Family Doctors or General Practitioners must have knowledge of medical science and the human body in order to help their patients become or remain healthy. Doctors provide ongoing care for their patients keeping track of their medical history. Family doctors can both diagnose and recommend treatment for their patient’s healthcare needs. Most patients receive treatments in the form of prescriptions. These prescriptions can be for medicines, creams or even referral to dietician’s to make healthier lifestyle changes. The family doctor can refer the patient to see a specialist for further testing. The family doctor also refers the patient for x-rays, ct-scans and more.
Duties of a Physician:
- Interview patients to get a medical history
- Perform physical examinations and order tests in order to diagnose illnesses, injuries and disorders
- Prescribe and administer medications needed to treat the patients in emergencies or for long-term health problems
- Teach patients about disease prevention and lifestyle choices/changes
- Be supportive and give advice when needed
- Communicate with other health care professionals/specialists for referral of the patients health needs.
Work Requirements:
Family doctors work in clinics, hospitals and treatment centres. A family doctor needs to be focused and have emotional strength to deal with the unknown each day may bring. They work very long hours and have irregular schedules. Doctors usually work 60-70 hours a week. They are also on-call and can be called into the hospital to work any day or night. They are constantly running the risk of exposure to disease and illness.
Types of Work Environments:
- Private or team practices
- Healthcare clinics
- Community practices
- Universities
Personality Requirements:
- Be genuine and interested in helping people
- Proficient knowledge of medicine and lifelong learning
- Be patient, have emotional strength and have empathy
- Be confidential
- Have excellent communications skills and interpersonal skills
- Passion and energy for their work
Education: 8 - 10 years post-secondary
Bachelor’s Degree and Doctor of Medicine certificate followed by 2-3 years residency
Certification
- National: licensing by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
- Ontario: licensing by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Courses taken during high school which will assist you in a career as a Physician:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math
- English
- Physics
Job placement – after 8 - 10 years of post-secondary education your chances of finding a job are considered – Very Good
Canada’s aging population requires an ever-increasing supply of medical services and the number of recent graduates will not likely meet the demand. Rural and low-income areas and group practices/clinics provide the greatest opportunities for employment.
Wages:
Average annual income: $100,000 to $200,000
Links:
Canadian Medical Association
http://www.cma.ca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
http://www.cpso.on.ca
Association of Canadian Medical Colleges
http://www.afmc.ca
Canadian Federation of Medical Students
http://www.cfms.org
Canadian Medical Association Journal
http://www.cmaj.ca
Canadian Association of Interns and Residents
http://www.cair.ca
