ADVERTORIAL
THE SECRET TO GOOD MEDICINE
DR. ALEC STEREFF
DR. KARL HORSBURGH
DR. ASHA BALOCH
DR. KENNY CLARKE
“IT IS VITAL FOR A DOCTOR TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE PATIENT’S MEDICAL HISTORY AND LIFE.” DR. PETER CARSON
DR. CHRISTINE ASKIN
DR. MICHAEL KHONG
DR. GREG CANNING
DR. CLAIRE ROBINSON
DR. PAUL COXON
DR. PETER CARSON
38 DUO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2014 duomagazine.com.au
HERMIT PARK CLINIC AND SKIN CANCER CARE ADVOCATE A SOUND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT AND DOCTOR BECAUSE THAT’S THE SECRET TO GOOD MEDICINE. THERE AREN’T TOO MANY THINGS in life more personal than our health. And there is certainly nothing more important than it. But sometimes what holds us back from getting the care we need is a weak, or non-existent, relationship with our local doctor. According to Dr. Peter Carson, co-owner of Hermit Park Clinic and Skin Cancer Care, it is important for doctors to form sound relationships with patients and get to know them. This allows doctors to make informed decisions about a patient’s health care, and ensures a patient feels comfortable discussing the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of their health. “Continuity of care is the secret to good medicine,” says Dr. Carson. “Health care can be very personal at times and if I need to tell you some bad news, or perform a procedure that is a little tricky or uncomfortable, it is better that we know each other first. Plus, it is vital for a doctor to have a good understanding about the patient’s medical history and life.” This is something Hermit Park Clinic and Skin Cancer Care feel very strongly about, which is why they allocate you a primary doctor upon your first visit. It is also why they recently hired five new doctors, bringing the total number of doctors to 11. “The five new doctors, Dr. Kenny Clarke, Dr. Paul Coxon, Dr. Asha Baloch, Dr. Claire Robinson and Dr. Michael Khong, all bring something unique to the team,” says Dr. Carson. “Dr. Clarke is a type one diabetic and also an elite athlete who has competed at the Commonwealth Games for Scotland. He has a great personal interest in diabetes and knows how to balance the condition with life’s demands.” Dr. Coxon on the other hand was born and bred in Townsville, so he knows all too well the dangers of the sun on our skin and has a real passion for skin care and sports medicine. “Our other new doctor, Dr. Khong, is also passionate about skin care treatment,” explains Dr. Carson. “As well as child development and general practice.”
Lastly, the two new female doctors, Dr. Robinson and Dr. Baloch, have a great interest and passion for women’s health and are a welcomed addition to the clinic’s outstanding team. And the outstanding team deliver a wide range of health care services, including general health care, immunisation, shared antenatal care, family planning, sports medicine, and skin cancer surveillance, diagnosis and treatment. “In addition to all the services you would expect from your local GP, we also perform vasectomies and we offer a Sleep Medicine service called sleepGP,” says Dr. Carson. “Our vasectomy service is promoted as Northern Snip.” Dr. Carson is on a mission to de-bunk some of the myths around vasectomies, as he recognises the importance of this simple procedure in relieving women of the burden of contraception. “It’s a minor procedure that takes 20 – 25 minutes,” says Dr. Carson, who has performed over 300 vasectomies with local anaesthesia and simple oral sedation. “And it changes people’s lives. If you are thinking about it, I urge you to visit our Northern Snip website as a first step.” In line with their philosophy about fairness and accessibility the procedure is only $500. “We have a great ‘blended’ billing policy,” says Dr. Carson. “In the interest of fairness and accessibility we offer a mix of private, discount, pensioner and bulk billing fees.” So if you are after something other than a ‘one size fits all’ approach to health care, be sure to visit Hermit Park Clinic and Skin Cancer Care the next time you need to discuss your health. For more information about services go to www.hermitparkclinic.com.au Hermit Park Clinic and Skin Cancer Care 222 Charters Towers Road Hermit Park Telephone 4725 5355