On average, a physician or a family doctor sees an average of twenty patients in a day. They spend close to fifteen minutes with each patient. If you don’t know, a physician is in charge of primary care. He or she treats people of all gender and age. More importantly, this health physician delivers health care services to all patients. For their noble work, they receive compensation in the name of family medicine doctor salary. And they are well remunerated in most countries across the world.
For over a decade, the number of family doctors has dwindled while those for specialties have gone up. All indicators are pointing to the trend to continue for a while. But why? Some quotes say it because of money. In all fairness, specialties have the potential to earn a big salary. Whatever the case, read on and know more about this noble career.
Difference Between a Family Medicine and Internal Medicine
What is the difference between the two? This is a confusing question for many people and patients alike. Although the two overlap each other in some aspects, they have fundamental differences in focus, training, and patient care.
The following are the differences between the two health care professions.
- Family doctors treat all patients regardless of age and sex. In other words, they treat all family members. But an internal doctor differs, He or she treats only adults.
- Most internal doctors or internists work in hospitals, mainly in inpatient settings, while the family doctor works in the outpatient area.
- Family practitioners mostly work in an office setting compared to an internist.
- Family doctors have broader training in health care and medical issues. In contrast, internists receive general training in medicine and health needs.
- Internal medicine doctors specialize in the unique health needs of adults. Meaning, the focus on the health risk an adult is likely to face in their stages of life.
How do I Become a Family Medicine Doctor?
Suppose you aspire to join this group of physicians. Here are the six steps to follow:
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The first thing to earn in your journey to becoming a family doctor is a bachelor’s degree. Afterward, you can apply for admission to a medical school. You don’t need to study a specific major in your undergraduate program. However, you must have done all the pre-medical courses plus maths, English, chemistry, biology, and physics. You must do well if you are to stand a chance for consideration. But that doesn’t erase the fact that a good GPA in your undergraduate is equally important.
Pass the Medical College Admission Test
You take and pass a medical college admission test (MCAT). Most medical schools use the exam as an elimination tool when admitting students. Schools use the exam to test critical thinking and the ability to solve problems. Again, the exam comes in multiple-choice format covering biological and physical sciences, plus reasoning ability. Students also get a writing sample test in that exam.
Earn a Medical Degree
After four successful years in medical school, they will award you a Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.). The degree is also referred to as Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O). In the first half of medical school, you do a lot of classwork and lab studies. Those lab lessons focus on biochemistry, anatomy, pathology, ethics, pharmacology, and infectious diseases. Further, you will receive training diagnosing conditions and examining patients.
After those two years, you enter internships, which include treating patients but under licensed doctors’ supervision. Here, you gain real-time experience, plus you will serve by rotating fields.
Complete Residency Training
After a medical degree, you must continue with residency training in clinical education. Most residencies comprise diagnosing and treating clinic patients in the hospital. And, of course, established doctors will observe everything.
Get a Medical License
Like in other careers, doctors need licensing before serving. The requirements include finishing residency training, passing licensing exams, and graduating from an accredited program.
Advance and Become a Certified Family Doctor
This is not a mandatory step but optional. Physicians go for it to better their careers and be eligible for more opportunities. Otherwise, those who have successfully gone through the six steps and meet all requirements can be certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Alternatively, students can get certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Although it may seem over, certified physicians continue with education, or else they lose their certification.
Does a Family Medicine Doctor have a Bright Future?
None of us is sure about tomorrow, leave alone the future. But family physicians are hopeful things will get better in the coming years. They look forward to more people and organizations embracing and recognizing the value of health care and providers.
Career-wise, the field of physicians is experiencing some shortage. According to the American Medical College (AAMC), the shortage number ranges from 42,600 to 121,300. This suggests there is room for recent graduates.
Average Family Medicine Doctor Salary
A physician working in the United States earns an average salary of $208,991. However, other factors like education, certification, additional skills, and year of tenure play a big part in determining your salary. However, explains the salary difference among the medical practitioners. According to Salary.com, family doctor salary ranges from $184,077 to $239,839 per year.
Conclusion
Incidentally, surveys have confirmed that physicians are likely to profess contentment in both work and personal lives. They also enjoy the freedom of not committing or depending on community hospitals to properly function and treat patients. Moreover, their schedule is flexible, and they can spare time to spend with family.
If your objective is to become a family physician, you know what to do. If you missed it, you can scroll up and see what is needed. It may not be considered as one of the most lucrative careers, but the family medicine doctor salary is among the best. Besides, the pay is worth all the hustle students go through in medical school.