Orientation

Orientation

A well-planned, comprehensive orientation to the practice and the local environment is an essential task for the practice manager, supervisory team and other practice staff to undertake together. It helps ensure the safety (including cultural safety) of the registrar, the practice and the community.

Other benefits of orientation include:

• 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.
• The risk of misunderstandings is minimised when clear expectations are communicated by all parties to the supervision relationship – the registrar, primary and secondary supervisors, practice owner and practice manager.
• Basic questions are covered during orientation, avoiding the need for staff to provide piecemeal information throughout the working day.
• Mistakes or omissions in billing and administrative tasks are reduced.

Orientation is particularly important for registrars starting their first practice placement. These registrars will need to be attentively transitioned 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. For registrars in their first general practice placement, orientation activities should be scheduled for at least the first two days, and they shouldn’t have patient consultations for at least the first day. Registrars in later terms should have a minimum of half a day of orientation but should be tailored to their individual needs.

A recommended orientation checklist will help to guide your orientation activities.