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Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do have a love of life sciences and wonder how our bodies work? Have you ever wondered, "What more does my family doctor do other than give shots and treat the flu?"
Primary care physicians are vital for maintaining healthy communities.
Did you know?
The average American visits their doctor 4 times per year. On average, babies visit the doctor 9 times per year, and children between the ages of 5 and 15 visit the doctor two times per year.
If you're a healthy youth between the ages of 18-24, you're likely to have made at least 30 visits, if not more, to a doctor’s office in your life.
What Is a Primary Care Physician?
Who do your parents or grandparents go to when they are sick or need regular medical care for modern day illnesses like, hypertension and diabetes?
Primary care physicians, sometimes called family doctors, "are the foundation of the health-care system. Besides providing comprehensive preventive and primary care, they are also the gateway to the rest of the health-care system."
What Does a Primary Care Physician Take Care Of?
Diagnose and treat common ailments.
Conduct annual health check ups.
Refer patients for clinical tests and specialist consultations.
Provide vaccination & preventive care consultations on diet, exercise, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Manage patient records.
Provide regular medical care and consultations for managing chronic diseases like diabetes.
Other Jobs Similar to Primary Care Physicians in Health Care
Primary care physicians manage the overall health care requirements of patients of all ages, and they're usually the first point of contact in the health care system.
There are other fields of specialization in health care which you can explore as similar career options. Some of these specialization fields are paediatrics (child medicine), obstetrics and gynaecology (childbirth and reproductive health), cardiology (heart health), etc.
Check out this list of doctor specialities and subspecialties to learn more.
Quiz
Which of the following are the job responsibilities of a primary care physician? Select all that apply:
Primary care physicians provide preventive care like vaccinations, treat minor ailments, and prescribe medicines for chronic diseases. However, they don't provide diagnoses for sicknesses requiring a speciality in other disciplines like cardiology.
What Knowledge, Skills, and Strengths Are Required?
Skills And Strengths
Time management skills to efficiently prioritize and manage time between patient consultations, record management, referral follow-ups, and other daily activities
Critical thinking skills to "make sound medical decisions"
Strong people and communication skills, as the role is all about interacting with people
Strong emotional resilience is essential, as the job deals with serious long-term illnesses and end-of-life situations on a regular basis
Quiz
Ray is 18 years old and has just finished his high school diploma. He has enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program and plans to be a family care physician. Roughly how old will he be before he can join a family practice as a doctor?
To become a primary care physician, you're required to complete 3-4 years of a Bachelor's degree, followed by 4 years of medical school, and finally 3-4 years in a residency program. So, Ray would be around. 28-30 years old by the time he gets his license to practice at a family clinic.
Where Do Primary Care Physicians work?
Primary care physicians can find work in different health care facilities.
Family/Walk-in Clinics
Services provided:
Regular health checkups
Diagnose and treat minor ailments
Helping patients manage chronic illnesses
Providing preventive care like flu shots
Hospital Emergency Rooms
Hospital Emergency Rooms
Services provided:
Diagnose and treat problems of patients needing emergency care.
There is a certification that primary care physicians can obtain in emergency medicine. You can find more information on this certification in the U.S. and Canada.
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
"HMO is a health insurance structure that provides health care through a network of physicians." The job of a primary care physician at an HMO is the same as in family/ walk-in clinics mentioned above.
Community Health Centres (CHC)
CHCs are not-for-profit community organizations that help vulnerable populations access basic health care services, with a focus on preventive health care.
How Much Do Primary Care Physicians Earn?
What Can Draw You To Become a Primary Care Physician?
Love of science — biology and chemistry in particular
Genuine passion for patient care
A desire to serve the communities you live in
Photo by Ian Schneider on UnsplashWhat Can Turn You Away From Being A Primary Care Physician?
Lengthy university and residency programs
High stress levels
Long work hours
High volumes of paperwork
Pick the Future Primary Care Physician
Rick is a grade 11 student and enjoys volunteering at the local senior’s residence every Saturday. On average, he spends 4-6 hours every day on his school work. His favorite subjects are math and biology.
Ray is a grade 10 student and enjoys building Lego and tampering with small machines. He enjoys music and spends 2-3 hours everyday practicing in a band with his friends.
Ryan is a grade 11 student and plays soccer at the state level. On average, he spends 1-2 hours daily at soccer practice and 3-4 hours on his school work. His goal is to complete university and start working by the age of 22-23.
Rachel is a grade 11 student. She is always ready to help her friends and enjoys baby sitting her younger siblings. She likes math and chemistry. On average, she spends 1-2 hours every day on her schoolwork. She isn't sure what she'd like to do in the future.
Quiz
From the above profiles of high school students who is most likely to pursue studies in Medical field?
Rick is a dedicated and hardworking science student. His volunteer work at the senior's residence shows a sincere attitude towards helping people. His subjects of interest are required in the field of medicine.
Take Action
Photo by Millo Lin on UnsplashIf you enjoy science subjects and are considering medicine as a career, then try these actions to see your fit as a primary care physician.
This Byte has been authored by
Monisha Lal
Volunteer Learning Developer