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A general practitioner (GP) or family physician (FP) is a physician/medical doctor who provides primary care. A GP/FP treats acute and chronic illnesses, provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. Some also care for hospitalized patients, do minor surgery and/or obstetrics. The term general practitioner is common in the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries, where the word "physician" is only used for certain specialists and not for GPs.
Australia
General Practice in Australia has undergone many changes in training requirements over the past decade. The basic medical degree in Australia is the MBBS (Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery), which has traditionally been attained after completion of a six-year course. Over the last few years, four-year postgraduate courses have become more common. After graduating, a one or two-year internship (dependent on state) is required for registration before specialist training begins. For general practice training, the doctor applies to enter the three-year "Australian General Practice Training Program", a combination of coursework and apprenticeship type training leading to the awarding of the FRACGP (Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners), if successful. This qualification or its equivalent is needed to access the Medicare health system for remuneration as a general practitioner. Medicare is Australia's Universal Health Care system, and without access to it, a practitioner cannot effectively work in Australia. Most GPs work under a fee-for-service arrangement although increasingly a portion of income is derived from Government payments for participation in chronic disease management. There is a shortage of GPs in rural areas and increasingly outer metropolitan areas of large cities, which has led to the utilisation of overseas trained doctors (OTDs). GP incomes can match those of other internal medicine specialists, but not proceduralists. Many GPs feel that they are second-rate doctors because of lower incomes, less public respect than their specialist colleagues, lack of research opportunities, and lack of access to public hospitals. Historically GPs were the default group for those who had failed often brutal specialist training programs or for those without family connections to secure training positions for lucrative specialties, this is less so with the advent of general practice as a specialty in its own right, including a proper training scheme and certification process.
Brazil
General practice in Brazil is called clínica geral or clínica médica. Any physician is legally allowed to practice without any training after graduation in the medical school, but recent efforts by the government, the Brazilian Medical Association and the specialized Sociedade Brasileira de Clínica Médica are trying to demand also a specialist title for its practice, just like for others such as cardiology, endocrinology, etc. The majority of Brazilian GPs are located in the public health sector and is constituted mostly by young, recently graduated physicians. The reason is that GP is not terribly profitable and about 40% of Brazilian doctors prefer to do specialized practice, instead. To do this, they are required to do medical residence of variable duration and submit to a board of medical examiners in order to get the title of specialist. Each medical society is in charge of organizing the examinations (which usually are carried out once a year) and granting the titles to those physicians who passed the requirements. The title is recognized by the Federal Council of Medicine (the Federal professional regulatory body), the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. More on [ General practitioner ]
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Centre for Innovation in Primary Care - Independent charity. Resource for UK General Practitioners. Tools for measuring performance and for producing-evidence based change. Results of local projects in Sheffield.
Meta Description: [ Centre for Innovation in Primary Care, a resource for UK GPs ]
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Department of Postgraduate Education for General Practice Wales - Information on department's activities, includes continuing professional development, postgraduate courses, appraisal, summative assessment and vocational training.
Dispensing Doctors' Association - Representing family doctors in primary care in the UK who dispense medications for patients
General Practitioners in Airways Group - Contains resources for primary care, including journal, audit material, educational committee. Details of research activity, discussion forum, news and time table of events.
Meta Description: [ General Practice Airways Group formerly known as the General Practitioners in Asthma Group, are a UK network of general practitioners with the aim of improving the care and treatment of people with asthma. ]
GPonline.com - GMC number and registration process required. A-Z of medical websites, information from GP magazine, Medeconomics and GP Net.
National Association of Primary Care - Professional association of primary health care professionals and organisations. Site contains public and private areas.
National Primary Care Development Team - NHS organisation providing support for primary care initiatives to improve healthcare for patients and communities. Site contains details of National Collaborative Programmes.
NLH Question Answering Service - National Library for Health service seeking to answer clinical questions that primary health professionals in the UK have been unable to answer for themselves. Listing of questions and answers ordered in to clinical specialities.
Oxford Deanery Department of General Practice - Supporting GP education in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Information for GP's, GP educators and GP registrars. Calendar of events and details of courses listed.
Meta Description: [ . ]
Personal Development Plans for GP's - Includes a personal development plan toolkit for the Eastern Deanery plus educational resources and links for gp's.
Primary Care Contracting - NHS resource providing information on the new primary care contracting arrangements. Aimed at Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities and GPs. Site contains resources and information to support implementation of the contract.
Meta Description: [ Department of Health and Primary Care Contracting Team - This site brings together information and resources to help you understand and implement the new primary care contracting arrangements and use them in the wider modernisation of primary care services ]
Primary Care Dermatology Society - National society for GPs with a special interest in dermatology. Site includes news, events, disease information Resource and a members only discussion forum.
Primary Care Electronic Library - Web portal designed to help those interested in Primary Care find resources on the Internet. The site contains a directory of websites, Evidence Based Medicine search and Guidelines search.
Meta Description: [ The Primary Care Electronic Library (PCEL) is an indexed and searchable information resource targeted at those involved in Primary Care. ]
Primary Care Neurology Society - UK organisation supporting primary care professionals with an interest in neurology. Registration form and information regarding conferences.
Meta Description: [ The Primary Care Neurology Society (PCNS) is a new network organisation supporting primary care professionals with an interest in neurology ]
The Royal College of General Practitioners - The academic organisation in the UK for general practitioners. Details of membership examinations, quality initiatives and research. Members are able to access the British Journal of General Practice.
Meta Description: [ The home page of the RCGP ]
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