Primary Care Physician (PCP)
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The primary care physician (PCP) is the doctor that a patient goes to for a health check-up. They focus on general wellness and prevention of illnesses.
A primary care physician is usually one of the following specializations:
- (General) Internal Medicine – Doctor for adults
- Family Medicine – Doctor for all ages
- Pediatrician – Doctor for children/adolescents
Usually, the PCP builds relationship with their patients, and helps address their needs. Additionally, they also make appropriate recommendations to help them make the best decisions for their health. For example, sometimes, PCPs serve as “median doctors” for patients by referring them to specialists as needed.
The primary care physician is usually the first person to be contacted by a patient. This is mainly due to factors, like proximity, ease of communication, accessibility, cost-related issues, and familiarity. 1https://jobdescriptionandresumeexamples.com/primary-care-physician-job-description-duties-and-responsibilities/
What Do Primary Care Doctors Do?
Primary care physicians perform various functions in ensuring the wellness of their patients. Below are some common tasks, duties, and responsibilities:
- Act as a first screening/visit for patients
- Early detection of illnesses, prevention, and general wellness
- Be a middle-man between patients and medical specialists in the case of more complex medical conditions (often will refer patients to the correct specialists)
- Responsible for managing and directing general physician medical care 2https://jobdescriptionandresumeexamples.com/primary-care-physician-job-description-duties-and-responsibilities/
- Regular physical exams
- Prescribing medications
- Treating minor illnesses and injuries (that do not require specialists to treat)
- Managing chronic conditions
- Screenings for common health problems 3https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/5-types-primary-care-doctors/
What types of Primary Care Doctor Jobs are out there?
Primary Care Doctors also known as Primary Care Physicians/Practitioners (PCP), typically fall under one of the following classifications:
- (General) Internal Medicine – Doctor for adults
- Family Medicine – Doctor for all ages
- Pediatrician – Doctor for children/adolescents
What skills are necessary to be a good Primary Care Physician?
- Personable/Communication Skills – to work well with patients and other doctors
- Attention to details – to provide precise and good services to your patients
- Good reasoning, analytical thinking, and decision-making ability – to diagnose patient ailments appropriately
- Medical School Graduate
- Have a Medical license to practice in the local region you work
- Must have completed an approved residency in the specialty4https://jobdescriptionandresumeexamples.com/primary-care-physician-job-description-duties-and-responsibilities/
What are some challenges of being a PCP?
- Need to get a Medical School Degree and then complete your residency which takes a long time (4 years of college + 4 years of medical school + 3-7 years of residency)
- Medical School can be expensive
- Hours can be long and unpredictable (depending on the type of doctor you are)
- Can be stressful trying to help a patient if problems are not solved simply
What are some benefits of being a PCP?
- Strong pay/compensation
- Personally satisfying to help your patients
- Lots of learning
- Stable Job/Job Security
- Often get to work with other doctors and nurses
- Usually can work/live wherever you want
Typical Salary?
While the average salary varies a lot based on location, experience, and type of patients you see, according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary is between $173k and $236k.
Should I become a Primary Care Physician?
If you are interested in medicine, healthcare, and/or helping patients with their health/medical problems you should consider becoming a Primary Care Doctor. Whether you are a family medicine doctor, an internist, or a pediatrician, the “generalist” type of work can be exciting for someone that doesn’t want to specialize in a narrow field. Additionally, PCPs often build relationships with their patients due to frequent check-ups over the years which creates a personal and social aspect to the job.
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