This article is written by April Han. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur. With a formal education in Business Administration and years of working with healthcare startups under her belt, she is able to provide valuable advice to aspiring locums in terms of creativity, innovation, and discovery of solutions to the challenges amid our society’s growing demand for health services. A life-long learner with a growth mindset, she is currently expanding her knowledge of the healthcare marketplace through online courses and hands-on training from world-class mentors.
Professional isolation is one of the biggest problems faced by locum GPs. Solo general practitioners are more likely to experience this problem, according to the 2015 Finding My Place report by Australia-based NGO Rural Health West. Some of the most notable effects of professional isolation are stress, limited access to healthcare, and limited knowledge of the present state of their performance. These consequences have a direct impact on performance quality.
Isolation may be minimized by maintaining healthy relationships with other fellow GPs and members of primary healthcare team. Having someone to talk to about their frustrations and problems on the job can help alleviate stress.
Collegiality helps lessen isolation. A survey of small groups activities amongst general practitioners in 1989 and 1998 showed that evening meeting in non-medical premises were highly valued by the GPs, mostly younger ones. It was viewed as a self-motivated commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Sadly, it’s not commonly recognized as an essential part of formal support systems.
Although the power of reading medical journals should never be underestimated, peer-to-peer discussions are excellent sources of learning. More importantly, have a good role model that you can have face-to-face discussions with can powerfully shape your behavior and attitude. This can affect your professional life in the long run because mentoring can be a source of positive influence, improving your performance.
Additionally, consultations and discussions with well-informed colleagues play a big role in helping you see the bigger picture. This helps you see the limits to your knowledge and competence which is important considering that revalidation is a necessary part of every general practitioner, whether you’re a locum GP in Singapore or a salaried GP in one of the country’s leading hospitals.
Support Network for Locum GPs in Singapore
In Singapore, unfortunately, there is no formal support group for locum GPs. Still, it’s not impossible to find support when you’re experiencing professional problems.
Wondered about becoming a locum doctor? Continuing your career as a locum offers flexibility, freedom, and control over your work-life balance. Click below to register as a locum GP or call us at 6258 6683 for any enquiries.
Singapore Medical Association
The Singapore Medical Association (SMA) was formed in 1959. It is the country’s national medical organization that represents the majority of medical practitioners in the country whether they’re working in the public or the private sectors. The association aims to unite all medical professionals in the country. Members of the SMA have access to people who they can turn to when they
- want to discuss their concerns regarding ethical dilemmas
- would like to rub elbows with fellow locum GPs
- need help looking for job opportunities
Their website is a great source of information for a locum GP working in Singapore. Additionally, they have an online forum where you can talk to fellow health professionals about:
- Medical Cases
- Ethics and Professionalism
- Medical Marketplace
- Continuing Medical Education
- Hot Topics in Medicine
CaregiverAsia
CaregiverAsia is primarily an online marketplace of health and caregiving services. The team, however, consists of people with diverse experience working with health professionals. They are passionate individuals who can help locum GPs in Singapore by:
- providing you a platform to broadcast your services so you can easily find a locum job.
- providing you with an online scheduler so you can stay organized and keep control of your time.
- providing you with online resources from highly qualified professionals such as trade secrets and advice.
- inspiring you by publishing heartwarming stories from their community of healthcare professionals through their blog.
You can also contact the 24-hour hotline at +65 6258 6683 if you need assistance related to your use of the site.
Social Media
Social media has been given a bad rap, but they can be a great source of support if you know how to use them properly. Facebook, for example, lets you create a group where you can invite your fellow locum GPs to share your stories and advice with each other. Quora, on the other hand, is a question-and-answer site where you can ask questions to its community of users. LinkedIn also allows you to connect with fellow professionals and communicate with them in real time. You can even find work fast as LinkedIn is a trusted source of companies and employers to search from.
Professional isolation has grave consequences for your health and performance as a doctor. You must, therefore, find ways to prevent it. We hope you find the above suggestions helpful.
Related articles that might interest you:
6 Signs You Are Ready To Be a Locum GP
4 Advantages of Working as a Locum Doctor
What Makes a Good Locum Doctor? 6 Must-Have Qualities
Understanding Tort of Negligence as a Medical Professional Freelancer
Freelancing and Illness: What Can You Do?
5 Complaint Resolution Best Practices for Medical Freelancers
Your Do's and Don'ts Checklist to Get Started as a Freelancer
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