Originally Posted by Unregistered

I guess the question is if the qualification (i.e mmed/or even fellowship in fm) is worth doing? I think everyone agrees that mmed trains a doctor to be more knowledge and competent in managing the comples pts in ops.
However, if the knowledge Is not applicable in the private gp setting (where I guess patients are less complex and service and communication skills probably takes priority as you need to make the patients who feed your ricebowl happy), then is there any point in acquiring all these knowledge?

Just quoting a random example, if a private pt comes in with 3 day history of lower back pain with no radiculopathy or red flags insisting on a MRI scan and specialist referral, you will probably do it right? (Unlike in ops where you will probably say no as it doesn't meet the guidelines). If that is the case, is there still any point revising on the guidelines for MRI scan for lower back pain?(as a mmed doctor will do)