Family / General Practitioner
Quick Facts
What They Do
A Family or General Practitioner provides primary medical care for families and patients of all ages, including diagnosis, treatment and preventative care. Treats illnesses and helps patients to manage complex or chronic diseases. Works in a private practice or outpatient clinical setting. Works to meet the medical needs of communities that are less well served by hospitals.
Core Tasks:
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
- Refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.
- Coordinate work with nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, and other health care providers.
- Plan, implement, or administer health programs or standards in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention or treatment of injury or illness.
- Train residents, medical students, and other health care professionals.
What to expect as a Family / General Practitioner
16% of people achieve this level of education.
See Family / General Practitioner related courses on Tallo
11958 openings for Family / General Practitioners
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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