Family medicine clinic: How to manage ‘a day in the life’ (An interactive experience)
Emma TONNER, Anna LIAKOPOULOU and Ana Bertha Perez VILLALVA
Family medicine is a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with limited opportunities to share techniques for managing workload and stress in a safe, supportive setting. Real-world scenarios, such as handling difficult patients (Bailey, Marin and Bangs, 2023), are explored using evidence-based tools. These challenges can affect clinicians’ physical and mental health. A simulated space for discussion and learning helps participants develop strategies to support their wellbeing while maintaining high-quality care.Identify and prioritise competing clinical demands in a simulated clinic. Demonstrate effective time-management when balancing appointments, results, interruptions and unexpected events. Respond as a team to acute situations in primary care. Reflect on personal strengths and growth areas, and share techniques for managing difficult days. For students and trainees, the simulation provides added clinical experience in a safe, supported environment.Groups will be formed at the start with a mix of students, trainees and qualified family physicians. Multiple teaching methods will be used, and the session will mimic a typical clinic. A non-linear PowerPoint will guide participants, with the clinic’s direction shaped by their choices and unexpected events, such as a patient collapsing in the waiting room. A Kahoot quiz will simulate rapid test-result review in a gamified way. Group reflections will be shared throughout and consolidated using the fishbowl method to support achievement of the expected outcomes. 5–10 mins: Introduction, welcome, session outline, expectations and overview. AM clinic: Two 10-minute patient scenarios. Mid-session: Five-minute rapid-review results quiz and an unexpected five-minute scenario. PM clinic: Two 10-minute patient scenarios. End: Ten-minute reflection.1. Increase competence and confidence in clinical-workflow management and common challenging scenarios 2. Through application and shared reflection, identify tools and techniques that will help you manage your own clinicThis interactive workshop offers an engaging way to prepare future and current GPs for the challenges of primary care. Designed by students and early-career GPs, it reflects real-world pressures. By simulating a dynamic clinic with acute events, rapid decision-making, and reflective practice, participants can build confidence, sharpen prioritisation skills and better understand how to manage the complex demands of family medicine while providing compassionate, comprehensive care whilst maintaining their wellbeing.
