Patient-centered care leads the way at newly established Canberra Family Health Centre
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Associate Professor and Canberra Family Health Centre Principal Practitioner Dr Maryse Badawy is the kind of woman who has always found joy in helping people through illness.
Since the age of 14, her dream has been to be a family doctor. This drive has enabled her to build an amazing career that spans not only an eye-watering amount of expertise (including a Bachelor of Medicine, a Bachelor of Surgery, a Fellowship of the Royal Australian Collage of General Practitioners, a Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine, and a Masters in Family Medicine), but also academic experience, and an ongoing commitment to educating the future generation of doctors.
And now, after practising nationally and internationally for many years, she has created a new family health centre in Deakin that champions complete-patient care: Canberra Family Health Centre (CFHC).
“I have had the privilege of seeing patients through their life cycle and seeing four generations of the same family – including children I helped deliver, bring their own children to me as patients,” she says.
“I have been involved in medical education for many years, having taught medical students, graduates, and practitioners about the practice of medicine. Having been a clinically practising physician, I have enjoyed imparting experience and knowledge to students and newly graduated doctors furthering their education to attain their Fellowship examination, both in Australia and in Hong Kong.”
“I have practised nationally and internationally for many years. It is exciting to set up a practice with protocols at all levels – both administrative and clinical.”
Stepping into her role at CFHC, while Maryse oversees the day-to-day operations of the practice, she still maintains her clinical responsibilities as a family doctor.
Passionate about creating a safe and welcoming practice that focusses patient-centered approach, she says that at CHFC the staff are there to treat the whole person, catering to their unique needs at every stage of their life.
“I wholeheartedly embrace the special atmosphere of the doctor-patient relationship – the professional involvement in treating a patient plays a pivotal role in the patient’s illness and life and enriches the doctor’s own life. This experience has certainly enriched my life,” she says.
“I thrive as the patient’s family doctor, to be the guardian by negotiation, to advocate on their behalf, and to be a protective mentor who can contribute to treating, consoling, comforting, reassuring, supporting and healing.”
A patient-tailored approach
Consultation with Maryse encompasses family care, preventative medicine, mental health, and more. Maryse says CFHC is about ensuring your appointment provides total patient care.
Offering all new patients an initial one-hour long appointment to take a full history and perform a full examination, Maryse says she not only wants to understand the physical nature of the illness but also the patient, and the meaning the illness has for them.
That is how she knows how to truly support people on their health journey.
“In other words, it allows us to turn our attention not only to disease, but also to a patient’s life pattern and their inner feelings,” explains Maryse.
“This added time allows us to understand the patient in their environment, their thoughts, feelings and fears, their perception of illness and disease and its effect on their life.”
“I care about the well-being of all my patients and want to heal the cause of their disease, to negotiate a treatment, reassure, comfort and support, and all this takes time.”
But the care doesn’t stop once the first appointment is done.
A follow-up appointment of 30 minutes or longer can be made to discuss results and formulate a management and preventative plan, or alternatively can make any required referrals to a specialist or colleagues in allied health professions.
For Maryse, patient care is about showing people that she has their backs, and she is here for them and their entire family.
And with specialist services, allied health services, pathology, and radiology, and private hospitals all within close proximity, the convenient location is just a bonus.
“I will use all facilities available such as pathology, radiological investigations, allied health facilities to manage patients and their conditions,” she says.
With a career that includes being involved in medical education to living in Hong Kong and conferred as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in the Discipline Family Medicine, Maryse also believes in contributing in any way she can to the next generation of doctors, who will be looking after future communities. – Taking on the role of CFHC Principal Practitioner, she says she hopes to teach doctors to practise their art with kindness, compassion, knowledge and skill.
“The joy I experience when I see my patients’ faces when they come to see me, knowing that they put their faith in me to help guide them in their healing path, is truly humbling and it makes me glad that all my years of knowledge and experience are being put to good use to heal my patients not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.”
Where patients come first
As CFHC begins its journey helping locals when they need it most, Maryse says that as the Principal Practitioner at CFHC, she will ensure that long-term patient care is the main focus of the practice.
“I also have been a patient, so I understand the fear, apprehension and insecurity of unwellness and illness, and the effect it had on not only my professional life, but also my personal life,” she says.
Building and moulding the practice according to patient and societal needs – as well as ensuring that it abides by all AMA and RACGP guidelines – for Maryse, medicine is all about treating the person, not only treating illness.
Because at the end of the day, no matter their diagnosis, she understands that each and every patient deserves complete and global care.
“I have made friends, rejoiced and shared in their happiness and successes – medical and otherwise – and shed tears with them in their sadness and crises,” she says.
“Conversely, I have learned that they also have shared in my joys and my sadnesses and understood and supported me when I shared some of my difficulties, if they asked the question. Patients are like you and me, they reciprocate empathy, commitment and the love they are shown.”
For more information visit cfhc.com.au
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