General Practitioners Job Description: Career Information, Training and Required Knowledge, Employment Outlook and Salary Expectations
Submitted by: Cheska Davenport
Job Overview: General practitioners are physicians who provide primary care and diagnostics to patients. Also known as family doctors or family practice physicians, they are the doctors which patients first turn to for consultation. They attend to people of all ages to see the problems going on with their health, and they tend to see the same patients on a long-term basis, such as a number of years. General practitioners usually check for illnesses which do not require a specialist, although they can provide recommendations to certain doctors in case a patient’s condition already needs specialized treatment.
Education, Knowledge and Training Required: In order to become a general practitioner, one should take up a degree in medicine, or a degree in osteopathic medicine. After graduating from medical school, graduates should fulfill a hospital residency requirement which may last from 1 to 3 years in an in-patient medical facility, such as a hospital. They may also volunteer in areas which are in need of medical services and persons so as they can exercise their skills and expertise on people coming from all walks of life.
Skills and Abilities: To become a successful family doctor, one should not only possess the knowledge and expertise for the job, but as well as the passion for the said field. Aspiring family doctors should have the commitment to help people, love for their work and the ability to communicate properly with their staff members, colleagues and patients, as well as their respective families. Aside from these, general practitioners should also have the endurance and stamina especially when working for long hours.
Tasks: The duties and responsibilities of a general practitioner is usually surrounded and supported by nurses and office personnel. Some GPs may be found in office setups such as clinics in business establishments and companies in order to attend to employees’ needs and conditions. Among their tasks include checking the whole body for illnesses and ailments, not just a particular problem.
They may give the patient lifestyle and diet advice, as well as preventive measures to protect them from disease or injury. They can also conduct prenatal care and deliver babies for women giving birth. Other GPs may also provide treatment and medications for patient suffering from slight illnesses, such as fever and flu. Others meanwhile come up with recommendations to specialists in case a patient suffers from an illness which has deeper problems which would have to be treated right away.
Earnings and Job Outlook: General practitioners earn an average of $140,400 , as they are among the highest paid physicians today. Most of them are hired in clinics, diagnostic centers, offices and health care facilities, while others have their own clinics and health care establishments to take care of. Salaried physicians receive various benefits, while those who choose to be self-employed usually take care of their own insurance and benefits package.
Cheska Davenport is a career search strategist who focuses on creating power resumes and providing job search advice that aim to help individuals achieve their target goals in the job market.
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