Topic: Profile

Dr Ron Campbell, of The Oaks Medical Practice, was a community pharmacist for eight years before he switched to medicine. He initially considered specialising, but decided general practice would provide a better work/lifestyle balance as well as more varied working days.

How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in the Wollondilly LGA? 

I was awarded fellowship of the RACGP in 2001 and have been practising in the Wollondilly LGA for 20 years at The Oaks Medical Practice. I have also been practising at Tahmoor Medical, Allied and Alternative Therapies for eight years.

When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP? 

I decided to train in medicine after working as a community pharmacist for eight years. The decision then was to either purchase a pharmacy or take a change of career. I decided to pursue medicine with a view to possibly specialising, but general practice was also an attractive option as it offered a better work-lifestyle balance and more variety of work.

What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?

I enjoy the flexibility of general practice, which allows you to gain a variety of skills, and this keeps the job interesting and challenging. It is also satisfying to see families grow and develop over time, help people through their challenging health journeys and get to know the local community members.

What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community? 

Our practice provides a consistent, reliable medical service to the local community and we offer a variety of services as our doctors and nurses are skilled in many areas. Our focus is on providing general medical care with an emphasis on preventative medicine and giving patients access to the choice of both conventional medicine and alternative therapies.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

In my spare time I play cricket and golf, go fishing and boating, and enjoy listening to and playing music.

What do you love most about The Oaks?

The Oaks has retained its village charm over the 20 years I have been there, but it is also expanding with new housing estates and young families moving into the area to experience a semi-rural lifestyle. I enjoy interacting with the local community members, who have accepted our practice well and are always complimentary about the care we are providing.

What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?

We give our patients regular advice on preventative health and ideas to maintain good health. This advice needs to be individually tailored to the patient, depending on their motivation and health literacy. We encourage the basics such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, reducing stress, getting adequate good quality sleep, socialising with friends and family regularly, discussing your feelings with someone when you need to, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption and taking most things in moderation and keeping a positive outlook on life.

Dr Hanady Nasreddine, of The Women’s Heath Centre Southern Highlands, embraced general practice as it gave her the flexibility in lifestyle she wanted to successfully combine a career in medicine with a young family. She says it’s a privilege to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes, and she is particularly proud her practice provides a safe space and comprehensive healthcare for women.

How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practicing in the Wingecarribee LGA? 

I began working in the Wingecarribee in 2007 when I undertook my GPT1 term (general practice training term) in Moss Vale.

When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP? 

I decided pretty soon after graduating. General practice afforded me the flexibility in lifestyle I was yearning for after the challenges of shift work in hospital as a Junior Medical Officer with young children.

What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?

It is a real privilege to help patients, when they are often at their most vulnerable, to help them achieve best possible outcomes. I also learn a lot from patients and refine my own skills accordingly – whether it is a consult I reflect on and feel could have been conducted differently, or an area that I’d like to extend my knowledge in. No two days are ever the same!

Being able to assist one patient in leading a healthier life, to improve their wellbeing, or their function in their life also ensures I’m motivated to turn up to work every day.

What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community? 

The practice is a safe space providing trauma informed care by women for all women entering its doors. In addition to providing comprehensive healthcare for women, we are also an easily accessible centre for those women who see our amazing colleagues but have chosen to see us specifically for sexual and reproductive health or help with issues relating to their ‘women’s bits’.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

Gardening, cooking and spending time with my wonderful family.

What do you love most about Mittagong?

The space, the wonderful people, less traffic, the Southern Highlands region!

What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?

Choose lifestyle measures which are sustainable – consistency is key.

Practice nurse Miray Mater El-Ahmad has worked in the Bankstown LGA for a bit more than two years. As an eight-year-old, she vividly remembered nurses caring for her ill grandmother and supporting her mother and herself. Miray decided then that she wanted to give that care, support and love to others.

How long have you been a practice nurse and how long have you been working in the Bankstown LGA?

I’ve been working as a practice nurse in the Bankstown LGA for two years and three months. After I finished my bachelor’s degree in nursing at the Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, I worked as a new graduate at Liverpool Hospital.

When/Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing and specifically in primary care?

In Year 12, I envisioned myself as a paediatric nurse while I was completing my design and technology project. I then made the decision to enrol in university and complete the Bachelor of Nursing. When my grandma was diagnosed with cancer when I was eight years old, I decided to also pursue this career because I have a vivid memory of nurses always being by her side, supporting her and my mother through difficult times. I wanted to give in return that care, support, empathy and love.

I find primary care much easier to learn and provide proper support to patients, unlike hospitals which are too fast paced, making it difficult to offer full attention to patients going through a difficult time.

Tell us about the role of nurses in primary care.

The role of a nurse in primary care is to assist the doctor in charge within their scope of practice.

My roles as a primary nurse includes blood tests, wound dressings, immunisations for all ages, ECGs, ordering vaccines, having responsibility with the vaccine refrigerator, triage nursing, vital signs, completing immunisation catch-up plans, and speaking to patients about their concerns, and providing support, empathy and comfort. I also complete CPD hours, complete vaccination record cards for healthcare workers and students, communicate, discuss and alert the doctor in charge about patient concerns. I’m involved in the PHN three-monthly model for improvement, and assist the doctor in emergencies and ISBAR handover to paramedics, checking the emergency trolley, documenting on a patient’s file and completing patient care plans.

What do you love about nursing / what do you find most fulfilling about your role?

I love nursing because it gives me gratification to support and help those in need. Seeing patients recovering is an achievement. When you make an acquaintance of your patients, the general practice becomes like a family. I treat everyone how I would like my family and loved ones to be treated when they require care and support. I love seeing a patient’s face light up when they see me, especially the elderly. It is such a privilege to have patients praising and thanking God for helping them recover.

What is your ideal work day?

My ideal workday is providing all patients with the best care possible, seeing patients recovering well and patients constantly showing their appreciation for the care I provide.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My hobbies include reading books, going to the gym, ice skating, bike riding, playing the piano, swimming, dancing, and arts and crafts.

Do you have any role models and why?

My role model is the doctor I work for. He is absolutely amazing with his patients, full of hope, encouragement, caring, empathy. He is professional, reliable, smart and patient. He is the reason I would like to study to become a nurse practitioner in the future. He does everything to the best of his ability to help his patients. I find him different to other doctors. Running a general practice with nearly 4,000 active patients is an inspiration.

How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?

I always inform patients how important it is to exercise and eat well. I conduct a physical activity assessment, discuss the results with the patient, and offer suggestions for diet and exercise to keep them active. I remind patients how important it is to maintain good health to reduce the likelihood of contracting new illnesses and the likelihood of already diagnosed illnesses becoming worse.

Dr Alex (Yuebin) Zhao from Myhealth Oran Park medical centre was attracted to the opportunities general practice presented. He is pursuing his special interest in mental health by working with SWSPHN to promote the new IAR-DST (Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool).

How long have you been a GP and how long have you been practising in Oran Park/Camden?

I have been a GP for 18 months and been practising in Oran Park for three months now. I was working in Westmead Hospital and Canberra Hospital before becoming a GP.

When/why did you decide you wanted to become a GP?

I decided to become a GP about two to three years ago during my hospital training. I like the long-term relationship a GP can build up with their patient which is difficult to do in hospital settings. GP work also offers a great balance between work and life. These days, GPs can also sub-specialise in different areas from dermatology/skin cancer, mental health, women health, occupational health. There is so much more potential.

What do you love most about being a GP/what part of the job gives you the most satisfaction?

I enjoy the variety of presentations in GP clinics. You can never predict the next presentation. It can be anything from simple cuts/laceration, vaccination, respiratory tract infection, mental health consultation, travel advice, skin cancer checks, complicated chronic disease management. Work has never been boring for me!

What is the most important thing you/your practice contributes to this community?

My practice opens seven days a week and has 12 GPs. We also have onsite a psychologist, physiotherapist, podiatrist and dietician. We cover a very broad area of medicine including general GP consultations, immunisation, skin check, mental health, worker compensation, women’s health, antenatal care etc. I also do some after hours home visits for patients who are not able to see us in the clinic, one to two times a week. I believe our practice provides a good quality of service to the community and reduces the burden on the Emergency Department.

Please tell us about your work delivering IAR training

I have a special interest in mental health. I am currently working with SWSPHN to promote a new tool (IAR) developed for mental health assessment and referral. It facilitates assessment and referral processes for patients with mental health conditions. Please get in contact with your local PHN if you are a mental healthcare worker and would like to know about the IAR training.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to work out in the gym whenever I can and watch movies and dine out. Feel free to say hi if you catch me in the local gym/cinema or restaurants.

What do you love most about Oran Park/Camden?

It’s such a new and vibrant community. Patients here are very polite and respectful. 

What advice do you give your patients about maintaining good health?

I just want to emphasise that good mental health is an important part of general health. Anxiety and depression symptoms are significantly under diagnosed. If you do need extra support, do not hesitate to reach out to your family, friends, counsellors and doctors.

Elise Janson, a practice nurse at Harrington Park Medical Centre, believes the experience of practice nursing really is what you make it.

She is passionate about caring for her patients and building relationships in her day-to-day role.

Her contribution to enhanced clinical outcomes for patients and effectively communicating with patients to educate them, is key to making her role as practice nurse worthwhile.

How long have you been a nurse and how long have you been working in South Western Sydney as a practice nurse?

I have been a practice nurse at Harrington Park Medical Practice for four years. 

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing/primary care?  

There are many benefits to becoming a practice nurse. I thoroughly enjoy the longevity of patients. We as a team go through highs and lows with patients and their families. The rapport and relationships built can be super rewarding. I personally chose this style of nursing as the impact I could make was beneficial in comparison to ward-style nursing.

What is your day-to-day role and how do you contribute to improving clinical outcomes? 

My day-to-day role does change day-to-day!

Sometimes, there are emergency situations or high intensity situations which require the practice nurse to triage, commence care and make decisions based on the patients’ needs and/or deterioration. Each day the ages of patients I see ranges from birth to elderly and everything in between. This often includes seeing babies, infants, teens, new mums and older people. The role includes immunisation, travel vaccines, triage, ECGs, infusions, wound care/management, assessments, recalls, women’s health – the list just goes on and on.

Practice nursing for me is what you make of it. I contribute to clinical outcomes by educating patients with their care needs, promoting safer scenarios for their overall health, applying complete transparency regarding their health, effectively communicating and ensuring my clinical competency is up-to-date with the latest literature.

What do you love about your role as a practice nurse? 

I love the lifestyle, the patients are rewarding, the staff is like a family. I especially love no shift work! We all enjoy working together, improving patient care and implementing new ways to ensure patient satisfaction. I mostly enjoy working autonomously and being trusted enough by the care team to be able to make decisions about my patients’ health, and to feel heard by the patients’ care team.

What is the biggest challenge of the role and how do you overcome this?  

The limited number of GPs, and appointments can be challenging. Overall, the health system does require an overhaul but by working as a team at Harrington Park Medical Centre we believe we combat this as best we can to ensure priority patients are seen.

How do you help educate your patients about maintaining good health?  

Building rapport through therapeutic communication. By getting to know your patients over a long time, you gain the ability to understand what strategies are required to effectively ensure their understanding of their health and what is required to apply the strategies.

Tell me about your ideal workday! 

My ideal workday is to ensure all patients leave feeling satisfactory with no poor results. Unfortunately, in practice nursing, upsetting outcomes of patient care can happen so an ideal day is when this does not occur.

The treats brought in my patients is a great scenario too!

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

I enjoy my three kids and being social. Just the regular stuff, that we all enjoy doing. And once again, without the shift work being involved. My work family are also great people to have around and we ensure we enjoy each other outside of work as well.