The Job of a Doctor: What Doctors Do and about their Professions

A doctor is in charge of all aspects of a patient’s care. They work in clinics, hospitals (either government or private), and medical centers. They educate, diagnose, and treat patients to provide the best possible care. A doctor’s main responsibilities include:

• Recommending specialists for patients
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Documenting a patient’s medical history
• Educating patients

In addition, they must administer vaccines and other treatments to patients. A doctor’s career path could lead to positions like head of research or hospital president. 

A doctor should have at least four years of experience and a doctorate degree from a certified medical school. The ability to diagnose patients is one of the most important skills a doctor should have. Another skill that doctors will need is empathy, as they will need to relate to their patients. They must also be able to multitask while working with a variety of patients. 

Their jobs vary depending on their specialties and work environment. While emergency room doctors work in high-stress, fast-paced environments, many family doctors can set their own timetables in a private medical care practice. Helping ill or injured people can be very rewarding, but the job can also be stressful and emotionally draining. 

How to become a doctor

To become doctors, candidates must first pass NEET. The applicants can then take admissions to UG or PG courses to become doctors. The following requirements must be met in order to become a doctor in India or abroad. The following are the basic characteristics that an aspirant should possess: 

• Aspirants must have bachelor’s degrees from recognized medical colleges in India, followed by NEET PG, INI-CET for higher studies.
• A medical degree is required (DM, MD).
• A license from the state licensing board is required.
• An aspirant should have at least three years of experience.
• Should have a certificate in a specialized field.

Types of doctors 

We have seen specialists for a variety of reasons, and they do work as per their specialization. Doctors can specialize further after their residencies by pursuing fellowships, in addition to choosing their field of practice. For instance, a surgeon can specialize in orthopedic surgery, and an oncologist can specialize in a specific type of cancer. While they do not have a breakdown of every specialist, below is a list of the common types of doctors that can serve as a starting point when researching your future specialty. 

Podiatrist

Specialists in lower limbs and feet, podiatrists manage and cure pain, diseases, and injuries of the feet. 

General Practitioner

General practitioners frequently work as primary care physicians, see their patients on a regular basis, and are up to date about their patients’ medical histories. 

Pediatrician

Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in patients under the age of 18. Pediatricians are in charge of the health and development of both infants and older children.

Endocrinologist

Endocrinologists are experts in glands and the hormones they produce. Thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, and reproductive health are all common conditions treated by endocrinologists. 

Rheumatologist

A specialist in internal medicine for joints, muscles, and bones, a rheumatologist is unique in the sense that he/she focuses on the source of the problem as well as the body’s overall movement and health. 

Orthopedics

These specialists typically concentrate on more severe cases of pain and injury. We’ll deal with orthopedists in greater detail later. One of the most common reasons for seeing a rheumatologist is arthritis, but such specialists also work with patients who have tendinitis, lupus, gout, and other chronic pain conditions. Read More about Orthopedics

Immunologist

Immunologists specialize in treating allergies and immune system diseases such as asthma. If over-the-counter medications do not relieve your allergies, you should consult an allergist. You may also consult an immunologist if you require ongoing assistance in managing an autoimmune disease, such as Celiac disease, myasthenia gravis, gout, etc. 

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are solely concerned with mental health. If a patient believes that he/she is suffering from a mental illness, he/she should consult a psychiatrist. People usually seek out psychiatrists on their own, but some primary care physicians are now including mental health screenings in yearly checkups and may provide referrals.

Gynecologists

Obstetricians specialize in pregnancy and childbirth. Whereas gynecologists deal in diseases of the female reproductive organs. Doctors frequently specialize in both so that they can provide comprehensive reproductive medicine to their patients. Common reasons for seeing gynecologists include needing a contraceptive method, having irregular period symptoms or pelvic pain or needing prenatal care. 

Surgeon

The primary function of surgeons is to perform surgeries. They examine a patient’s health and medical history before developing a surgical plan that prioritizes safety and recovery. They also coordinate with other kinds of personnel involved in surgery and collaborate with other physicians post-operatively. A surgeon may be consulted for a variety of reasons. Except for emergency surgery, surgeries are usually scheduled in advance. Major and minor surgeries have varying recovery times.

Surgeons can specialize in a variety of fields of medicine – cardiovascular surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and emergency surgeons are common specializations. 

Role of doctors

Doctors do play an important role in our lives; we worship them as heroes who do not need to wear capes. Doctors at maternity hospitals and morgues certify births and deaths respectively. A doctor is a person who has extensive knowledge in the field of medical science and who applies and dedicates his/her knowledge to identifying a patient’s medical problem and then using his/her skill to prevent or cure it. Doctors’ contribution to human health is unparalleled, and the rich culture of the medicinal world is still flourishing in this day and age. So, let’s look at how doctors play a vital role in our lives. They work to save lives, improve life quality, control epidemics, etc. 

Role of a doctor as a medical teacher 

The function of doctors as teachers is gradually being recognized as a fundamental professional activity. Teaching is crucial at all stages of the medical path, from formal classroom-based learning at the undergraduate level to informal clinical instruction. However, there is no institutional prerequisite or pre-defined path for doctors to become qualified teachers. Teaching, along with research and clinical practice, is a primary obligation for medical academics. The obligation to integrate teaching, research, and clinical activities places tremendous demands on them. 

Role of a doctor as documenting a patient’s medical history 

Documentation in the medical record serves several functions, including communication between healthcare providers, evidence of patient treatment, and justification for provider claims. The first two keep physicians from having to pay settlements involving malpractice charges, while the last one helps them secure appropriate remuneration for services delivered. 

The following are the general concepts of medical record documentation: 

• A medical record should be thorough and readable. 
• Documentation of each patient visit should include, at the very least, the following:
• (i) rationale of diagnostics 
• (ii) record the progress report of a patient 

Conclusion 

A doctor is someone who devotes his skills and knowledge to the prevention and treatment of diseases, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of human health. Doctors have always been in high demand and valued by society. Because there are so many people interested in pursuing medical education, competition in medical schools is fierce. However, this does not discourage current students from pursuing medical careers. DBMCI provides an online platform for NEET PG/NEXT/INI-CET/ FMGE exam. Video Lectures, Test Series, Question Banks, and MCQs curated by quality faculties are provided for students. Aspirants can post their questions and get answers at any time 24*7. eGurukul was developed with the idea to provide students with preparation resources with which they can prepare for competitive exams from anywhere, anytime.  

FAQs 

Q1- Can pharmacists be considered doctors? 

A1- A pharmacist holds a diploma, bachelor’s, and a doctorate in pharmacy, known as a PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy. A doctorate is required for many professions (for example, a professor, a psychologist, etc). However, they are not “doctors” in the same way that medical doctors are. Their work is to formulate, dispense, and compound drugs. Whereas doctors are meant to treat patients and cure their diseases.  

Q2. What are doctors called?

A1- The other names of doctors are Physician, Medical Practitioner, clinician, Medico, Surgeon.

Q3- Is it mandatory to appear for Medical Entrance Exams to become Doctor?

A2 – Yes, it is mandatory to appear for the medical exams like NEET, NEET PG, INI-CET, FMGE etc.