“Great care is patient-centred care”

Doctors play an essential part in keeping our community healthy and safe.

For Doctors Day (30 March), Dr Peter Tao, an Emergency Registrar at Eastern Health shares reflections on his work in the Emergency Department.

“Even just providing a little bit of security and comfort can make a really big difference to the patients, and I’m really privileged to be able to partake in their journey.”

“It’s important to not see patients as just numbers or vital signs. They’re someone that you really can talk to, listen to their story and explore why they’ve come to the hospital.”

Dr Tao started his career journey in 2012 doing surgical training. He then decided to explore a different career pathway, and in 2021, he found himself in the Emergency Department at Eastern Health.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with lots of colleagues that I can call my friends.

“One of the reasons why I chose emergency medicine, was that I had lots of good mentorships from my colleagues, and they’ve all been very supportive, especially during some stressful times. The culture at Eastern Health is great.”

With over 14 years of experience in the medical field, Dr Tao reflects on what he has learned throughout the years.

“Be open minded and ask more questions. Patients are not exactly what they’re like in textbooks where they present with the exact set of symptoms, but if you ask questions and are inquisitive, you’ll be able to get more understanding on why they came to hospital.”

“Listen to everyone around you. We work in a big team and especially when you’re starting out, you learn so much from just everyone around you in the hospital, whether it’s nurses, pharmacists, or other health staff.”

Thank you to the doctors across Eastern Health for your tireless effort and dedication to providing excellent care, working towards our promise of being Healthier Together.