Family Physician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a family physician job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a family physician. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a family physician.
Who is a Family Physician?
A family physician is a medical professional who provides ongoing, comprehensive medical care to all members of the family, regardless of gender, age, or health issue. They provide a variety of services, including preventive care, acute, and chronic condition diagnosis and treatment, and management of common health issues such as diabetes and obesity.
A family doctor is frequently the first person contacted when a child or parent becomes ill. He or she performs an initial examination and refers patients to specialists as needed. Family physicians collaborate with nurses, specialists, surgeons, office staff, and other general practitioners, among others.
Family Physician Job Description
What is a family physician job description? A family physician job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a family physician in an organization. Below are the family physician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a family physician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a family physician include:
- Developing a personal relationship with the patients.
- Planning and implementing health-related initiatives in health facilities and the general public.
- Educating people on topics such as disease prevention and injury treatment, as well as providing primary care services to families, adults, and children.
- Recognizing and treating injuries, chronic diseases, and acute illnesses.
- Arranging follow-up appointments with patients to monitor their progress.
- Ensuring Individual health programs are monitored and changed on a regular basis.
- Gathering and storing patient-related data, such as medical history and test results.
- Operating on patients to repair and improve the functionality of damaged body parts.
- Conducting patient interviews to examine their medical history and determining the source of any current health problems.
- Making plans for follow-up health examinations.
- Collaborating with other healthcare providers such as psychologists, pharmacists, and nurses.
- Administering vaccinations (e.g., flu jab, infant vaccinations, travel vaccinations).
- Recommending medications and care regimens to help patients manage long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure.
- Giving advice on how to improve one’s health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
- Teaching patients how to manage their health and prevent illness.
- Offering birth and family planning services.
- Keeping up with medical advances by taking advantage of opportunities for continuing education and professional development.
Qualifications
Family physicians have the following qualifications:
- A medical degree.
- Three-year residency and internship in family medicine.
- Evidence of all medical licenses and certifications needed to become a family physician.
- 5 years of experience as a family physician or in a related field.
- Medical specialization in fields such as pediatrics, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, gynecology, and community medicine is required.
- Board certification in family medicine obtained from the American Board of Specialties examination.
- Excellent writing and speaking communication skills.
- Ability to work long hours.
- Excellent decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
- Presence of a caring and watchful eye.
- Exceptional coordination and planning abilities.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- The ability to function well within a healthcare team.
Essential Skills
Family physicians must have the following skills to be successful:
- Medical Knowledge:
Family physicians must have the ability to comprehend medical practices and treatments. This is a critical skill for family physicians because they must know how to treat patients and which medications to prescribe. With the help of medical knowledge, family physicians can learn new skills and comprehend novel medical procedures.
- Technical Abilities:
Your ability to use technology can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients through the use of medical software, equipment, and other tools. By becoming acquainted with the latest medical technology, you can learn how to use it and how it can benefit your family physician career.
- Diagnosis:
Family physicians can diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions. They use their abilities in observation, listening, and questioning to determine the source of symptoms and the best course of treatment for patients. Family physicians frequently specialize in fields such as pediatrics or internal medicine to focus on treating specific conditions.
- Laboratory Test Results Interpretation:
Because family physicians frequently perform their own laboratory procedures, they must be able to interpret the results. Because of this critical skill, they can base their treatment decisions on accurate information. Furthermore, it ensures that patients receive the best possible care.
- Medication Prescription:
Family physicians frequently prescribe medication to treat their patient’s medical conditions. They may also recommend making lifestyle changes such as dieting and exercising to help manage certain conditions. The ability to treat patients in a way that improves their quality of life is a necessary skill for family physicians. Family physicians can gain the trust of their patients by demonstrating their knowledge of available treatments.
- Time Management:
Family physicians frequently see a large number of patients throughout the day. They may also be required to perform physical examinations, review patient records, enter patient data into a computer system, and interact with patients and other medical personnel. The ability of family physicians to manage their time effectively can help them finish their work quickly.
- Problem-solving:
Family physicians frequently use problem-solving techniques to address their patients’ health concerns. They may be required to determine the cause of a patient’s symptoms and determine the best course of action for each individual. If a patient has high blood pressure, a family doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help lower blood pressure.
- Empathy:
Family physicians should have the ability to understand and experience the feelings of another person. When working with patients as a family physician, empathy is essential. Empathy can be used to put patients at ease and reassure them about their care.
- Organization:
As a family physician, you need to be good at time management and organization. This is necessary because you may be in charge of making appointments, managing your own schedule, and keeping records. Therefore, learning organizational techniques can help you perform better as a family physician.
- Leadership:
When you have leadership abilities, you can inspire and direct others. Family physicians may work with a variety of staff members in a clinic or hospital setting. Strong leadership skills can help you manage your team effectively and ensure that everyone is working toward the same goals. It also allows you to guide patients who are concerned about their treatment or medical procedures.
- Communication:
Family physicians communicate frequently with their own staff, other medical staff, and patients. They must be able to clearly and concisely communicate difficult medical conditions to patients. They can also use this skill when collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
- Interpersonal Relationship Skills:
Family physicians frequently communicate with the families of their patients. They must be capable of effective communication, attentive listening, and empathy. This is especially important when a family physician makes a difficult diagnosis or delivers bad news to a patient. Trust must be established between the patient and the family physician if the patient is to feel comfortable disclosing personal health information.
- Patience:
Patience is a virtue in family doctors because they frequently treat patients for extended periods of time. They may need to provide detailed explanations of medical conditions and treatment plans to help their patients understand what they are going through. Furthermore, family physicians spend a significant amount of time listening to their patient’s concerns and providing information. This requires patience because some patients may take longer than others to ask the right questions or comprehend the information that has been provided to them.
How to Become a Family Physician
Aspiring family physicians can follow the steps outlined below to get started:
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in a Relevant Field of Medicine or Healthcare
To become a family physician, you must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field. Nursing, medical technology, and pre-medicine are the most common academic backgrounds for future family physicians.
If you decide to pursue a pre-medicine degree, you will need to take biology, chemistry, and physics courses because these subjects are also required for medical school. If you choose to study nursing or medical technology, you will learn about patient care and laboratory procedures.
- Take the Test for Medical College Admission (MCAT)
Candidates must first pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a 7.5-hour standardized multiple-choice exam that assesses scientific knowledge, reasoning, communication, and writing abilities.
Critical analysis and reasoning skills, psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior, chemical and physical foundations of biological systems, and biological and biochemical foundations of living systems are the four sections of the MCAT.
You’ll learn about human anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, and physiology, to name a few topics during this period.
- Obtain a Medical Degree
A list of accredited medical education programs is kept on file by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
In medical school, students spend four years learning the fundamentals of science while also participating in clinical “rotations.”
This is hands-on clinical training in real-world healthcare settings. The majority of medical schools devote the first two years to classroom instruction before assigning students to rotations.
Anatomy, biochemistry, ethics, pharmacology, physiology, and psychology are the most commonly taught subjects in medical schools.
Students must complete two years of practical training in hospitals and clinics, where they will learn how to diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of licensed physicians. After four years of medical school, a student is awarded a medical degree.
- Pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE):
Every state requires doctors to pass a federally standardized exam. Contact your state’s medical board for information on specific licensing requirements.
Aspiring family physicians must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The USMLE is supported by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States (FSMB).
- Complete the Residency Program:
After graduating from medical school, it is time to choose a specialty and complete your residency. A residency is an advanced training course that allows licensed doctors to gain practical experience in their chosen field.
These residency programs are offered in conjunction with extensive clinical training opportunities.
Throughout the residency, students provide a group of patients with the same continuity of care that would be expected in their private practice.
During residency, family physicians must master a variety of techniques, including platforms used in outpatient clinics and hospitals. Family physicians gain experience treating infants, children, and teenagers. They typically complete a three-year residency program. During this time, residents learn how to identify and treat patients with common ailments or wounds. They also learn how to manage patient care plans over long periods of time.
- Gain ExperienceTreating Patients of all Ages for a variety of health Concerns
As you work to complete your residency, consider looking for opportunities to gain experience in a variety of medical specialties. This can help you decide where you want to live and what specialty you want to pursue.
You may also choose to further your education in a specific field, such as pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology.
- Keep up to Date on Medical Advancements
The medical industry is constantly changing, therefore family physicians must stay current on new developments. For example, new medications or therapies may be made available to patients suffering from specific conditions. Any changes to healthcare rules or laws should be communicated to family physicians.
Keeping abreast of these developments can help you provide the best possible care to your patients. If you choose to specialize in a particular area of family medicine, you may need to refresh your knowledge.
- Join professional organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians
Family physicians and other medical specialists can become members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) as a professional organization. By joining the AAFP, you can connect with colleagues, stay up to date on industry changes, and obtain the continuing education credits you need to keep your license.
Where to Work as a Family Physician
Family physicians can work in a variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, community health centers, and other outpatient facilities. Although some work part-time, they usually work 40 hours per week. They may be required to work on weekends or evenings to care for their patients.
Family Physician Salary Scale
An entry-level family physician with less than a year of experience can expect to earn $191,253, which includes tips, bonuses, and overtime pay. A family doctor in their first few years of practice earns an annual salary of $196,380 on average. A mid-career family doctor with five to nine years of experience earns an annual salary of $196,474. A family physician with 10 to 19 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $202,950. Workers in their late careers (20 years or more) earn an average salary of $204,516.
