Family Physicians and General Practitioners
(NOC 3112)
in All HealthFamily physicians and general Practitioners (GPs) diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuing and comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners and family physicians are included in this group.
Job Outlook
Good
Read more
Compared to: All Health
Health care demands from an aging population and a restricted supply of workers contribute to opportunities for this occupation. There are ongoing reports in the media of doctor shortages in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Health Authority has been actively recruiting, and some positions remain difficult to fill. Extensive recruiting may be necessary at times to fill a position.
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
$78,147
Minimum$197,386
Median$362,764
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.70
Minimum$26.60
Median$43.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Family physicians and general Practitioners (GPs) diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuing and comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners and family physicians are included in this group.
Job duties
Family physicians and general practitioners:
- 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 help 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.
- Coordinate 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.
Sample job titles
- doctor of medicine (MD)
- family doctor
- family physician
- general practitioner (GP)
- intern
- medical doctor
- medical officer of health (MOH)
- primary care physician
- public health physician
- resident physician
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.
Job requirements
- A bachelor's degree.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and two to three years of family medicine residency training are required.
- Completion of the qualifying examinations of the Medical Council of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
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. General practitioners and family physicians may become specialist physicians with additional training.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
N/ANorth Shore
N/AAnnapolis Valley
N/ACape Breton
N/ASouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Educational services
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
25-34
55-64
35-44
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$80,760 median annual incomeMaster
$88,481 median annual incomeDoctorate
$78,497 median annual incomeBachelor
N/AHigh school
N/ACompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Medical Scientist (MSc, PhD)
University ProgramThis includes any undifferentiated clinical science program that prepares graduated physicians (M.D. or D.O.) as research scientists in various areas.
Institutions providing this program
Medicine (MD)
University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of medicine, involving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body. They courses in the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, examination and diagnosis, patient communications, medical ethics and laws, professional standards, and rotations in specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesiology, family medicine, and psychiatry.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.