Employers/practices:
- have a duty of care to the public (patient safety) as well as the GPs in their employ (GP safety)
- develop and maintain policies and procedures that identify and address performance concerns as early as possible (prevention)
- ensure that performance management is done, as much as is possible, with the cooperation of the GP about whom a concern exists
- provide a supportive environment that allows remediation to take place without putting patients or the GP at risk.
Employers and practices may not have the requisite resources and skills to appropriately investigate and manage performance concerns. In that event, advice and/or assistance should be sought from an expert in the field of performance management or the RACGP.