While the world of medicine is vast, primary health care is the term we commonly use to describe a patient’s first entry point into this realm.
Undisputedly, Australia’s health system is one of the best in the world. It provides quality, safe and affordable health care for residents right around our great nation, and is also a key reason as to why we enjoy one of the longest life expectancies in the world. There are many providers of health care in Australia, with the most common including:
- Primary care services delivered by general practitioners (GPs)
- Medical specialists
- Allied health workers
- Nurses
Medicare and the public hospital system provide free or low-cost access for all Australians to most of these health care services. Unless it’s an emergency medical situation, the first point of contact with the national health system is generally via a primary health care provider – but what exactly does this area of medicine cover?
Primary Health Care Explained
In a nutshell, the concept of primary health care covers a range of health care providers who work in the community. Any healthcare professional who is the first point of contact for the health system can be a primary healthcare provider, with the exception to the rule being emergency service workers such as a paramedic. For this sector, the aim of the game is to provide a range of services for the prevention and ongoing management of acute and chronic conditions or ailments.
Primary health care services in Australia are delivered in a diverse range of settings such as general practices, community health centres, allied health practices, and via communication technologies such as telehealth and video consultations. General practitioners (GPs), nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, midwives, pharmacists, dentists, and Aboriginal health practitioners are all considered primary health care professionals.
As a general rule, the services offered by primary health care providers generally cover diagnosis, treatment and care for health issues, the promotion of good health, preventing future health problems, and managing long term or ongoing medical conditions. A primary health care provider also plays an integral role in taking the pressure off Australia’s hospital system, and also offers care and advice for things like quitting smoking, hazardous alcohol consumption, depression and anxiety and managing weight.
Because the very nature of primary health care is generally ongoing, many people form somewhat of a working relationship with those that they have regular contact with. As an example, it’s important to be transparent with your general practitioner, and trust them enough to open up when it comes to sharing sensitive medical information. As such, many members of the medical industry who work as primary health care providers have indicated that it’s this regular interaction with their community that makes them view their roles as more rewarding than other fields of medicine.
Primary health care makes up an enormous part of Australia’s overall medical system – so much so, that 4 in 5 Australians have seen a general practitioner in 2021 alone. Many people are surprised to learn that primary health care receives approximately 35% of the nation’s total annual health funding, compared to 39% that goes towards hospitals. Ultimately, both systems work hand in hand together to ensure that the health of every Australian is where it should be.
Working In Primary Health Care In Queensland
If you’re on the hunt for a locum doctor role in the Sunshine State, there’s a chance that you’ll either want to work a little, a lot – or somewhere in between. Queensland based opportunities with House Call Doctor offer flexibility, with shifts that fit around your current workload, personal commitments, or even just lifestyle preferences.
Whether you’re looking to increase your earning potential, gain experience, or even just have a desire for greater job satisfaction, opportunities with House Call Doctor offer local medical practitioners a chance to explore what out of hours and locum healthcare is like, while still retaining a sense of freedom and flexibility. If you’re looking for an opportunity to broaden your career horizons, are you –
- An Australian or Internationally Trained Medical Graduate
- Have full registration with the Medical Board of Australia
- Have two years post graduate experience, including experience in paediatrics, accident and emergency, general medicine and surgery
If you can answer yes to all of the above, then why not consider registering your interest for locum general practitioner doctor jobs with House Call Doctor today, and be a part of the medical revolution.
