General practitioner

General practitioners promote health, prevent, identify ill health, diagnose and treat diseases and promote recovery of physical and mental illness and health disorders of all kinds for all persons regardless of their age, sex or type of health problem.

General practitioners typically do the following duties:

• Conduct comprehensive medical examinations to assess patients’ overall health and identify any existing or potential medical issues.
• Diagnose and treat common medical conditions, such as respiratory infections, minor injuries, and chronic illnesses.
• Prescribe medications and treatments to manage symptoms and promote healing.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds, to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions.
• Provide preventative care, including vaccinations, screenings, and health education to promote healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
• Manage chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, by monitoring patients’ progress and adjusting treatment plans as needed.
• Offer counseling on lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and stress management, to improve overall health and prevent health problems.
• Make referrals to specialists or other healthcare providers for further evaluation and treatment of complex medical conditions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date medical records for each patient to ensure continuity of care and efficient communication with other healthcare providers.
• Respond to medical emergencies and provide initial care and stabilization before transferring patients to the appropriate medical facility if needed.
• Stay updated on medical advancements and best practices through continuing medical education and professional development.
• Foster a trusting and respectful doctor-patient relationship by actively listening to patients’ concerns and addressing their medical needs with empathy and compassion.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and specialists, to provide comprehensive and coordinated patient care.
• Educate patients about their medical conditions, treatment options, and potential side effects of medications.
• Promote health screenings and preventive health measures to the community to improve overall public health.

The following job titles also refer to general practitioner:

physician
general practice doctor
dr
community health doctor
district medical therapist
junior doctor
district medical doctor
g.p.
community doctor
resident medical officer specializing in general practice
medical doctor
pre-registration house officer
medical practitioner
general practitioner
doctor of medicine
general medical practitioner
medical officer
practice partner
trainee general practitioner
practice principal
house officer
general physician
locum doctor
family medical practitioner
doctor

General practitioners work in various healthcare settings, including private practices, clinics, community health centers, and hospitals. They may work long hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate the needs of their patients. The work environment can be fast-paced, and GPs may encounter a diverse range of medical conditions and patient demographics. They must be available for on-call duties to respond to medical emergencies outside regular office hours.

To become a general practitioner, individuals must complete a bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of medical school to obtain a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. After completing medical school, aspiring GPs must undergo a residency program in family medicine or another primary care specialty. Residency training typically lasts three years and provides hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating patients under the guidance of experienced physicians. After completing residency, general practitioners may choose to become board-certified by passing an examination from a relevant medical board. Continuing medical education is essential to stay current with medical advancements and maintain licensure.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

General practitioner is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to general practitioner.

specialist dentist
specialised doctor
animal assisted therapist
advanced physiotherapist
specialist pharmacist

These skills are necessary for the role of general practitioner.

• Provide healthcare services to patients in general medical practice: In the exercise of the medical doctor’s profession, provide healthcare services to patients in order to assess, maintain and restore patients’ state of health.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of general practitioner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage a healthcare unit budget: Manage a healthcare unit budget. Collaborate in budget planning processes including cost of supplies needed for adequate health services and management.
• Manage a multidisciplinary team involved in patient care: Manage, oversee and work with a multidisciplinary team involved in patient care such as nurses and interns. This includes ensuring effective communication, organising work, and providing support for the team members.
• Contribute to education in medicine: Contribute to the education process by activities such as assisting interns or giving lectures.
• Provide care for a patient group with specific characteristics: Care for patients with specific features, needs or characteristics such as children, older patients or patients with special needs.
• Conduct health related research: Conduct research in health related topics and communicate findings orally, through public presentations or by writing reports and other publications.
• Employ foreign languages for health-related research: Use foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.
• Employ foreign languages in care: Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to facilitate patient care according to the needs of the patient.

2211 – Generalist medical practitioners

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References

1. General practitioner – ESCO
2. What Is a General Practitioner? – WebMD
3. Featured image: Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash