General practitioners and family physicians

National Occupation Code (NOC): 3112

General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuous care toward the management of patients’ health. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners or family physicians are included in this unit group.

Job Duties for General practitioners and family physicians

• Examine patients and take their histories, order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures and consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
• Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
• Perform and assist in routine surgery
• Provide emergency care
• Provide acute care management
• Vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases
• Deliver babies and provide pre-natal and post-natal care
• Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
• Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues
• Perform patient advocacy role
• Co-ordinate or manage primary patient care
• Provide continuous care to patients
• Supervise home care services
• Report births, deaths, and contagious and other diseases to governmental authorities.

Working Conditions for General practitioners and family physicians

Work is performed at a medical clinic or at patient homes when on an out-call. Exposure to ill people requires ample attention to both personal safety and the safety of the patient. Workers are usually on-call for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; this may be physically and mentally taxing.

Alternate Job Titles

• Civil Aviation Medical Officer
• Community Preventive Medicine Physician
• Company Physician
• Doctor Of Medicine (MD)
• Family Doctor
• Family Physician
• Family Practitioner
• General Practice Intern
• General Practice Physician
• General Practice Resident
• General Practitioner (GP)
• GP (general Practitioner)
• Industrial Medical Officer
• Industrial Medicine Physician
• Industrial Physician
• Locum Doctor
• MD (doctor Of Medicine)
• Medical Doctor
• Medical Missionary
• Medical Officer Of Health (MOH)
• Missionary Doctor
• MOH (medical Officer Of Health)
• Physician Resident
• Primary Care Physician
• Public Health Physician
• Resident
• Resident Physician
• Family Physician
• General Practice Resident
• General Practitioner (GP)
• Medical Doctor
• Community Preventive Medicine Physician
• Medical Missionary