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Ref: The Medical Profession.
Most kids always want to be doctors or take a related career. Understanding the expectations of this profession remains a critical issue for most people. Therefore, it is important to understand the employment prospects, typical jobs, advancement opportunities, salary range, career advantages/disadvantages, and typical responsibilities of doctors. Fidell notes that a doctor is responsible for diagnosing and treating patients for diseases and injuries (316). He or she starts the process of disease diagnosis by taking and reviewing the patient’s medical history before performing physical examinations and ordering for the necessary diagnostic tests. A doctor also initiates treatment and counsels the patients while prescribing medication and addressing additional health-related concerns. Together with other healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors work with one objective in mind- to provide the best care in terms of quality and timely delivery (Fidell 329).
In the United States, the labor department categorizes all doctors as surgeons and physicians. As at 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that surgeons and physicians hold approximately 708,300 job positions. The report indicated that medical doctors work primarily in hospitals, physician’s offices, government agencies, educational facilities, and outpatient centers. The BLS projects a faster than average employment growth rate of about 14 percentage for both surgeons and physicians between 2014 and 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics n.p.).
Many opportunities for advancement are available in the medical field including many receivership of basic research training from different fellowships. According to Whitehead, Brian and Zubin, medical doctors develop a proper foundation in research, which could enable them to take their experience to a different direction (756). For example, a doctor could use his or her interests in clinical medical practice as a stepping stone for research. The doctors with interest in fellowships often find opportunities before or immediately after completion of residency while others consider these scholarship programs during their practice. Moreover, in recent times, there has been a great potential for growth in research, which has influenced studies in areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology. Other programs provide fellows an opportunity to earn cutting-edge degrees in clinical research, quality improvement, public policy, public health, health studies or epidemiology (Whitehead et al. 756).
With a shortage in the number of qualified doctors globally, the profession has a relatively high stability. Competition among hospitals in the private and public sector as also improved payment packages for doctors over the years, with increasing better opportunities for those who also venture into private practice. As of 2016, the average salary for primary care physicians was $241,273. Physicians in medical specialty practice receive approximately $411, 852 while an average hospitalist earns a median salary of about $193,000 annually (BLS n.p.). Additionally, doctors command much respect in the society, particularly from individuals they have proffered their services. The personal attachment with patients provides personal satisfaction and also helps to provide better opportunities to act as family doctors. Besides, most countries provide doctors with comprehensive health insurance for them and their family.
However, even though a doctor’s salary often continues to increase throughout their career, many medical graduates often come out of the faculty of medicine with a high financial debt. The cost of studying in a medical school is high in terms of tuition and other expenditures, which often requires funding in terms of fee waivers and scholarships (Fidell 329). Moreover, although the available policies are meant to ensure caregivers meet the required threshold, the process of getting a medical license is a long. Nonetheless, overnight and emergency shifts detaches most practitioners from their families. Besides, losing a patient after a long struggle affects the emotional well-being of most doctors. Lastly, the long hours in their work, tough procedures, stressful working conditions, and many responsibilities often lead to anxiety and depression.
The typical responsibilities of doctors include taking the patients’ history, examining them, and ordering or performing diagnostic tests. Besides, they analyze the results from the lab, prescribe medication, administer treatment, and refer patients to other professionals in the healthcare system (Fidell 316). A degree of Doctor of Medicine is required for one to become a doctor, which often requires one to have completed four years of study at undergraduate level depending on the country and another four years in medical school and residency account. At the undergraduate level, an area of study preference depends on the choice one makes. Acceptance to medical school depends on whether one can pass the tests for medical college admission, which includes courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology. After meeting the medical school requirements, the residency program lasts between three to eight years. After the residency period, the individual who wishes to become highly specialized in a particular area of medicine may complete a fellowship program. Besides, doctors take the USMLE to be given professional licenses; this test assesses the doctors’ medical knowledge and abilities (Frenk et al. 1926).
Recommendations: For a student or anyone wishing to take the profession, it is crucial to meet with local area medical practitioners for informational talks. One should also find out the challenges in the field and the satisfaction that comes along with the work by carrying out voluntary services at healthcare establishments including nursing homes and local hospital. Volunteers an also assist local medical researchers in carrying out their research to help them understand key elements required for anyone willing to join the field. Moreover, one should also take on positions in leadership, at school or the community level, which will help them develop critical decision making skills. Therefore, as you encourage someone or personally decide to venture in this field, be ready to deal with its dynamics.
Yours Faithfully,
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Works Cited
Bureau of Labor Statistics. “U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, 17 Dec. 2015, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm. Accessed 13 May 2017.
Fidell, Linda S. “Sex Role Stereotypes and the American Physician.” Psychology of Women Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 3, 2010, pp. 313-330.
Frenk, Julio, et al. “Health Professionals for a New Century: Transforming Education to Strengthen Health Systems in an Interdependent World.” The Lancet, vol. 376, no. 9756, 2010, pp. 1923-1958.
Whitehead, Cynthia R., Brian D. Hodges, and Zubin Austin. “Captive on a Carousel: Discourses of ‘New’in Medical Education 1910–2010.” Advances in Health Sciences Education, vol. 18, no. 4, 2013, pp. 755-768.
