This doctor attends to her patients with TLC* by Dino Crescini, BS, MBA

She’s not the ordinary type of General Practitioner (GP) for whom you wait 2 hours and get attended for only 10 minutes because many others are waiting. After listening to your complaints, Dr. Cecille Cuaresma asks several related questions to ensure that a thorough and accurate diagnosis is rendered.

If she deems it necessary, she sends her patient to the laboratory for a complete blood test or recommends further consultation with a specialist. The necessary referral letter is immediately prepared but she does not stop there. She calls the specialist herself and makes the appointment on behalf of the patient!

I am not aware of too many other GPs willing to do that.

A few days later, she takes great effort in explaining to the patient the results of the laboratory test, making sure that complex medical terms are understood well. To me, that is Tender Loving Care (TLC*).

Dr. Cuaresma obtained her medical degree from a leading university in the Philippines. She received her RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) Fellowship this year (2009) after being in active practice in Bathurst for 5 years. Her main interests are in general medicine, women’s health and minor procedures.

By the way, she also speaks fluent Tagalog just as she is able to communicate effectively in English. – ?

Updated: 2009-10-16 — 17:39:17