Boundaries and trust key to being a great doctor for another doctor

The DRS4DRS service offers services by trained professionals who are on call for health professionals and students when they need it.

DRS4DRS has been established to support the profession to stay well and to reach out to trusted supporters, when not.

We are here for medical students, doctors in training, rural and isolated doctors, international medical graduates, senior medical officers, community and hospital-based doctors, retiring doctors and colleagues and families of doctors.

We know that doctors experience health troubles just as your patients do.  

Through our network of doctors’ health services in the state and territories as well as our 1300 Dr4Drs mental health support service, advice and support is available to you at no cost 24/7.  The 1300 Dr4Drs service also provides crisis/urgent support and is confidential.

The state services will connect you with an experienced colleague and the 1300 Dr4Drs service will connect you with trained and experienced counsellors and psychologists.  All counsellors at 1300 Dr4Drs are required to complete our on-line ‘Be a doctor for doctors’ learning modules.  The learning modules can be found at drs4drs.com.au/become-a-dr4drs.

State service providers can be found at drs4drs.com.au/getting-help.

We know there is a temptation when treating another doctor to blur the boundaries, to discuss health outside the consulting room, to feel embarrassed asking difficult questions and not to do preventive healthcare or ask about personal and social risk factors.  A good doctor for another doctor or medical student is one who:

• maintains professional boundaries and establishes rules for engagement
• is prepared to make longer appointments and create an unhurried environment
• builds trust and shows empathy
• reaffirms the importance of confidentiality
• establishes the usual billing arrangements
• shares the decision-making and follow-up arrangements and discusses blended care
• does not take shortcuts in practising evidence-based best practice and does not avoid uncomfortable discussions.

Learn more about the resources and services available at drs4drs.com.au.