Tips for Basic term transition
These are some “tips” passed on from other registrars having completed their Basic Term.
- Be proactive about your learning needs
- have a learning plan
- ensure you establish teaching time: when, where and how from the start of the term
- sit in with your supervisor where possible
- Get the most out of your ECT ( External Clinical Trainer) session
- Insist on an appointment system from the start. Start with appointments 20 minutes apart.
- Let your GP supervisor know that you are new to General Practice.
- Expect that you will ask lots of questions early on, and don't be embarrassed by it.
- Develop a good relationship with your GP supervisor from the start-this is important for learning.
- Speak to your Medical Educator early if there are problems.
- Regarding patient care:
- Ensure regular review and follow-up of your patients (NB the HIC makes allowances for “doctors in training”).
- Rationalise investigations
- Learn to live with uncertainty
- Nursing Home and Home Visits: get your supervisor to orientate you to nursing home and home visits and to “hand over” more complicated patients.
- Get involved in your local General Practice Division.
Transition into General Practice
Here are some points mentioned by previous GP Registrars about the transition from the Hospital to General Practice:
- Time management , an important skill to master early.
- You often deal with undifferentiated presentations
- You may often deal with uncertainty
- See common problems e.g. rashes- not necessarily seen in hospital
- Need to rationalise investigations
- Need to use your brain (!)
- Patients sometimes challenge your diagnosis and management
- Communication with patient- ensuring they understand
- Management of chronic problems on a day-to-day basis and ongoing care.
- The need to modify the examination of the patient- e.g. have to undress
- Home visits and Nursing Home visits
- Everything does not have to be solved in one session- patients can and do come back.
Don't forget you need to organise the following paperwork BEFORE you commence your term:
- Prescriber Number, contact the HIC with your unconditional registration number and they will give you your Prescriber Number. You will need to know your prescriber number to order prescription pads.
- Provider Number, you need to complete the Recognition as a GP Form, get your supervisor to sign it and send it to IGPE. Complete the HIC Provider Number Form and send it directly to the HIC. These forms need to be completed for EVERY location and your provider number will be different for each location (ie, you will need to complete new forms every time you change practices). Please note, it is a criminal offense to use a provider number in a practice other than the one it was allocated for.
- Medical Indemnity, If you do not already have medical indemnity cover, you will need to organise this. If you are already covered, make sure you change your status from Hospital to GP Registrar , non-procedural , the exact status will depend on your Medical Defence Organisation.