A family doctor is a general practitioner.
General practitioners are doctors responsible for the care and well-being of individuals. They provide physicals, referrals and treatment for minor illnesses. A general practitioner treats all ages, and commonly is referred to as a family doctor, as she can provide treatment for everyone in your family. Most practitioners work in a doctor's office or clinic versus a hospital and generally have a list of patients they routinely see and treat.
Function
A general practitioner is the first doctor an individual comes in contact with when seeking health care. A general practitioner, or general physician, diagnoses and treats a range of conditions--typically common colds, illnesses, infections and broken bones. He also provides physicals and routine treatment and care for patients. A general practitioner sees patients with more serious conditions and refers them to specialists or for further tests to get a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
Responsibilities
A general practitioner provides routine care to ensure the patient is in good health. The physical exam includes performing a general check of the body, noting vitals such as blood pressure, weight and temperature, and ordering any needed blood tests. The physician provides care for individuals not feeling well. When an ill patient comes to the office, the physician reviews his medical chart, history and vitals and checks the symptoms that are present. The physician provides a diagnosis, a treatment plan and writes a prescription for any needed medications. If the symptoms require a specialist or more care than a general practitioner can provide, she will refer the patient to a specialist who can provide the level of care the patient needs.
Education and Licensing
A general practitioner must undergo extensive education and training prior to being allowed to practice medicine. He must complete a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of medical school and three years of residency. After completing school and residency, a general practitioner must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). A practitioner cannot practice medicine until he passes the USMLE and has become a licensed physician.
Job Outlook
Employment for a general practitioner is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow up to 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than average for all other occupations. The field is expanding because of the continued growth in the population and based on the growth in the number of elderly individuals, who require more medical care than the average person.
Wages
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, primary care physicians had a median annual income of $186,044 in 2008. This ranked among the highest of any occupation.
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