Dr Rhutam (Raj) Mehta

Placement: Stirk Medical Group

Signing up for the new "PGPPP" has been an excellent learning experience both in terms of my future career planning as well as furthering my RMO education. This is a relatively new program and initially, I had my doubts about whether I had made a good choice. My other colleagues who were involved in a WAGPET term were about to start the Community Residency Program which includes some hospital contact as well. I, on the other hand, was about to start a solely GP-based program.

Let me honestly say that the best way to experience General Practice is to fully immerse yourself in it. That is the kind of experience I have had at Stirk Medical Group. Within a week of starting out my rotation, I was given my own room (complete with name plate) and started seeing patients on my own! At first this was quite daunting, however working in a group GP practice setting means that you have a lot of support to draw upon. I was particularly impressed with the promptness of my GP mentors who would rush to my aid whenever I had a question regarding patient management. This was during their busy consults.

I really enjoyed the direct contribution I was able to make to people's health care. Often, in the hospital system, as a junior doctor, a lot of time is spent doing "tasks" for the team. Although these are crucial in the whole scheme of things, it is occasionally difficult to appreciate one's efforts in improving lives of others. At my practice, I was performing procedures that ranged from excision of moles to the drainage of a knee to relieve pain. It was also very satisfying be the first point of care and seeing some true pathology that had not already been managed to some extent by others.  All this meant that I felt I really was making a difference.

Asides from the variety of presentations, GPs also deliver health care to patients from a variety of ages. One of the best parts of my rotation was the interaction I got with children at my practice. If you've got some interest in child health or find that you are working with a very specific age demographic in hospital and want a change I would most definitely recommend the PGPPP or other GP placement. The kids I saw at my practice generally presented with well defined clinical problems and I was able to help my little patients as well as reassure their parents.

I would strongly recommend the PGPPP placement program to any RMO interested in a career in general practice or wishing to work in a community based setting. You have a rich and varied term to look forward to, very helpful mentors in your everyday education and a very enthusiastic and friendly support staff from WAGPET.