Your Family Practice In Bendigo Knows Your Health Story – From Birth to When You Become An Elder

What does a doctor see on your tenth visit that a stranger would not see at your first? Actually, a lot of things. A family practice develops your health story over many years and this is the story that often hides important facts that a hurried visit would not notice.

The Hidden Value of Being Known

A general practitioner from a Bendigo family practice, who knows his patient for ten years, will be able to notice very early on any changes that have happened. For example, gradual weight loss, a mood change or a constant cough are symptoms that become noticeable only over time. The continuity of treatment can also help to reduce repeated testing and make the referral to specialists much easier.

With MyMedicare you make an official commitment to your doctor. People who register in the chosen practice can get longer telehealth visits and chronic disease management, depending on eligibility requirements. It can be done through the Medicare website or in the practice itself.

Getting Started Early

Most family GPs will meet their youngest patients within the very first few weeks of life. Upcoming childhood vaccinations follow a pretty standard schedule and if any are missed, the GP can help arrange catch-up doses. Regular visits are a great way for parents to raise any concerns about growth, sleeping troubles or just general development, all in a calm, judgement-free environment.

Pregnancy and family planning often fall naturally into the same relationship with your GP. If a mum-to-be has already got a good relationship with her doctor, it makes sense for them to share antenatal care with the hospital and stay involved even after the baby’s born.

The Teenage Years Can Be Tough

Adolescence brings its own set of health worries that young people might not feel too comfortable talking about in front of a parent. Family GPs can happily see teenagers on their own if that’s what’s required for part or all of the visit, and make sure they understand how confidentiality works. Mental health, sex and relationships, sports injuries and all sorts of other stuff often come up during these private conversations.

Having a GP who knows a teenager since they were a kid is a real bonus they’ve already got a good rapport established and that trust is a big help when it comes to young people speaking up sooner rather than later.

Life in the Middle Years Gets Busy

Between school and retirement, a lot of folks only see a doctor when they’re not feeling so great. That’s exactly when conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes can sneak up on you. There are a few things worth keeping on your calendar:

• Heart health checks for adults 45+, and a bit earlier if you’ve got some underlying health issues.
• A type 2 diabetes risk check for 40- 49-year-olds who score high on the national AUSDRISK tool.
• Regular skin checks, since we all know how harsh the Aussie sun can be.
• Mental health support and a mental health treatment plan.

That last one is actually a pretty useful thing to get sorted a GP can work with you on a plan and then you can access Medicare rebates for sessions with a psych or other eligible provider. Loads of people still don’t even realise they can start with their GP.

Looking After Older Family Members

A lot of regional families are now looking after ageing parents at the same time as raising kids of their own. If you’re 75+, you can get a yearly health check that covers things like your meds, memory, mobility and safety at home. Catching problems early like a fall risk or a medication mix-up, can really help someone stay independent for as long as possible.

Later life also means there are often loads more people involved in a person’s care specialists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and all sorts of others. Having a family GP who knows the whole history makes it so much easier to keep everything connected which is a big help for carers too.

Choosing a Practice to Stick With

Going from clinic to clinic just ends up splitting medical records and restarting from scratch each time. Choosing one good family practice and sticking with it makes every visit feel more worthwhile. When you’re looking at options, a few questions to keep in mind are:

• Are they still taking on new patients?
• Do they support MyMedicare registration?
• Can the family usually see the same GP?
• What are the fees and billing arrangements like?

The best time to find a family doctor is when everything is going smoothly, not in the middle of a crisis.