Dr Balvinder Khaira works as a GP in community health services around Melbourne. We spoke with him recently about his experience as a HealthPathways Melbourne user and how the platform has helped him provide better care for his patients.

Many GPs are motivated by a desire to better serve their community. Dr Balvinder Khaira is no different, and he’s spent the best part of the last 10 years helping some of the most vulnerable members of his community.

“My main practice has been in community health (cohealth/IPC Health), drug and alcohol and refugee health (Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health). I have special interests in mental and adolescent health,” he says.

While the challenges of working in general practice are immense, resources like HealthPathways Melbourne have helped Dr Khaira keep pace with change.

“I use HealthPathways quite a bit. I’ve always found it to be accurate and relevant,” he says.

HealthPathways Melbourne in action

Dr Khaira recently used HealthPathways Melbourne to accurately treat a patient with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an inflammatory disorder which can cause muscle pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips.

He was able to find information on how to best deal with the condition at first presentation, which was accurate, relevant, peer-reviewed and written by local specialists.

“It had been a while since I had seen a first presentation of Polymyalgia Rheumatica, so the pathway was really helpful in refreshing my memory and making sure I did an accurate assessment,” he says.

The importance of peer-reviewed information

Dr Khaira says the value with HealthPathways Melbourne is not just the depth and quality of information, but knowing it comes from a reliable, local source.

“With HealthPathways Melbourne I know it’s peer reviewed, relevant and detailed to the extent necessary to use at the point of care,” he says.

Building a stronger, better connected GP network

Dr Khaira says platforms like HealthPathways Melbourne can only strengthen the GP network’s ability to service the community.

“HealthPathways Melbourne is accurate and relevant. I think being a GP can be quite isolating sometimes. HealthPathways Melbourne connects me with tertiary and specialist advice, which increases my confidence. It’s also fast to access within a consultation,” he says.

Are you a GP or health professional in our region who would like access to HealthPathways Melbourne? Request access online or contact info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au.

 

HealthPathways Melbourne

HealthPathways Melbourne is a clinical management and referral resource designed for use during consultations. It gives clinicians a single website to access clinical referral pathways and resources.