Contribution of general medicine to perioperative and consultative care: an Australian metropolitan teaching hospital experience.

Little is known about the contribution of general medicine to perioperative and consultative care in Australia. A descriptive observational study was undertaken at a quaternary institution to evaluate the characteristics of perioperative and nonoperative consultations undertaken by general medicine. Results demonstrated patterns of engagement within a 'traditional' model of perioperative care and highlighted several opportunities for a redesign to a more proactive and collaborative cross-disciplinary model.