How to become A General Physician

Being a General Physician offers the most complete and constant union of those three qualities which have the most exceptional charm for pure and active minds – novelty, utility, and charity. General Physicians dispense not only medicines but words that influence the patient more than the medication.

• Medical Doctor
• General Medical Practitioner
• GP
• Family Physician
• Family Doctor

What do General Physicians do?

A General Physician would typically need to:

• Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other disorders to promote good health and prevent illness among their patients
• Conduct physical examinations of patients while continually documenting their medical charts to show current findings and treatments
• Order tests, review the test results to identify any abnormal findings; interpret diagnostic test results to make appropriate differential diagnoses
• Recommend and design customized treatment plans based on patient preferences, clinical data, or the risks and benefits of therapies; educate patients about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment
• Address concerns that patients have about their health and well-being; help them take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene
• Order or perform diagnostic tests such as skin pricks and intradermal, patch, or delayed hypersensitivity tests; diagnose or treat allergic or immunologic conditions
• Prescribe medication such as antihistamines, antibiotics, and nasal, oral, topical, or inhaled glucocorticosteroids
• Provide therapies, such as allergen immunotherapy and immunoglobulin therapy, to treat immune conditions

Many workplaces are available to General Physicians to choose from. Some open solo practice while others start working at an existing group practice in healthcare organizations, clinics, and hospitals. They are likely to share a large number of patients with other doctors. You may find excellent job opportunities in rural and low-income areas, although earning potential may be lower.

General Physicians in healthcare establishments work daily with other healthcare staff, including registered nurses, other doctors, medical assistants, and medical records and health information technicians.

Typically, General Physicians spend their time seeing patients during a consultation by appointment or on a walk-in basis in an office-based setting. They may commute between their offices and hospitals to attend to their patients.

The dress code would vary depending on the kind of job and the type of medical facility you work in. Patients prefer their health care providers to wear white coats rather than scrubs or dress clothes. A uniform that is taken care of and fits right, closed-toe shoes, short or secured hair, and subtle and mild scents go a long way in establishing patient confidence.

Most General Physicians work full time, keeping long and irregular schedules, even working overnight or weekend shifts. During on-call duty, they may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone and remain available to make an emergency visit to a hospital or nursing home.

They must also keep time to take care of administrative tasks such as filing and updating patient records, returning phone calls, and other office matters. Although affording less independence than solo practice, the group setting allows more time off to General Physicians. Long-distance or international travel may typically be required to attend medical conferences.

Large hospitals are typically eager to take on new staff members. A small percentage of General Physicians take up salaried jobs in hospitals, clinics, government agencies, or private industry. Some newly licensed General Physicians start solo practices. Others share offices in group practices or join health maintenance organizations. Some may choose to work in fields that do not involve patient care, such as medical research or public policy. Professional associations and medical colleges can provide information about going into private practice or finding salaried positions.

General Physicians are generally employed by:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
• Colleges & Universities
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Medical & Diagnostic Laboratories
• Community Food & Housing Societies
• Emergency & Other Relief Services
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies
• Manufacturing Locations

Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications as a General Physician.

• Maintaining a work-life balance or having to overcome a burnout when faced with stress, long working hours, and work overload
• Little time for self-care or personal development or exploration of passion projects and interests as well as a lack of contact with other people outside the profession
• Dealing with substantial administrative burdens and paperwork regularly
• Confronting many ethical challenges on the job in addition to constant pressure to avoid mistakes
• Limited time with patients and meeting with them in rapid succession, one after another
• Need to stand for long periods in hospitals while interacting with patients
• May encounter hazardous materials or situations and may need to wear protective gear, such as latex gloves

Medical school typically begins with preclinical education. Preclinical students often work with a practicing Physician who mentors them in applying their knowledge of patient care.

During their last two years, medical students work with patients under the supervision of experienced Physicians in hospitals and clinics. Rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, earn them experience in diagnosing and treating illnesses in various areas.

After medical school, most graduates enter a residency program in their specialty of interest. A residency usually occurs in a hospital and varies in duration, lasting from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.

The purpose of a residency is to continue experiential learning, exposing medical graduates to various patients and diagnoses. Residents usually work in different rotations to become familiar with the duties and environments they may encounter as General Physicians.

Premed students are strongly encouraged to supplement their classroom time with laboratory time. You may enroll in a summer program or apply to internships that involve working in a lab to build research credentials. Demonstrated commitment to volunteering in the community is also encouraged.

Shadowing an established General Physician at work gives you a perspective on the day-to-day realities of providing healthcare and may help confirm your plans.

General Physicians have demanding education and training requirements that typically need a bachelor’s degree or a degree from a medical school. Many students launch their career goals as undergraduates in a premed program.

Medical schools are highly competitive and generally require students to have core knowledge of the life and physical sciences, including chemistry, physics, and biology, along with subjects such as English and calculus that help them prepare for medical study.

A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last six to eight years. Applicants generally must submit transcripts, scores from locally valid admission tests, and appropriate letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant’s personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require applicants to interview with members of the admissions committee.

All locations require General Physicians to be licensed, although specific requirements may vary. In general, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete residency training in their specialty, and pass a standardized national licensure exam.

Third and fourth-year students begin taking a three-part series of licensing exams required for General Physicians to practice medicine. Students usually must pass the first two parts of these tests before graduating from medical school.

Voluntary certification from a reputed and objective organization can help you gain professional credibility, stand out in a competitive job market, increase your chances for advancement, and become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs seek to serve and protect the public welfare and are responsible for investigating individuals that practice outside of the program’s Code of Ethics.

MDs and DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic medicine) seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to seven years in residency training and pass a specialty certification exam from a certifying board. The length of time varies with the specialty.

Most General Physicians advance by expanding their practices. They may study business administration and become Hospital Administrators.

In private practice, a full partnership usually comes after five years. University-hospital based General Physicians may work their way up the faculty ladder, devote more time to clinical work, or spend their days in the lab conducting research

Prospects should be especially useful for General Physicians who are willing to practice in rural and low-income areas, which tend to have difficulty attracting physicians.

Although continuing professional development (CPD) is useful in various professions, it is especially important in the healthcare sector as it has important implications for public wellbeing. In the healthcare industry, the purpose of CPD is to enhance the quality of care that patients and clients receive. CPD ensures that healthcare staff practice safely and effectively in the workplace while allowing them to improve existing services and learn new and improved techniques.

General Physicians who actively choose to expand their skill sets and meet their respective regulatory bodies’ requirements will be in favorable positions professionally. Keep up to date with the latest medical advancements, medicines, vaccines, and procedures by taking classes and regularly reading books and medical journals.

Salaried Jobs vs. Private Practice

Salaried jobs in managed care organizations offer the benefit of regular work hours to General Physicians as well as opportunities to consult with peers. Salaried positions are also attractive to young doctors as the cost of medical malpractice insurance or the start-up costs of founding a private practice can be unaffordable, especially when you need to pay off medical school loans. The advantages of private practice are that providers set their service fees and working hours, unlike salaried doctors.

The Business Side

General Physicians who set up private practices must combine healthcare with business management. They rent or own office space, hire administrative and medical support staff, and purchase diagnostic equipment, such as x-ray machines. Positions for recent college grads in private offices are generally limited to the reception or volunteer work. Working in a small office exposes you to both the clinical and the managerial aspects of care.

About 64 percent of Physicians report working overtime. Some Physicians may work as many as 60 hours per week.

The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade...a calling, not a business...a calling in which your heart is exercised as much as your head. Often the best part of a General Physician’s work will have nothing to do with potions and powders, but with the exercise of an influence of the wise upon the average joe.

As any doctor can tell you, the most crucial step toward healing is the right diagnosis. A proper resolution is far more likely when the disease is accurately identified. Conversely, a wrong diagnosis usually means an adverse outcome, no matter how skilled the physician.