"...you simply can't think efficiency with people. You think effectiveness with people and efficiency with things. I've tried to be efficient with a disagreeing or disagreeable person, and it simply doesn't work. I've tried to give ten minutes of "quality time" to a child or an employee to solve a problem, only to discover such "efficiency" creates new problems and seldom resolves the deepest concern."
It reminds me of a saying of one of my GP trainers - "the good doctor varies his or her consultation time"
I would say that with animals, too, you can't rush or be efficient, especially with healing.
Yet the Government seems hell-bent on getting us to squeeze more and more into a 10 minute consultation. Amazing that people used to try to consult in 5 minutes!
Now we have to introduce ourselves, work out the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations, take a history, examine the patient as appropriate, make a mental list of differential diagnoses, discuss the management options, allow the patient to choose... (these were pre-existing).
Now in the same appointment we have to chase up any QOF points that are lacking, do BP, ask them to come for blood tests, remind them about the smear or childhood vaccinations, get them to come in for their diabetic, asthma, stroke & epilepsy checks & blood tests, then if they need a referral wait for the Internet connection to work, discuss the options for where they wish to be referred (most would rather be seen at the closest hospital with public transport & good parking), and book them an appointment....Which they can't get at the local hospital that they want because everything has to be sorted in 18 weeks so the hospital can only open up that many appointments... Oh and we have to give them a glossy book about choosing, and a questionnaire that tells the government whether they remember the choice conversation and were given the book....
You can see why we GPs are feeling a tad overwhelmed...
The contract was supposed to lead to performance related pay being for evidence based work that improves patient care, not improves patient wants & government votes...
And that's only the half of it!
Now, time to get positive again -
On this lovely snowy day I am so lucky to live in the countryside, where I can help my kids build snowmen, then come in to a warm wood burning stove & watch the flames over a cup of tea...
Feel better already!
Whatever you are doing, stay positive, it will help you reach financial freedom!
Source: By Dr Alison Grimston of Financial Freedom For Doctors - Dr Alison Grimston is a part time GP and mother of 2 in Sussex.
