How to become A Primary Care Physician

The medical field is where knowledge, skills and the heart come together to prevent disease and increase the longevity of life. Playing a crucial role in healthcare are Primary Care Physicians who provide top-notch initial and ongoing service to patients of all ages. They are responsible for all matters from diagnosing disease, acute and chronic, to managing it, thereby promoting and maintaining wellness, preventing disease and educating the patient.

• Primary Care Provider

• PCP

• General Practitioner

• GP

• Family Doctor

What do Primary Care Physicians do?

A Primary Care Physician would typically need to:

• Serve as the first port of call for patients to diagnose and treat their injuries, illnesses, and disorders; provide continuity of consultation and treatment

• Examine patients; record their medical histories; prescribe or perform diagnostic tests; interpret test results and explain them to patients

• Prescribe medication or therapies; develop, administer and monitor treatment plans and adjust them according to patient outcomes and progress

• Determine if patients need specialist services; refer them to medical professionals based on the nature and complexity of the illness

• Consult with other physicians; collaborate with healthcare staff, including nurses and assistants

• Perform screenings; advocate and help implement prevention, overall wellness and early detection strategies 

• Clarify patients' doubts and concerns; explain medical procedures to them; counsel them on diet, hygiene and healthy habits and lifestyle changes

• Help the organisation or team pinpoint patients at risk of serious or acute problems; plan to avert the risks

• Carry out primary mental screening and treat mild depression, anxiety and loss/grief issues

• Prescribe and administer vaccinations to adults and children as per the country’s immunisation program 

• Follow up with patients; update their records with current findings and treatments

• Oversee the entire delivery of medical care to the patients by their organisation; ensure smooth, effective and efficient patient management 

• Comply with medical legislation; upkeep universal precautions and infection control practices 

You may work in clinical facilities, such as physicians’ offices, hospitals, academic hospitals associated with residency programs, medical schools, or nonclinical settings, including nonprofit organisations, government agencies and insurance companies. 

A Primary Care Physician typically works full time from 8 a.m to 6.30 p.m, frequently chalking up more than 40 hours a week. The timings might vary if you need to cover early morning or late evening appointments through a rota system.

Flexible or part-time work is possible. You may take a career break, but it is vital to keep abreast with the developments in the field. A career break more than two years long may necessitate retraining.

Primary Care Physicians may choose to practice solo or in a group practice. They may opt to be employed by healthcare facilities or work with them on an independent contractor basis. They may also choose temporary locum tenens positions offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need.

Primary Care Physicians are generally employed by: 

• General Practitioner Practices

• Small-Group & Corporate Private Practices

• Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Care Hospitals

• Primary Care Centres

• Health Centres

• Social Enterprise Companies

• Family Medicine Clinics

• Teaching Hospitals

• Medical Schools

• Sports Clubs

• Research Facilities

Healthcare associations, such as The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers. Affiliated Primary Care Physicians may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Ability to handle patient emergencies on a medical and emotional level

• The need to stay current with the latest developments in family medicine and any specialisation

• Risk of exposure to infections and contagious diseases

• Little time for self-care, personal growth, family time and socialising 

• Need to stand for long hours throughout the day

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a medical program needs work experience in their local hospital, doctor's surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. It will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a career in medicine.

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a medical degree and a career as a Primary Care Physician. It can be a helpful way to gain insight.

Read about the profession and interview experts working in primary care to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. It is also helpful to perform community service and undertake relevant research work. Work shadowing or observing senior doctors will help you gain perspective about the day-to-day working and physical and emotional demands of a Primary Care Physician’s profile. 

During your residency or foundation years of training, internships and supervised clinical rotations give you experience in diverse medical departments, including general practice, paediatrics, internal medicine, osteopathy, psychiatry, and surgery.

Medical school is a must for aspiring Primary Care Physicians. You must earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) or MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree from an accredited medical school, take a licensing exam­ination and complete a period of training through a residency or foundation years program, and an internship. 

Some locations require prospective Primary Care Physicians to complete a four-year pre-med course, studying biology, chemistry or physics at college, before applying to medical school. In other locations, you may enter medical school directly from high school.

Medical school typically takes four years to complete; two years of classroom work followed by two years in a hospital or clinical setting with exposure to real-life medical issues. The first two years of course and laboratory work in biological and natural sciences, physiology, chemistry, medical ethics and the art/practice of medicine prepare the students for patient interaction. The last two years of practical work comprise rotations through various medical specialities and settings under the supervision of experienced physicians. Students tend to zero in on certain specialities or environments that fit their interests and skills as they complete rotations.

After completing medical school, which accords an MD or DO or MBBS degree, doctors typically study further for three to seven years, depending on the medical speciality they plan to practice. In general, freshly-minted MDs or MBBS doctors must complete two- to four-year residencies or two years of foundation training. Both residency and foundation programs comprise rotations through paediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics, general surgery, inpatient hospital care and other branches of medicine. In particular, during your residency, you may specialise in primary care, focusing on family medicine, internal medicine, paediatrics or geriatrics. 

Following residency, you may begin to practice as a Primary Care Physician, or you may complete a fellowship that lasts for one to three years and involves more specificity in a particular area of medicine. For example, you might complete a fellowship in obstetrics or preventive medicine if you are a family physician. Or you may opt for adolescent medicine if you chose paediatrics as your specialisation during your residency. Depending on location, the successful completion of foundation years training qualifies you to enter a period of further training, during which you may pursue general practice/primary care or a specialisation.

Take college preparatory courses in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Board certification, although not mandatory, demonstrates a Primary Care Physician’s competence in a skill set and increases their chances of employment. Prerequisites include completing residency and passing a speciality certification exam. Check with your local medical certifying board since requirements may differ across regions. 

Voluntary certification in family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery and paediatrics may help you gain professional credibility. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Primary Care Physicians must have a license to practice. Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Depending on your location, you may also need to be placed on the countrywide general practitioner register to be able to practise.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. 

Those interested in the business aspect of the practice may aim to partner within a surgery to gain more control over how the practice functions. Those inclined towards patient care rather than administration may choose to become a locum.

Entering the fields of academia, training, and research & development open up further opportunities for progress. Volunteer work with charities, providing occupational health services, or a role in the armed forces, prisons and police stations can boost job satisfaction, an essential gauge of professional growth. Medical journalism is also a potential avenue for Primary Care Physicians to try.

With proper training and sufficient experience, you may become the Medical Director at a healthcare facility. Although it is a role with administrative responsibilities, the incumbent must be a trained and practising physician.

Candidates with relevant academic qualifications and specialisation in an area of primary care paired with the necessary skills and experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the healthcare sector for public wellbeing and career progression. Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications serve to educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Primary Care Physicians. 

Primary Care Physicians may acquire expertise in areas such as substance misuse, epilepsy, endoscopy, safeguarding children, palliative care or sexual health, thereby reducing specialist waiting time and addressing local needs.

Developing a portfolio and keeping track of your CPD activities may be beneficial for appraisals and interviews. 

The Diverse Roles of PCPs

Family doctors are physicians trained in adult medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, geriatric medicine and musculoskeletal care. They cater to patients of all age groups.

Internal medicine specialists or internists treat adults suffering from acute and chronic diseases. They receive training in various fields, including endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, orthopaedics, geriatrics and rehabilitation.

Paediatricians are trained healthcare experts in the wellness, development and treatment of babies, children and young adults under 21. You may work as a primary care provider or a specialist in fields such as pediatric neurology or cardiology.

Geriatricians treat old-age ailments, such as insomnia, dementia and balance issues.

Obstetrician-Gynaecologists specialise in women’s health and are experts in reproductive health, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum conditions.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are also vital components of the system of primary care. 

DIFFERENT MODELS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

A Primary Care Physician can opt for a specific practice model from among the prevalent ones.

Solo Practice

Suburban or rural areas with significant medical needs and less competition suit solo practice. Remember that while you can grow and develop your unique style of medical care, it involves considerable effort, time and financial risk. 

Group Practice

The group practice may comprise single-speciality or multi-speciality providers. Physicians in this model enjoy financial security and have administrative staff. This way, the physician can focus more time and energy on patient care. However, autonomy and decision-making ability decrease, increasing the risk of conflict around significant practice issues. Larger practices also tend to become more bureaucratic and policy-driven.

Employed Physician Practice

The physician can focus on practising medicine because the employer takes over the financial and administrative responsibilities of running the practice. However, your work schedule and activities will be controlled by those who develop the policies and procedures.

Other Types of Medical Practice

Some physicians work as independent contractors in a solo or group practice; they may share financial responsibility and flexibility in clinical practice but may not be free to make all decisions.

Locum tenens (literally “place holder”) is an alternative to more permanent employment. Locum tenens positions are temporary (up to a year) offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need. The compensation rate is generally higher than what the permanent position would suggest. Locum tenens allows physicians to gauge a specific type of practice or location without committing to long-term employment.

Robots can now serve medical staff with supplies, check patients’ medical records & history, process their symptoms and forward them to relevant doctors who have already received the patient’s details. 

A Primary Care Physician is pivotal in the medical community, often the first point of contact for patients for many healthcare services. It is a dynamic role that demands a unique combination of empathy, humility and nobility to positively impact people’s lives as you help them heal.

The most crucial part of treating an illness is not just the medical prescription and physical wellness but empathy towards the patient and soothing their mental and emotional insecurities and fears. When you explain medical procedures and facts to the patient, use non-medical language.