree with the sentiments in Dr Pam ’ s article that verbal communication remains very important .
In my role as a radiologist , I get to work across multiple states and interact regularly with every specialty .
While a generalisation , there appear to be vast geographical and specialty differences in receptivity to phone calls .
I was once stonewalled by a receptionist who refused to put me through to a neurosurgeon about their private outpatient who was walking around in the community with an unexpected acute life-threatening condition . “ They won ’ t want to speak with you ,” I was told . I am fortunate to work for a practice that values verbal interactions with colleagues and encourages us to make and maintain that personal contact and open lines of communication .
We even encourage referrers to drop into the practice in person to discuss cases , and we have a concierge phone service available 24 / 7 to help connect referrers to the right person .
It is a two-way street , however , and it helps when practices make it easy to contact them .
For instance , the fast-track phone short cuts — press 1 now if you are a clinician — rather than having to listen to a five-minutelong outdated preamble about making a booking for my COVID- 19 vaccine .
Dr Hamish McKay Radiologist , Melbourne , Vic
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‘ Health ministers have
Dr been fed something toxic ’: Medical board to begin fast-tracking overseas doctors from next week
I support the warnings given by Professor David Story , president of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists .
The reduction of red tape should not mean the reduction of standards .
Standards are the domain of the colleges for good reason . Standards are not simple and have many contexts .
The logical and expedient error seems to be that one doctor is the same as any other .
Those who think workforce management can be done through a spreadsheet are doomed to fail . Adjunct Clinical Professor
Karen Price GP , Melbourne , Vic
Those complaining about overseas doctors working in remote areas should first consider why the government has resorted to these fast-track measures .
Why ? Because none of us locals want to work in the sticks regardless of our level of qualifications .
For people living in the sticks , having a doctor they are able to see in person is a great start .
The medical colleges need to be light on their feet and adapt .
This tradition of forcing specialist IMGs to spend thousands of dollars to rote learn for a one-day examination is just stupid .
How about the colleges partner with new doctors ; supervise and set practical , on-the-job assessments ; and after a period of time , they can become fellows — namely , why don ’ t the colleges provide old-fashioned apprenticeships ?
Dr Gordon Snow GP , Seaham , NSW
I am a UK-trained GP . I do not support much that the Medical Board of Australia does , but this reform is long overdue .
The pedantic micro-credentialling of doctors in all fields just gets worse and worse and mostly represents empire-building by bombasts and blowhards .
The world is not going to collapse if recently trained MRCGPs , FRNZCGPs and MICGPs are not subjected to a meaningless hazing process before being allowed to practise .
I mean , let ’ s worry about stuff that is worth worrying about .
Dr David Berger GP , Broome , WA
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