Providing a safe and stable place where her patients can come for their healthcare needs, but also to ask questions or talk through any concerns, is an important part of Dr Jacqueline Krantz’s role at Fairfield Central Medical Centre.
How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in the Fairfield LGA?
I’ve been working in general practice since 2015, so seven years, and I’ve been in this area for five years.
When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP?
I decided to become a GP because I like the idea of treating more than the patient’s illness, that is, treating the patient themselves in a holistic approach where you get to know the patient, have a continuing relationship with your patient and provide ongoing care.
What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?
There’s lots of things to like about it.
I like developing that relationship with patients where they feel I’m someone they can trust. I find getting to know my patients helps me care for them and makes it easier for them to come to me when they’ve got issues.
General practice provides so much flexibility as well, in terms of allowing you to branch out and have additional interests with programs like HealthPathways (for which Dr Krantz is a Clinical Editor).
What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community?
Especially lately, having been through the COVID-19 pandemic, with all the fear and misinformation and everything else that has surrounded that, we’ve tried to be a safe place, somewhere patients can access information and discuss the things they’ve heard, talk through their fears, talk through their worries.
We’re also still here to provide all the regular healthcare that’s been easy to brush to the side for a lot of people, especially during lockdown, and be a stable place where they can come to be looked after.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’ve got two children, so that keeps me very, very busy. I like to paint a little bit. I took up painting during lockdown. I like to bake.
And I’d also like to get back into salsa dancing which I used to do for a few years. We did the odd performance here and there and a lot of social dancing. It’s a nice way to get out and keep active. Dancing has physical benefits, but they say there’s cognitive benefits to it as well, learning the moves and practicing those moves. I really enjoyed it.
Is there anything else you’d like to let your fellow primary carers know about you?
I’m happy to discuss anything with my patients, including those topics that can be a little bit hard or challenging sometimes. I’m happy for this to be a safe space for anyone to bring up anything that’s going on in their life without judgment.
What do you love most about the Fairfield LGA?
It’s the diversity. Our patients come from all walks of life or cultures, all backgrounds. It’s just really nice to have that diversity, to be able to practice the whole spectrum of medicine, and to learn something every day about other people’s cultures and backgrounds.
What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?
It’s a cliche but that whole thing about “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. It’s never too early to start making lifestyle changes, to start being proactive about your health, to take up good habits and keep them up, and to regularly see your GP.