Written by Fatima Batool
Edited by: Angela and Aleeza
A General Physician, known as General Practitioner (GP) in commonwealth countries is known as a family doctor or Primary Care Physician. These are medical doctors who treat acute and chronic illnesses and provide preventive care and health education to patients. They manage types of illness that present different symptoms at an early stage of development, which may require urgent intervention.
Daily life
Doctors usually have a very long day considering the spectrum of responsibilities; hence, they begin their day early. They have a set schedule for their appointments that helps them prepare themselves according to the profile of patients. A general physician at a government hospital is usually not specialized in a specific domain so he/she handles a wide range of cases. They have non-appointment hours in which they see walk-in patients. Typical sessions with patients involve trying to understand and solve their health-related concerns. A self-employed doctor, working at their personal clinic has a different schedule.
Work and life balance
Most physicians work between 40 and 60 hours per week, but nearly one-quarter of physicians work between 61 and 80 hours per week, according to the 2014 Work/Life Profiles of Today’s Physician released last year by AMA Insurance. Being a physician is considered to be a hectic job since they examine an average of 20 patients daily. Over half of physicians experience at least one symptom of burnout which, in some specialties, is as high as 68%. However, like all other professions, during paperwork and appointments, the physicians have breaks.
Salary
The average Physician General Practitioner salary in the United States is $210,690 as of January 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $182,390 and $235,690. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years one has spent in the profession.
Educational Steps
The steps of becoming a general physician require time, energy, and effort. The following are the educational step you must take in order to become one:
Complete an undergraduate education
Pass the MCAT examination
Apply to medical school
Complete training at medical school
Pass parts 1 and 2 of the USMLE
Match for residency
Graduate from medical school and start residency
Pass part 3 of the USMLE and finish residency
Earn board certifications
Get a state license
Advance Your Career by becoming certified in Family Medicine
Apply for jobs
Expectations
It must be understood that medical school has its challenges including the tuition cost paired with other expenses. Moreover, the breadth of medical knowledge required can be challenging and the busy shifts may be tiring. The physician would also have to be very conscious about his health. A doctor who himself is not healthy can’t leave a good impression on his patients. There are certain skills that they need to process. Managing acutely ill people under pressure may be stressful. Often, it might take some time to find out why they have come, as patients are not always very open to discuss their medical problems. This makes it necessary for the doctors to learn the art of making their patients comfortable enough and creating a very friendly environment that allows patients to discuss their problems openly.
Those who look forward to becoming a General Physician shall expect the aforementioned challenges. They should possess different skills such as diagnostic reading, problem-solving, time management, and communication skills. However, there are many attractions in this field too. Contrary to specialization, a General Physician has the opportunity to see a wide range of illnesses and manage complex cases. There are opportunities to get involved in teaching, training, or research and can be combined with another specialty or subspecialty. Most importantly, treating acutely ill people and saving lives can be more rewarding than you think!
Bibliography
“What Is A Typical Day In The Life Of A Doctor Like At A Government Hospital?” Study Abroad in Top Universities, Colleges | Best Rankings | EasyUni, EasyUni Staff, 9 Oct. 2017, https://www.easyuni.com/advice/what-is-a-typical-day-in-the-life-of-a-doctor-like-at-a-government-hospital-545/.
“Essay on ‘A Day in the Life of a Doctor’ Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and Other Classes.” EVirtualGuru, 14 Nov. 2017, https://evirtualguru.com/essay-on-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-doctor-complete-essay-for-class-10-class-12-and-graduation-and-other-classes/
“How Many Hours Are in the Average Physician Workweek? | American Medical Association.” American Medical Association, 6 2015, https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-many-hours-are-average-physician-workweek
Writers, Staff. “Medical School & Doctor Careers | How to Become a Doctor.” LearnHowToBecome.Org, LearnHowToBecome.org, 3 Feb. 2014, https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/doctor/
Wise, Jacqui. “Life as a Physician in General Internal Medicine | The BMJ.” The BMJ, 10 Jan. 2020, https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m19
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