In this episode of RVTS4GP's, we have two excerpts taken from our popular first-year webinar on Men’s Health. The presenter is Dr Justin Coleman, a very experienced GP currently working in Brisbane in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Justin has a vast experience in medical education, including being a co-editor for Murtagh's General Pr…

This episode is Part 2 of a two-part conversation with Associate Professor Dr Chris Hogan, addressing how to stay safe in our practices when dealing with agitated, distressed or potentially dangerous patients. Listen to tips, tricks and wisdom from Chris, gleaned from forty years of rural, general and hospital practice. This is an important topic t…

In this episode, we sit down for Part One of a two-part conversation with Associate Professor Dr Chris Hogan, addressing how to stay safe in our practices when dealing with agitated, distressed or potentially dangerous patients. Listen to tips, tricks and wisdom from Chris, gleaned from forty years of rural, general and hospital practice. This is a…

Filling out certificates seems to constitute an increasing part of a GP's job. The variety and sheer number of different forms to be familiar with can be difficult for GP registrars starting out in General Practice in Australia. Certificate completion requiring a degree of urgency, can occur unexpectedly in the middle of an already busy day. Certif…

In this fourth and final episode from our 2023 Grand Round series, we hear a short excerpt from the Grand Round highlighting the views of an RVTS Board member and experienced rural GP and Public Health practitioner, Dr Jacki Mein. Dr Jacki discusses teamwork, workforce shortages and rural generalism. RVTS 2023 Grand Round Series: Ever wondered why …

In this third episode of our 2023 Grand Round series, we hear a short excerpt from the Grand Round highlighting the experiences of one of our dedicated RVTS supervisors, Dr Akil Islam. His journey into rural health was via a rurally bonded medical student scheme for Australian medical graduates. His experiences highlight the joys and challenges of …

In this second episode of our 2023 Grand Round series, we hear a short excerpt highlighting the experiences of Dr Thilan Walgamuge , a previous RVTS registrar, now a fellow of the RACGP, General Practice owner and regional business award winner. Dr Thilan highlights some very practical aspects of what could make it easier for people to settle and w…

Ever wondered why doctors choose to work in rural settings and what would encourage them to stay? In our 2023 RVTS Grand Round, we explored this very topic with the National Rural Health Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Dr. Ruth Stewart. Alongside her, four RVTS registrars and supervisors shared their personal experiences and challenges in Rural Hea…

Hypotheticals: The Near Misses that haunt us all - Part 1 “To err is human” and as GP’s, we all make mistakes. In this excerpt taken from our recent Grand Round 2022, we look at the mistakes that we make and look at some key strategies for managing those difficult situations and tips for how to prevent them. It is run in a “hypothetical “ manner wh…

“To err is human” and as GP’s, we all make mistakes. This is Part two in a two part series from our recent Grand Round 2022, where we look at the mistakes that we make and look at some key strategies for managing those difficult situations and tips for how to prevent them. It is run in a “hypothetical “ manner, where we discuss a case and hear from…

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on Common GP Presentations As we continue looking at Common GP Presentations, we discuss the initial approach to 3 more patients that present with conditions that are frequently seen in General Practice.

There are certain presentations we see commonly as GPs. At this time of the year, with new GP Registrars starting training, we know that the common can seem daunting to those new to general practice, and that common presentations have common pitfalls. In this webinar excerpt from a few years ago, I discuss some common presentations with Meryl Nicol…

2021 was another challenging year! Yet here we are on the other side, stronger than before. Looking back at the year that’s been: COVID hasn't stopped us from keeping everyone engaged. Webinars, online activities and resources, and teleCTVs supported registrars in training, along with the usual remote supervision and support from the admin and educ…

Following on from Part 1 of the RVTS Grand Round : Derm “Stump the Chump” with Associate Professor Jim Muir, we present Case 2 from the webinar earlier this year. In this case, Jim again correctly identifies the case presented, gives a useful list of differentials, and discusses the investigations recommended for a patient presenting with a itchy, …

The 2021 RVTS Grand Round focussed on Dermatology with a round of “Stump the Chump” with living legend and well known QLD dermatologist, Associate Professor Jim Muir. Various derm cases were presented to Jim to determine the diagnosis. Needless to say, Jim was spot on each time, and we all learned from his insights and discussion.…

This month, in our final excerpt from the “Tropic Medicine” webinar, we look at Rickettsial Diseases with Prof McBride. This is part 3 in a 3 part series. We’ve discussed Melioidosis and Leptospirosis and Dengue Fever in the previous excerpts.

The first RVTS workshop of the year was held as a virtual event during April. Registrars are located all over Australia, and were able to join the workshop from their homes or practices, joining in for high quality training without the risks of travel in our current climate. The 3 day event for the 3 cohorts covered various topics including GP Emer…

Dengue fever is not endemic in Australia, however, we do have mosquitoes that can spread the virus and outbreaks do occur due to imported cases. Severe dengue (also known as dengue haemorrhagic fever) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Diagnosing it early and initiating supportive treatment can be life-saving. It’s the…

If you live in FN Queensland and a patient presents feeling unwell with a fever after a flood, on your differential list, you’d need to consider Melioidosis and Leptospirosis. If you don’t actually live in northern Australia, you may feel you need to brush up on your knowledge of those 2 differentials. And you’re in luck... This month we listen in …

RVTS Medical Educators (MEs) all share a passion for rural, remote, and Aboriginal Medical Services, registrar education, and supporting doctors on their General Practice journey. The ME team was recently interviewed, and each one was asked to identify something that would contribute to registrar success in general practice training in 2021.…

The 2021 training year has just begun at RVTS, and we’ve caught up with Dr Pat Giddings, RVTS CEO, GP and GP Obstetrician, to talk about the year that’s been and the year ahead. Dr Giddings shares what he believes makes RVTS successful, and gives his “TOP TIP” for Registrars for 2021.

What a year it’s been. As 2020 draws to a close, I will not even attempt to comment on what has been a most extraordinary year, except to say that we would like to salute the RVTS Registrars, supervisors and staff for their courage and perseverance, their passion and understanding, their strength and commitment and their support for each other. We …

As we observed NAIDOC Week in November, many RVTS registrars and staff used the opportunity to attend (mainly online) events to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. RVTS Acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and seas on which we live and work, and pays respect to elders: pa…

“Rational pathology emanates from a rational doctor”. Pathology is useful in assisting with coming to a diagnosis, monitoring patients and for screening. Unnecessary tests can cause harm to patients and add significantly to health costs, so considering carefully what pathology we order is vitally important in General Practice. In this month’s post,…

We’re always looking for ways to be better GPs, and to improve our success in fellowship exams. We’ve previously discussed some tools… and here are 2 more: Random Case Analysis and Role Play. Role play and random case analysis can be used in training and as part of supervisor discussions, and can actually be quite fun, while mastering important ski…

Being brilliant at the basics will come in handy when there are no clinical pathways or algorithms that apply to the patient in front of you. This was the take home message from the second case at the 3rd annual RVTS Grand Round Webinar.

RVTS recently hosted the 3rd annual RVTS Grand Round Webinar. We were delighted to be joined by Art Nahill and Nic Szecket from IMReasoning, amongst others, who discussed a case in the form of a “cognitive autopsy” - with all the benefits of hindsight. The discussion highlights that diagnostic errors occur surprisingly commonly!…

Adolescents contribute significantly to society. Their energy and passion add to the fabric of communities. As GPs, we have a unique role to play in adolescent health and health outcomes. This month, Dr Johanna Lynch shares some insights into considerations in adolescent mental health.

The use of personal protective equipment is accepted for the high-risk environment of theatre, intensive care unit and on some hospital wards. But the role of the face mask is controversial in the community setting. Should general practitioners wear face masks? Should patients at high risk of serious outcomes from infection with COVID 19 wear a fac…

We’ve reached May in a year that will certainly go down in history! It’s been a tough year to be a GP in Australia with many challenges indeed! How are you coping? How are you looking after yourself? This month, 2 of our RVTS registrars, Leigh-Anne Bingham and Jeni Davila Mendez, discuss self care. Leigh-Ann and Jeni give some specific advice on ho…

I don’t have to tell you that much has happened in the last month since our last post! COVID-19 is front and centre stage. Today we’re focussing on video or teleconferencing skills. Many resources are already available to support GPs in this new consultation style. We will be focussing on the actual consultation process.…

As GP’s we all manage musculoskeletal injuries in athletes. Most of us will only see recreational athletes, while our presenter for this month’s post, Dr Corey Cunningham, sees professional and elite athletes. The principals are the same, and as GPs we can give advice, and investigate and manage most injuries. Sometimes, though, specialist opinion …

Genetics is gaining prominence as time goes by, and as GPs, we need to keep up with the developments so that we can use the latest knowledge to our patient’s advantage, and also answer questions that may come our way (either from our patients or in exams!) In this month’s webinar excerpt, we listen in on Dr Linda Mann’s webinar for a great overview…

Every registrar I speak to wants to know: What’s the trick in passing Fellowship exams. That’s a good question - with a complex answer. It’s similar to “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “One bite at a time”. How do you pass the exams? One step at a time. Unfortunately, it’s not the answer people want. Registrars want me to just tell them …

Toxicology: getting the basics right is essential for good outcomes. As GPs, we see toxicology as poisoning or overdose … or extreme pharmacology. Call it what you like, but if you’re in front-line medicine, you’re going to see it frequently.

This month’s webinar excerpt is essential listening - an honest, realistic and practical look at GP self care. We listen in on the discussion led by Dr Louise Stone, a GP who practices in Yarralumla (ACT). Dr Stone is a clinical Associate Professor at the Academic Unit of General Practice at ANU Medical School, and she gives valuable insight into h…

We’re excited to share this special edition of RVTS4GPs with you, featuring the recording of the recent 2019 RVTS Grand Round "Stump the Chump" with Dr Casey Parker. The case presented is a 16 year old girl who comes in with her Aunty. Casey is asked to unravel the puzzle. Dr Casey Parker is based in Broome in WA and is well known for his blog and …

Imagine that you’re a GP registrar, and your supervisor has sat in on one of your consults, and now wants to give you feedback. Have you ever considered how open you are to feedback?

Dizziness is a common presentation to general practice (between 1 - 15% of consultations)1. When patients present complaining of dizziness, it’s important to gain an understanding of exactly what they mean, as various terms are used to describe different clinical presentations. In this month’s webinar excerpt, we share a short snippet from the webi…

Workers Compensation and Return to Work is a topic that is challenging for registrars, but an area where we as a GPs can have a positive impact on the outcome, just by the way we approach the patient. A common presentation, like acute back pain following an injury at work, can become chronic and complicated if not managed appropriately, if incorrec…

In this month’s webinar excerpt, we’re talking about Menopause with Dr Elizabeth Farrell, a gynaecologist and the Medical Director of Jean Hailes for Women's Health. Dr Farrell outlines important definitions, explains how the diagnosis of menopause is made, and highlights some of management options available so clearly and simply that you’ll wonder…

Welcome to 2019! We’re kicking off with one of those tricky subjects in general practice: the overlap of pain and addiction. As GPs, we aim to relieve pain and minimise harm, but occasionally patients get addicted to medications we prescribe. How can we become part of the solution? One of the RVTS supervisors, Ian Kamerman, speaks about this in a v…

About 70 children die of sepsis per year in Australia and New Zealand. It is therefore important to have systems in place for early detection of severe infection. Developing an approach to avoid diagnostic error is an important task for each GP. In this episode, we hear from an RVTS Medical Educator, Taras Mikulin, who looks at a General Practice r…

Uncertainty in general practice is unavoidable. We deal with uncertainty in more than half of our consults. Coping with the uncertainty is an essential skill for GPs. This month we again listen in on a webinar about Dealing with Diagnostic Uncertainty with Marlene Pearce, a GP based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. This is the final part of a 3 part ser…

We were fortunate enough to have Art Nahill and Nik Szecket from IMReasoning join us for our inaugural RVTS Grand Round Webinar for a STC case discussion. One of our medical educators, Dr Lorri Hopkins, provided the case, and Art and Nic demonstrated their clinical reasoning every step of the way.

We deal with uncertainty every day in general practice. This month, we review 5 cases illustrating various reasons or things that may be contributing to uncertainty in general practice.

In this 3 part series, we listen in on a webinar with Marelene Pearce, a GP based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. We discuss “Diagnostic uncertainty in General Practice”, looking at reasons why there is so much uncertainty in general practice, and how to cope with the uncertainty. In this episode, Part 1, Marelene talks about using clinical reasoning t…