My New Year’s resolution shouldn’t be underestimated
It was mid-December, and I ran into a patient at a community garden open day. My patient was excited to see me and gave me…
Dr Pam Rachootin
Dr Rachootin is a GP in Adelaide, SA.
Like Goldi-docs, we want our patients’ health ‘just right’
In medical school, I remember being fascinated about the trade-offs that may arise when a genetic susceptibility to one disease possibly reduces the risk of…
Why, why, why? The questions that sum up general practice today
In his quest to work out how the world works, my three-year-old grandson is always asking why. This got me to thinking. Why, when we…
My big problem with outcome-based funding
I recently read an article in which the author suggested health reform through a shift to outcome-based funding of general practice (as opposed to fee-for-service)…
Some patients’ expectations are just too great
My grandson Nathan, aged two and a half, had a recent interaction with a medico — in this case, a vet. This interaction has helped me…
A man chased me on my morning walk – I now understand vulnerability
When I first started general practice, I met an elderly neighbour who loved walking in the very early morning. “Best time of the day,” he…
A call from AHPRA made me value my patients even more
My most treasured possessions are relationships. And I advise all of you to write down snippets of the wonderful interactions you’ve had with your patients,…
How about giving GPs CPD points for a holiday? I can think of no better activity
Let me tell you about the cabinet of curiosities my brother, a former university biology professor, received as a retirement gift. One of the most…
We all write death certificates, but reading this one gobsmacked me
Recently I have had an opportunity to become a ‘critic’. It is an interesting new writing genre and an artform I admire, but it is…
Medical trainee abuse must stop – do we need an independent inquiry?
I am very hopeful that our newly elected federal Parliament will embrace a culture of respect and co-operation to achieve desired goals benefitting the nation.…
