be well

"With Radius, I now spend most of my work time concentrating on my medicine and my patients."

Dr Charles Sanders spent 13 years as a solo GP in South Africa, providing daily healthcare, plus night and weekend cover. He knows the toll that sort of workload takes - and South African medicine had far less red tape than New Zealand.

Charles joined The Doctors practice in New Lynn when it opened in 1996. He became general manager and a shareholder in the business, which is now part of the Radius Medical group.  It has 9 doctors (some part-time) and 11,800 enrolled patients and is open seven days a week, providing comprehensive services from walk-in accident and medical care to minor surgery and chronic care.

"Doctors may be wary of what they perceive as big corporate control. It's not like that at all, and many doctors don't realise how much paperwork is involved in running a practice," says Charles. Regulations, IRD and salary issues, GST and other management issues involve a heavy burden, often "after hours".

Medical practices must make a profit if they are to remain in business, and Charles believes that the Radius system contributes significantly to ensuring commercial success.

Radius has also provided important staff advantages. They have well-designed manuals and guidelines, based on the experiences of other doctors and nurses from a variety of practices, to which staff constantly refer.

Charles now spends most of his work time as a GP, with few management distractions, concentrating instead on medicine and patients. Greater administrative efficiencies enable him to enjoy dealing with the bigger business picture. He has a more structured lifestyle and more time off, without worrying about how the practice is being run.

Contact Radius Medical to find out how Radius Medical can support your practice.