Family Medicine Physicians

investigative patient medical doctor disease condition treatment family care physician health problem

Family Physician, Family Practice Physician (FP Physician), Medical Doctor (MD), Physician

What they do:
Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
On the job, you would:
  • Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
  • Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
  • Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry
  • therapy and counseling

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • biology
  • psychology

Business

  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • looking for ways to help people
  • understanding people's reactions

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software Hot Technology
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology In Demand

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Electronic mail software

  • Email software

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
doctoral degree or
post-doctoral training
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about family medicine physicians.