GPs working closely with Specialists in Primary Care

This year, we started having a visiting General Physician to our medical centre once a fortnight to discuss cases and see patients in the practice. I had always worked closely with this specialist and had a great working relationship with him. 

Since coming to our practice, I have found the time spent with him to be hugely rewarding for me, in terms of upskilling and learning how to manage some of my patients without having to refer them to the hospital for an outpatient appointment. But the biggest benefits are for the patient of course. Because I don’t have to refer the patients to the hospital, they do not have to wait for an outpatient appointment or travel 45 minutes to Wairarapa Hospital. Any initiative that reduces the burden on specialists’ appointments in the hospital is a benefit to the community as a whole. 

I had a patient with severe COPD and lives 45 minutes from the medical centre completely isolated in a rural community. His symptoms were become worse and he complained of worsening fatigue. On examination, I noticed a large, prominent supraclavicular node. A CT scan revealed wide spread nodes throughout his chest and upper abdomen. His Serum ACE is normal and after discussion with the Physician, we have ordered a fine needle aspiration of this node.

All of this has occurred over the past two weeks and we expect to have a diagnosis and treatment soon. With regular and direct access to the Physician, this patient was attended too and didn’t have to wait for an outpatient appointment.

For us to provide timely and effective care to the patient and close to home is the standard with all aspire to achieve.

‍