Handout - A risk mitigation guide for international graduates

Social and cultural

• Australia has no one culture, one religion, or one language
• Equality is paramount and most patients regard themselves as equal
• Most patients won't tolerate a superior or insensitive approach to them or their healthcare. The same applies to you workplace and colleagues
• Patients are individuals (not a class or group)
• Patients expect explanations, sensitivity, privacy and confidentiality
• There will be degrees of patient compliance and interest

Potential clinico-legal issues:

Commuincation

• A high proportion of litigation and complaints are related to poor communication
• Various reports from the Medical and Dental Boards as well as MIPS own experience also highlight this fundamental threshold cause

Social and cultural differences: 

Some important areas:

• Explain thoroughly prior to any examination
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Cognitive impaired patients
• Teenagers
• Family custody issues
• Breaking bad news

Pressures/demands of a particular cultural group:

• Remember to stick to the rules - do not prescribe for you family (or yourself), don't take any shortcuts and don't bend the rules
• Be mindful of hours worked/stress/fatigue & potentially the unusual amount or type of Medicare & or PBS benefits that might be claimed in servicing such groups

Lack of knowledge/familiarity of the health system:

• Insurance / Centrelink / WorkCover / TAC - learn to set your limits
• Community Health Services / Hospital System - make sure you understand the hospitals rules, protocols, procedures
• Understand the MBS and PBS - ignorance will be no excuse

Physical and social isolation

 Medical practice is stressful enough - being physically isolated, lonely or homesick can compound the problem. There can be problematic factors such as:

• Lack of peer and family support
• Family stresses because of social and cultural differeences
• Family stresses because you are leaving your family and/or family feeling isolated
• Ensure professional and personal support is in place - find a network of friendship and learning

  Resources