Information About a Family Practice Doctor
Family practice doctors provide broad primary care medical services to patients of all ages. They diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions and injuries, and promote healthy lifestyle choices to their patients. Most family practice doctors work in private offices or small group practices.
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Duties
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Family practice doctors may examine patients who are sick or injured, or perform yearly wellness physicals. They provide immunizations and screening tests, and may help patients plan healthy diets or exercise programs. Family practice doctors refer patients to specialists if they identify a serious health issue.
Education and Licensure
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Family practice doctors must complete four years of undergraduate study and four years of medical school. They must also complete a three-year residency in family practice medicine. All states require family practice doctors to have a license, which typically involves completing the state requirements for residency training and passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
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Salary
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According to Salary.com, a career information website, the median salary for family practice physicians was $160,586 as of November 2009. The top 25 percent earned more than $188,242, while the lowest 25 percent earned less than $142,069.
Employment Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for physicians and surgeons, including family practice doctors, will increase by 22 percent.
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References
- Photo Credit doctor with patient 2 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
