In this 4 part series, I will discuss Locum survival tips which I have found useful.
(1) Always remember that the key reason why you practice as a doctor above everything, is to care for the human race.
In everything you do, put the patient first and you will find that everything else follows.
We all have needs and aspirations. Besides fulfilling basic human needs ie paying off the mortgage and other bills, we all aspire for good things. For example, I always wanted a high performing sportscar and it was handy to have extra pocket money to pay for the tracking service, the higher insurance costs and extra gadgets that I could use whilst driving - like a dvd/mp3 and ipod docking station in the car.
However, if all you are motivated by is the acquisition of more things, it will be pretty obvious in the way you come across to both the patients in the surgery and also the staff.
Believe me, if your only key motivation is to locum to earn the means to acquire more stuff; the good news is that you can possibly do this but the bad news this will not last.
Your key motivation should be to do your best to care for patients. Work with excellence. People round you will notice your enthusiasm, your kindness, your warmness and you will get surgeries asking you to come back again and again.
Instead of having to ask around, practice managers will clog your voicemail with requests and you shall not be short of work.
(2) Always remember to Listen.
Listen to your patients. My trainer always used to say that the first 2-3 minutes
of a consultation can determine how a consultation pans out.
If you listen to your patients and not talk over them or interrupt in the first 3 minutes, you are more likely to pick up cues, anxieties and their own ideas for the illness
or presenting complaint you will be able to deal with the consultation as efficiently and in reasonably satisfactory manner.
Patients do not like feeling rushed and the highest cause for complaints is not because a doctor gave them the wrong medication but because they felt they were not listened to and that the doctor was "abrupt" or "rude."
I am not saying someone should change their personality. Really listening to patients could mean shorter consultation times, more satisfied patients, less risk of receiving a letter of complaint and the dreaded GMC (General medical council).
It also means the patients will ask for you and practice managers will request you to come back. For those seeking partnership positions, listening is such an essential part of networking. There are many instances when one picks up snippets of conversation in a practice that give you an idea of what the ethos is like, what the current partners would like, where the needs are in the practice.
By simply listening, your career could potentially thrive. Not listening is career suicide.
(3) Invest in Social Capital. Take an active interest in the people who work with you. Encourage people to talk about themselves.
How many locums are known to come into a practice, get their head down and not to talk to anyone except their patients and occasionally,
the ICT manager, the receptionist and leave for home.
( I realise that sometimes it can be really 'full on' leaving little or no time to socialise)
My advice is that sometimes just spending 5 min, speaking to the members of staff can really make a difference in whether or not they determine
that you are personable and approachable.
If you do not know what to say, there is a simple formula which I learnt and picked up from a seminar -that I attended last year -"Secrets to Success" by Dani Johnson.
The formula is FORM. For those who like myself struggle to break the ice with
strangers, I found this formula very useful.
F-family
O-occupation
R-recreation
M-message. You can choose and pick F and R which stand for
family and recreation in this case.
What on earth has this formula got to do with your survival as a locum? Well, if you do at least say "Hi" to the receptionist and centre the conversation on asking her how her family is doing and what her recreational interests are can sometimes help to break the ice.
Receptionists are on the receiving end as they are the front end of the practice, taking calls from often irate and vexed patients and their jobs are not easy. A kind word to them, boxes of chocolates, even speaking to them go a long way in establishing a good working relationship. I can assure you that this isvery important.
There have been several instances, when receptionists have talked to me in
advance and warned me about some patients who will be demanding for certain medication and to not offer it because they have been already prescribed it by their "regular" doctors.
This information is often important because some patients can take advantage when they know you are a locum. Not all practices have special notes about patients in their records and hence the importance of making sure you use whatever resources are
available to make your work as easy as possible.
People are an important resource!! Do ask questions ... never, ever be afraid to ask questions.
You will find it a lot easier if you get on with people. Take part in partners meetings and learn by listening and taking an interest in
what they do outside of work.
It will not only show that you have a "human" side to you apart from your "doctoring" duties. You will more likely be invited to do more locums and if a partnership opportunity arises, you will be in the know before your contemporaries do.
I am afraid there is no other way but setting time aside to do this and if you are terribly shy, use the "FR" of the acronym for networking "FORM" I would strongly recommend the following books:
How to Win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 1936
http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.html
"We demonstrate interpersonal intelligence when we recognise and are able to discern feelings, emotions, moods and react appropriately" and this is a key determinant of our career success as doctors.
This requires empathic listening and caring feedback. A key resource on the value of Emotional intelligence is an article by Dr E. Scott Geller
http://www.safetyperformance.com/Articles_1996/TheValueofEmotionalIntelligence.pdf
(4) Have a sense of humour. Do not take yourself too seriously. It goes without saying, general practice is a stressful job.
There is no harm in having a sense of humour. The team you work with will value your company - Nothing makes life a lot easier than having a cheerful spirit even on a "snowdowned", "down" day. If you send positive vibes when you are around, you are more likely to be invited back to work whereas if you carry with you "buggage" and are uptight and carry a sullen face, it is more than likely that the practice will find it uncomfortable to be around you and are less likely to want you even if you are a super-duper, competent doctor.
(5) Get your priorities right. Make sure you have plenty of rest and look after yourself. No one will do this for you!
You have to draw some boundaries and actively seek a good worklifestyle balance enabling you to get enough rest and family time whilst working at the job. Keep revisiting this periodically because it is very easy to get carried away and work yourself to a grind.
No one wants a sick doctor. Make sure you take breaks when you are given them and also request them especially if you are the on call
doing triage and there seems to be an interminable deluge of patients and requests to see emergencies.
Hope this helps, more to follow.
Dr Lorna Knight, a GP and a christian. www.GladClinic.com
p.s. Please pass this on to any other doctors or surgeries that want to stay in contact
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