GP22 to showcase and explore the future of general practice

‘GPs do more than expected – and CAN do more in the future.’
 
Associate Professor Chris Hogan, from the University of Melbourne’s Department of General Practice, is referring to the theme of an upcoming GP22 session he is co-presenting, ‘GPs do more than expected and could do more in the future’.
 
‘As GPs, we often undervalue our achievements,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘GPs do a wonderful job and have a major role in the health of our community.

‘This plenary will give us the evidence to proudly advocate for general practice to each other, to our medical colleagues, to our patients, and to politicians.’
 
RACGP Rural Chair Dr Michael Clements, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Director Dr Lorraine Anderson, and Newcastle University Conjoint Associate Professor Joachim Sturmberg will also join Associate Professor Hogan as co-presenters of the plenary.
 
‘We will describe the incredibly complex tasks that GPs regularly do, including tasks that are beyond most people’s expectation or appreciation – even of the GPs themselves,’ Associate Professor Hogan said.
 
‘These tasks vary according to the context we practice in, varying according to the needs and available resources.’
 
The panel will also describe the complexity of and differences between disease, illness and management, and examine GPs’ important connection to health systems and communities – urban, rural and remote – and how practice is adapted to the needs of their communities.

‘This plenary is atypical in that the vast majority of the information will be published on the [GP22] app and be available well before the presentation, so that we can discuss at the plenary,’ Associate Professor Hogan said.
 
Attendees will be asked to ‘identify a future without the chains that currently bind us’ to fuel a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A session.
 
Often sharing words of wisdom and personal experiences spanning his general practice career, Associate Professor Hogan knows the value of not only teaching, but learning, and hopes the plenary session will involve both.
 
‘The best part of these events is the opportunity to meet colleagues who are both new and old friends; to put a face to the names in our college and to learn and share so much,’ he said.
 
‘This topic is important because we are now able to describe what GPs do, and do well, in a variety of different settings and locations.
 
‘We can now explain why other health professionals who follow standard protocols can never replace GPs. We can also identify the barriers that reduce GPs effectiveness – not just funding.

‘These themes give us not only hope for the present and the future but give us a path to follow.’
 
The third plenary session at GP22 is from 9.00 – 10.00 am, Sunday 27 November, and will be available for digital attendees after the in-person conference has finished. Full program details are available on the GP22 website.
 
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