The Clinician's Survival Guide

Send a text We're producing this episode because the process of making a referral and having the patient seen and managed isn't as smooth as might be, and clinicians aren't sure what to do about it.  Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outlook.com Dr Munir Adam (Dr Munir Ali-Zubair) is the host, and leads the multi-professional Pr...

Send a text This episode addresses the issue of work being dumped onto GP practices by secondary care, and how individual clinicians should respond.   Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outlook.com Dr Munir Adam (Dr Munir Ali-Zubair) is the host, and leads the multi-professional Primary Care UK team that manages this podcast. DISCLAIMER. This p...

Send a text Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outlook.com Dr Munir Adam (Dr Munir Ali-Zubair) is the host, and leads the multi-professional Primary Care UK team that manages this podcast. DISCLAIMER. This podcast is for clinicians working in the UK and is not for patients or the general public. The podcast should never be used as a substitute...

Send a text This episode covers the debatable topic of whether clinicians working in primary care should subspecialise.  Munir  Adam asserts that, whilst holding steadfast onto the all-important generalist role, there are multiple reasons for also going that little bit extra with an area of interest.  Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outlook....

Send a text This is the 7th and final episode of the AI mini-series.   Previous episodes explored some of the ways in which AI is being used in healthcare in the UK, some of the work that is underway and potential future uses, and in the last episode some of the barriers and concerns.   This episode looks into the future - what might the future look like? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?  What a...

Send a text Having discussed some of the incredible potential of AI for the various uses in healthcare in the NHS, one must be mindful that just as no medicine is without potential side effects, AI too cannot be adopted without careful scrutiny. What are some of the ethical, legal and practical considerations that the Royal Colleges and our other representative bodies and the UK government are loo...

Send a text Artificial Intelligence is being used increasingly for education, training and research purposes, able to serve as an incredible companion.   As we move into 2025 we resume the 7 part AI mini-series.  You may wish to listen back to the first four episodes if you haven't already. In this episode: How is AI being used for simulation training? What are adaptive learning systems? When...

Send a text When you think about 2025, what do you expect the year to be like for you, the frontline clinician? Having looked back at 2024 and some of its challenges in the last episode, this episode looked forward and includes thoughts from the multi-professional team about what 2025 might be like. Contributions from the co-hosts of The Clinician's Survival Guide:  Dr Munir Adam, GP, NE Lond...

Send a text As a clinician, when you think back to 2024, what thoughts come to mind? We take a two-week break from the AI series, and reflect back to 2024 and, in the next episode, look forward onto 2025.  This episode of The Clinician's Survival Guide looks back at the year 2024.  What were some of the main challenges?  What did they mean for clinicians and for patients?  Where are we now? T...

Send a text Sit back and have that conversation with the patient, while AI takes care of taking notes.  Amazing, right?  We take a closer look at the pros and cons of using some of the options out there, such as Tortus and Heidi. Also in this episode, how AI can take of the many admin tasks at work.  This episode is part of the AI for clinicians mini-series, looking at various aspects of AI, selec...

Send a text The Artificial Intelligence for Clinician's series continues and this episode focuses on the management of chronic disease and mental health.  What tool has NHS England been reviewing and utilising in some healthcare settings and for which chronic disease?  How are wearable devices and AI transforming the care of those with chronic illness?  Is there a value to patient participati...

Send a text This episode of The Clinician's Survival Guide provides an overview of some of the AI tools that are used to make diagnoses and predict future and upcoming disease!  Some of these tools are readily available to anyone, others to a selected few.  If you want an overview and to hear a frontline clinician's honest take on some of what's currently out there, with considerati...

Send a text This episode is the start of a mini-series looking at AI in healthcare, with a focus on information that Clinicians should know.   Series outline: Introduction - overview, why it matters, examples AI tools for Dx and Mx (symptom checker, imaging, CDS) Streamlining Admin tasks (voice recognition, scheduling)  Patient engagement enhancement (personal health plans; remote monitoring) AI f...

Send a text Do you believe that we tend to over-investigate patients?  Request tests that we know aren't indicated?  If so, why is that, why does it matter, and what should we do about it? The Clinician's Survival Guide is about helping you make your life as productive and efficient as possible.  Extra tests = extra work.   This episode nicely summarising in 12 minutes what could otherwi...

Send a text This episode briefly summarises the rules regarding fit notes, but then focuses on the challenge of dealing with fit note requests from patients - something that causes feelings of despair in many clinicians.  Reference: The fit note: guidance for patients and employees - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outloo...

Send a text This is the second part of a two-part discussion about the Generalist clinician role - a role that many believe is under threat.  This second part covers what individual clinicians can do to help protect the Generalist role. Updated, removing reference to social media, otherwise same Contact email: primarycareuk@outlook.com Dr Munir Adam (Dr Munir Ali-Zubair) is the host, and leads the...

Send a text The role of the Generalist clinician typically refers to GPs, although it can also refer to Physician Associates, Nurse Practitioners and others in Primary Care and, to some extent, to Generalists in Secondary care, such as Geriatricians and paediatricians.   Is this role under threat?  There is a growing concern that, due to a variety of factors there is a pressure to sub-specialise a...

Send a text The purpose of this episode is to briefly revisit episodes 12 to 19 to allow listeners to consider: Important and relevant information that was covered in episodes 12-19 The need to re-listen to any of those episodes Any key changes arising from those episodes which the listener planned to implement Reflection on progress and a reminder to take action where appropriate. These summary e...

Send a text In this episode of The Clinician's Survival Guide we consider some of the challenges, and potential approaches for dealing with patients by anchoring the conversation onto a clinical condition.   This is a new approach which we hope will make the learning more tangible.   The episode considers how to deal with atopic dermatitis, and by discussing the situation we often find oursel...

Send a text So you decide you will attend an educational event.  But how do you make the most of it?  This episode follows on from the previous one which discussed whether to attend an event.  This episode discusses things you should consider to make the most of that event.   Your time and energy is too important to waste.  The Clinician's Survival Guide is there to help you be efficient. Thi...

Send a text How good are you at getting it right when deciding whether to attend an educational event?  An Educational Event is coming up.  Don't just go because it's happening.  Don't just go 'in case you miss something'.  Your time is important, and you want to make efficient use of it.  The episode is there to help you decide when to attend (whether in person or remote)...

Send a text How physically active are you at work, and is work contributing to your health or illness? In this episode of The Clinician's Survival Guide we explore: That this is certainly a problem amongst doctors and other clinicians. The importance of keeping physically active during work The benefits of adopting healthy practices at work Why this is particularly of relevance to Clinicians....

Send a text If you've been a clinician for any significant period of time, you will know exactly what I mean when I refer to the demanding patient.   But how much time have you spend discussing how to manage one? This episode of The Clinician's Survival Guide discusses: What we mean by the demanding patient What underlies this behaviour Why it's absolutely NOT appropriate to give in...

Send a text This episode is about what YOU should do to protect yourself from receiving patient complaints.   Complaints are an unpleasant reality of working as a clinician.  Whilst they may serve important functions, they are not a nice experience.  This episode highlights: 7 often neglected things you should be doing to prevent complaints 7 things clinicians often do, but should NOT be doing to...

Send a text Whether you're unfortunately enough to be dealing with a complaint made against you, you fear a complaint might be forthcoming, or you just want to be prepared for when that happens to you, this episode will help you.   In this second episode dealing with complaints, the discussion focuses on important things you should do if a patient makes a complaint against you.  This starts f...