We have established links with similar organisations for general physicians in Europe, England, Canada and America. The realisation that general physicians needed a strong united approach to the rigors of the medico-political landscape in both countries led to unity of purpose across the Tasman. There are national and regional issues that require specific resolutions, but there is a greater need to promote the role of the generalist in holistic patient care within all health care systems. The important role of General Internal Medicine in hospital and ambulatory care has been reinforced in recent studies, and there is a significant return to Generalism in North America and Europe. The General Physician has an enormous responsibility in practice - they are the 'decathletes of medicine' practicing the 'ultimate specialty'.
General physicians are passionate about general medicine.
The ability to provide a learned opinion and management plan on a range of problems encountered within internal medicine is regarded as the quintessential skill of the generalist. There is a relentless need for ongoing education and upgrading of management and procedural skills, and this involves interaction with many sub-specialty colleagues. Communication skills with general practitioners and sub-specialists colleagues are essential and such interaction reinforces the broad skills of general physicians. The unanimous answer is the satisfaction of being able to assist and manage patients with a wide range of conditions, often at different stages in their lives, and to engineer successful outcomes in ameliorating the multiple acute and chronic disease processes that may afflict them. As an example, the younger patient who presents with diabetes, but who then successfully negotiates adolescence, adulthood, parenting, and family life, but who remains at risk of delayed onset of complications, requires a life long commitment from a clinician with specialist skills to manage and advise in various phases of life.