Small group learning approach gets tick of approval from GPs

Mater launched its 2009 GP Education Program in February with a new Speed Meeting concept which has been rated a great success by both specialists and GPs involved in the new learning event.

Mater Health Services Senior Marketing Officer Sara Fingleton, who is co-ordinating the Speed Meeting initiative, said feedback gathered after the first event had been very positive.

“We have been encouraged by feedback that this small group style learning offers GPs an opportunity to have questions relating to their day-to-day practice answered and it gives specialists a greater insight into the kinds of issues GPs are dealing with,” Ms Fingleton said.

Five doctors from the following specialty areas; orthopaedics, breast surgery, obstetrics, cardiology, and neurosurgery participated in the first Speed Meeting, where a collection of 30 General Practitioners were divided into five groups of six–each individual specialist rotating through the groups in 20 minute sessions.

The sessions were relaxed and unscripted, with GPs encouraged to ask questions.

Obstetrician Dr Amy Mellor from the Arrivals Obstetric Centre at South Brisbane was one of the five specialist doctors involved.

Dr Mellor said while she had arrived at the Speed Meeting with a pre-prepared PowerPoint display in case discussions with the GPs were slow moving, she quickly realised it wasn’t needed.

“I was pleasantly surprised to find that the GPs all had plenty of questions they wanted to ask,” Dr Mellor said. “And I found it very interesting to find out what sort of questions go through their heads on a daily basis. It is also great to gain an understanding of how GPs approach things like shared care. As an obstetrician it gives me a different perspective on pregnancy management,” she said.

General Practitioner Dr Evan Angelos, who practices at Carindale and Coorparoo, said he found the first Speed Meeting a valuable learning exercise.

“It was helpful to be able to talk about our various experiences at the coalface and gain some answers from a specialist on how certain issues can be managed,” Dr Angelos said. “I think this format of learning is an increasing requirement–GPs don’t have time to chase busy specialists between consultations to ask questions and this sort of event gives us the chance to have that interaction,” he said.

To find out more about the Speed Meeting component of Mater’s 2009 GP Education Program, contact Sara Fingleton on telephone 07 3163 1036 or email sara.fingleton@mater.org.au.