Orientation
A well-planned, comprehensive orientation to the training site and the local environment is essential for the training site manager, supervisory team and other training site staff to undertake together. It helps ensure the safety (including cultural safety) of the registrar, the training site, and the community.
Other benefits of orientation include:
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The registrar feels a sense of inclusion and improved confidence. Registrars report that a good orientation at the start of a placement significantly reduces their anxiety.
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The risk of misunderstandings is minimised when clear expectations are communicated by all parties to the supervision relationship – the registrar, designated and other supervisors, practice owner, and practice manager.
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Basic questions are covered during orientation, avoiding the need for staff to provide piecemeal information throughout the working day.
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Mistakes or omissions in billing and administrative tasks are reduced.
Registrars starting their first term in general practice should receive an extensive orientation. These registrars will need to be guided through a detailed transition from the hospital environment. They will be unfamiliar with most of the systems and processes of general practice. They need to learn about billing, prescribing, medical software and referrals.
Registrars in later terms (GPT 2, 3 and extended skills in general practice terms) should have a minimum of half a day of orientation tailored to their individual needs.
To help guide your orientation activities refer to the orientation checklist for GPT1 registrars and orientation checklist for GPT2, 3, and extended skills registrars. We recommend downloading the relevant file and editing it to suit your training site.