About the Job

NOC: 3112
Occupation: Family Physicians
Category: Health Occupations

Nature Of Work:

Family physicians, or general practitioners (GPs), are responsible for managing their patients' primary care. They provide primary contact and continuing and comprehensive care to patients of all ages. This includes examining  patients; ordering laboratory tests, x-rays and other diagnostic procedures; prescribing and administering medications and treatments; performing routine surgical procedures; and performing related tasks. They give their patients and their families health-related advice, such as information on nutrition, exercise, accident prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Skills:

Compassion, sensitivity, and a desire to help people are important. Physicians must take final responsibility for their decisions and the effects they have on patients' lives. Therefore, emotional stability, ethics, maturity, and good judgement are essential. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are important. You should be able to inspire confidence and put people at ease. You must be willing to continually update your knowledge and skills. Good health and stamina may be needed, as physicians often work long hours.

Other Considerations:

Most physicians are self-employed and administer their services through private practices. Most physicians are paid by fee-for-service where earnings depend upon the fees paid by the government for various services and the number of patients served. Some physicians are paid through alternative funding plans.

Family physicians tend to work long and irregular hours, especially those physicians who operate their own practices or work in small groups.