Family & General Practitioner Job Description
Family and general practitioners, also known as family doctors or physicians, are often the first medical professionals patients go to when they have fallen ill or become injured. As a general practitioner, these physicians treat a wide range of conditions, rather than specializing in a particular disease, body part or organ.
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Function
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Family and general practitioners examine, diagnose and treat everything from the common flu to serious sprains and fractures. The patients they see range from small infants requiring immunization shots to elderly patients suffering from arthritis. It is the family doctor's responsibility to determine whether a patient should be referred to a medical specialist for further assessment and treatment. Other duties that family and general practitioners perform include reviewing patients' medical history, administering medication, requesting blood tests and explaining medical procedures.
Education
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In addition to completing their undergraduate studies, family and general practitioners must complete four years of medical school. During medical school, students learn about human anatomy, biochemistry, psychology, microbiology and medical ethics. After graduation, Medical Doctors (M.D.s) must enter an internship or residency, which can last from three to eight years. Family and general practitioners must also pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination to practice legally as a doctor.
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Skills
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Some of the personal qualities that are helpful for a family and general practitioner are compassion, patience and self-motivation. Since some of the conditions that physicians treat are serious and life-threatening, the ability to stay calm and work under intense pressure is important. Excellent oral and interpersonal communication skills are needed, as family and general practitioners must direct medical staff and work closely with other physicians when treating patients.
Salary
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General and family practitioners make an average salary ranging between $110,138 and $154,765 per year according to a June 2010 PayScale report. In addition, these professionals have the potential of earning bonuses between $4,022 and $20,021. Salaries also vary geographically with doctors in Los Angeles and New York City earning more than those in Orlando, Florida.
Potential
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that positions for physicians and surgeons will increase by 22 percent during the 2008 to 2018 decade due to growing public interest in preventative health care. Moreover, as the U.S. population gets older, medical services will be in demand to treat conditions and diseases common among the elderly. However, rising health-care costs and advanced technologies allowing hospitals to treat more patients with fewer physicians will curb job growth.
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References
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- Photo Credit doctor image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com
