The third generation of Shanahan GPs provide a modern patient-centred practice in a scenic area of the south east of Ireland.

NAME OF PRACTICE  Farranfore Medical Centre

ESTABLISHED The predecessor to the practice was my grandfather’s practice (established in 1921) and my father’s practice (established in 1954). We moved into our current, purpose built building in 1996. I joined in 1986.

PRACTICE PROFILE Catchment area: From Tralee to Killarney, and from Brosna, at the Cork / Kerry / Limerick border to near to Inch beach.  Numbers on books: medical cards & private Approx 7,000 total, 2,400 GMS

STAFF PROFILE Doctors: Four full time doctors / one GP registrar. Three part time nurses. Two full time secretaries, two job sharing receptionists, one part time administrator.   

SOME DETAILS IN THIS DIARY HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES.

Farranfore Medical Centre – on a typical day at the practice.

13:11 Woman, house call, leg injury. Arranged for in house physiotherapist to see her

14:00 Return from house call, have sandwiches for lunch, start tutorial with GP registrar

14:20 Formal tutorial with registrar

15:12 Reply to email to arrange meeting with nursing staff for Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, confirm purchase of computerised spirometer for my own room.

15:20 Man, discussion about his need for blood pressure treatment, following extensive weight loss.

15:54 Woman, discussion with patient and her supportive mother.

16:08 Man, arranging for management of long-standing finger injury (e-referral).

 

At the Farranfore Medical Centre on this day:

4 patients were issued certificates

114 patients were seen in the practice by doctors and nurses

33 patients were spoken to on the phone

27 prescriptions were issued (separate from consultations)

56 reports were scanned into patient charts

3 patients were seen for Heartwatch

82 laboratory results were received

4 women were seen for ante-natal visits

2 children were vaccinated

1 house call was carried out

 

Farranfore Medical Centre – on a typical day at the practice.

09:30 Past history of arthritis, blood pressure, back for review of blood tests

09:45 Never smoker, Wants screening for lung cancer; counselled there is none, but I will arrange lung function test in practice and then refer to respiratory

10:07 Bad arthritis of knee, seeking assurance it would be appropriate to have replacement.

10:18 Severe type 1 diabetes. Needs copies of her bloods for hospital

10:27 Whitlow of thumb. Advised simple measures, antibiotic not required

10:33 Reply to emails from phone system tech support.

10:38 Arthritis of knee, refer to orthopaedic clinic.

10:47 Spoke to GP registrar by phone at HSE long stay unit, asking advice on patient management.

11:01 Spoke to practice tech support person about ongoing issue with phone system

11:10 Significant mental handicap, arrange for follow up for blood tests.

11:15 Awaiting investigation for probably rheumatoid arthritis. Management of ongoing asthma, nurses had carried out lung function tests, about use of his inhalers.

11:23 Poorly controlled diabetic, arranged for diabetic nurse specialist to see her at our practice

11:41 Back for results of blood tests, monitoring his blood pressure and PSA

11:45 Follow up on bite from a cat.

11:59 Replay to emails from phone system tech support

12:03 Long standing, poorly controlled asthma. Never smoker, now most likely developing COPD. Follow up on spirometry and FeNO testing in practice earlier in the morning by nurses

12:46 Screening tests found raised testosterone levels; followed up with laboratory on the tests, arranged endocrinology opinion

13:11 House call, farmer unable to stand due to leg injury. Arranged for in house physiotherapist to see them

14:00 Return from house call, have sandwiches for lunch, start tutorial with GP registrar

14:20 Formal tutorial with registrar

15:12  Reply to email to arrange meeting with nursing staff for Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, confirm purchase of computerised spirometer for my own room.

15:20  Has prostate cancer, in drug trial. Discussion about his need for blood pressure treatment, following extensive weight loss.

15:54 Woman going to court for safety order against abusive partner.

16:08 Arranging for management of long-standing finger injury (e-referral). Discussion on erectile dysfunction

16:37 E-mail – Arrange training session for staff for new phone system (e-mail)

16:42 Long history of back pains, previously investigated. Significantly affecting quality of life, referral back to relevant specialist

17:19 Long history of asthma, also smoker. Asthma medication optimised, counselled about stopping smoking

17:32 Tinnitus, dizziness and new onset of hearing loss. Urgent e-referral for ENT opinion

17:54 Type 2 diabetic, diabetic review with practice nurse. Also has varicose veins – e-referral to vascular surgeon. Also has past history of Crohn’s disease – e-referral for follow up colonoscopy

18:21 Leg pain, concerned she might have vein problem, in fact pulled ham string.

18:40 Advanced prostate cancer, discussion about his medications. Follow up phone call to his pharmacist.

18:52 Write letter to pain specialist for follow up.

19:03 Go over lab results, arrange appropriate follow up

19:27 Follow up phone call to mother of boy, regarding management of his asthma.

19:35 Read the post

20:05 Go home.