Family practitioners are the health care professionals who are closest to us in our daily lives. We are examined by these doctors from infancy to old age, and they are the ones who diagnose our illnesses, treat us, and refer us to specialists if we have a more serious disease or disorder. If you are interested in a medical career in which you can form close personal connections with your patients over time, working as a family practitioner might be the ideal career for you.
A family practitioner’s first responsibility is to diagnose patients’ illnesses. This is done by combining physical examinations with the information in patients’ medical histories, and by ordering x-rays, blood tests, and other tests. Next, a treatment program is recommended. Treatments can involve medication, surgery, rehabilitation, or advice about exercise and nutrition.
During the diagnosis and treatment process, family practitioners often communicate with nurses, medical lab techs, physiotherapists, and other health care professionals. In some cases, family practitioners will suggest that a patient see a specialist.
For example, if a family practitioner believes that a patient is suffering from depression, he or she might suggest the services of a psychologist or psychiatrist. A patient with an unusual and serious rash might be referred to a dermatologist.
As primary care physicians, family practitioners are on the front lines of the health care industry. They deal with patients of all ages, and diagnose and treat a wide variety of illnesses and conditions. Whereas specialists concentrate in a particular area of medicine, such as neurology, family practitioners must maintain a broad base of medical knowledge.
NOC Code: 3112