General practitioner is a term used for doctors who focus on treating health problems and common symptoms experienced by patients. A general practitioner is also known as a first-level service doctor, where general practitioners play a role in providing prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment, and refer to specialists if needed.
In general, the basic difference between general practitioners and specialists is the provision of comprehensive health services to patients. In addition, general practitioners also play an important role in providing initial and ongoing medical care to patients of all age groups.
In society, a general practitioner can work in a puskesmas, hospital, or private clinic. Not infrequently, general practitioners are often involved in various other medical disciplines (multidisciplinary) to support the healing of patients.
General Physician Ability
The following is the standard of ability that must be possessed by a general practitioner:
- Having anamnesis expertise (medical interview) to his patients. It aims to find out the complaints of the disease experienced and other information related to the disease.
- Have expertise in performing a general physical examination, in order to diagnose and determine the appropriate treatment according to the patient's needs.
- Can prescribe medicines based on the patient's illness.
- Able to provide vaccinations and perform wound care.
- Can provide education or counseling about good health maintenance.
- Able to carry out basic medical rehabilitation for patients and the community in order to prevent further complications of the disease.
- Able to perform simple supporting examinations, such as urine and blood tests, and interpret the results of these tests.
- Able to propose other supporting tests, such as X-ray examination, based on the symptoms experienced by the patient.
- Can take preventive measures and help direct patients to want to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Responsible for referring patients to appropriate specialists.
Not only that, general practitioners are also required to be able to manage resources and facilities in their workplace, be able to provide first aid to emergency patients, and be able to perform minor surgery.minor surgery).
Diseases that General Practitioners Can Treat
The following is a list of diseases and conditions that can be treated by general practitioners, including:
- Acute respiratory infections, such as flu, sore throat, tonsils, and laryngitis.
- Diseases of the lungs, such as pneumonia, asthma, uncomplicated pulmonary tuberculosis, and acute bronchitis.
- Motion sickness.
- Febrile convulsion.
- Migraine, headache, and vertigo.
- Hypertension.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia).
- Diseases of the eye, such as conjunctivitis and dry eye.
- Ear infections, eg otitis externa.
- Allergic rhinitis and acute rhinitis.
- Bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections.
- Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea.
- Digestive problems, such as acid reflux disease, gastritis, diarrhea, and constipation.
- Typhoid fever.
- Food allergies, food intolerances and food poisoning.
- Anaphylactic reaction.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Breast infection (mastitis).
- Metabolic diseases, including diabetes, high cholesterol, gout, malnutrition, and obesity.
- Iron deficiency (anaemia).
- Skin problems, such as irritant contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, hives, lice, scabies, and fungal infections of the skin.
There are also other diseases that cannot be treated thoroughly by general practitioners, such as meningitis, epilepsy, acute glaucoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart failure. However, in these cases, the general practitioner is responsible for providing initial care and ensuring the patient's condition is stable and preventing further complications. In daily practice, patients suffering from these diseases will be referred by general practitioners to specialists to get the right treatment.
What to Prepare Before Meeting a General Practitioner
To get the most out of your visit to a general practitioner, you should prepare the following things:
- Write down the various symptoms you feel in detail before seeing your GP. This is intended to make it easier for doctors to diagnose the disease you are suffering from.
- List other questions related to your current condition. In addition, also look for information about the history of diseases that may be suffered by your family members.
- Keep a record of any medications you are currently taking, including vitamin supplements, herbal remedies or other medical medications. And if there is an allergic reaction to it.
- Bring all reports of examination results that you have had before.
- Also make sure you bring a health insurance card, to make it easier when you do the administrative process at the clinic, health center, or hospital.
- Invite a family member or friend to accompany you when you meet with your GP.
In addition, use the best possible time when meeting with your GP to ask for an explanation regarding your specific health condition and symptoms. In order to speed up the healing process, follow all the recommendations given to you by your general practitioner.