General News
10 March, 2023
Head start for doctor
Dr Fari Islam always knew she wanted to work regionally and has committed to providing neurology services to Horsham and the Grampians region through Grampians Health Horsham. While she initially travelled to Horsham with her family for a holiday...
Dr Fari Islam always knew she wanted to work regionally and has committed to providing neurology services to Horsham and the Grampians region through Grampians Health Horsham.
While she initially travelled to Horsham with her family for a holiday, Dr Islam has found working with her patients very rewarding.
“It’s an enormously satisfying workplace environment,” Dr Islam said.
“In my areas of interest, the vast majority of patients would have cognitive impairment, mobility problems or they can’t get a licence because of a medical condition, and they were making all these trips to Ballarat or Melbourne to access medical care before.
“Overwhelmingly, they’re just so happy to be able to access the healthcare they need locally. The gratefulness I get every day from my patients is so rewarding.”
Based out of Grampians Health’s Horsham campus, Dr Islam is running a Neurology Clinic and Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) Clinic, as well as a new telemedicine clinic for patients experiencing epilepsy and seizures.
“Because it’s a new telehealth clinic, we’re able to offer rapid access appointments for those with urgent needs, like a first seizure,” she said.
“A lot of the first seizure patients we’re seeing are young people who rely on their licence for work, so it’s wonderful to be able to offer that clinic.
"We also acknowledge that there’s a long waitlist for a number of these patients, so part of my role has been auditing this waitlist and balancing the needs of those who have been waiting a while with those who have more urgent requirements.”