PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS California Occupational Guide Number 319 Interest Area 13 1995
THE JOB
PHYSICIANS diagnose and treat human diseases, using all types of medical equipment, instruments, and tests, following standard medical procedures. They engage in research to aid in the control and cure of diseases, prescribe and administer medication, and perform surgery. They develop and test new surgical, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, and investigate new drugs and medications. Physicians are classified according to their specialty or type of practice.
General Practitioners diagnose and treat a wide variety of physical illnesses and are knowledgeable in many fields of medicine and rehabilitation of the physically challenged. When General Practitioners encounter patients with complex problems they often refer them to specialists.
Specialists are Physicians who have completed advanced hospital training as postgraduates (formally known as interns and residents) in specific areas of medicine. Today, there are 40 major fields of specialization recognized by the American Medical Association. The most common specialties, which account for more than 50 percent of the total number of practicing physicians, are described below:
Internal Medicine: The diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs such as the heart, liver, and lungs. General Surgery: Manual and operative procedures to correct deformities, defects, and injuries. Psychiatry: The treatment and prevention of disorders of the mind, including psychoses and neuroses. Obstetrics and Gynecology: The care of women during and after pregnancy and delivery, and the treatment of diseases of female organs. Pediatrics: The branch of medicine dealing with the development and care of infants and children, and with the treatment of their diseases. Radiology: The use of radiant energy including X-rays, radium, and Cobalt 60 for treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Anesthesiology: Administration of various forms of anesthetic drug for diagnosis or during surgery operations. Ophthalmology: The branch of medicine dealing with diseases or defects of the eye. Orthopedic Surgery: The diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of diseases, fractures and deformities of the bones and joints. Family Practice: Physicians in this specialty are concerned with the health-care needs of families. During a three-year residency, doctors in this specialty become proficient in general medicine, community medicine, nutrition, and the behavioral sciences, with emphasis on marriage counseling and family problems. They are capable of caring for 90 percent of all problems presented to them by patients. The field of Nuclear Medicine is another growing specialty for Physicians, who perform tests using nuclear isotopes and use techniques that let them see and understand organs deep within the body.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Physicians' working conditions depend primarily on geographical area, hospital facilities, and the physician's specialty. Their offices and treatment rooms are usually well-lighted, air-conditioned, and equipped with the necessary instruments and supplies.
Physicians usually work in their offices or in hospitals. When on call, they must make their whereabouts known, carry electronic pagers, and be available at all times.
Most Physicians belong to the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association and to the affiliated district, county, and state organizations. In addition to the above associations, medical associations exist for specialists.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 51,330 Estimated number of workers in 2005 71,510 Projected Growth 1990-2005 39% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 21,790
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
By the year 2005, over 71,500 Physicians will be practicing in California. The numbers of Physicians is increasing faster than the average for all occupations in the state due to continued expansion of the health industry.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
The yearly net income earned by self-employed Physicians fluctuates according to the type, location, and size of practice. Private practice Physicians (including specialists) earn an average of $155,000 per year, according to a recent salary survey. Doctors employed by medical groups and health maintenance organizations earn, on average, about $45,000 less, per year but enjoy fringe benefits such as paid vacations, retirement programs, profit sharing, and educational sabbaticals on half-pay, in addition to working shorter hours.
Salaries for those employed by State and Federal governments range from $66,000 to $96,000 annually, depending on the training the Physician has received and the employer. They also receive the same fringe benefits enjoyed by group physicians.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS & TRAINING
Helpful high school courses for students planning to become doctors are biology, chemistry, physiology, and math. Many hospitals have volunteer programs for high school students during the school semester and summer. Some areas where students may receive supervised training are hospital laboratories, physical therapy departments, nursing services, and pharmacies.
Students must complete three years of college to qualify for any one of eight medical schools in California. Most students, however, have a Bachelor's degree when admitted to medical school.
Considerable weight is given on scholastic records, performance on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and recommendation of teachers and advisors regarding the applicant's motivation, emotional stability, and intellectual capacity. The number of applicants far exceeds the actual number of students accepted into medical school.
Academic requirements of California medical schools vary slightly, with most requiring a year or more each of biological science, chemistry, and physics. The University of California Medical Schools, with the exception of Irvine, require a year of English, and two schools (Davis and San Diego) require mathematics through calculus. In addition, a broad educational base of coursework that includes literature, history, art, and the social and behavioral sciences is recommended.
Medical doctors should be self-disciplined, conscientious and sensitive to the needs of their patients. They should be able to organize and evaluate information, write reports and work independently.
After obtaining the M.D. degree, doctors must meet the State Licensing requirements. In California, applicants must pass either the National Board of Medical Examiners exam or Federation Licensing Examination which is administered by the Medical Board of California. In certain cases, applicants are required to take an oral, or clinical and oral examination.
ADVANCEMENT
Physicians and Surgeons in private practice do not advance in their occupation in the traditional sense -- their progress is measured by their advancement in skill and understanding, in their numbers of patients, and in income. Appointments to teaching positions, medical boards, and hospital staffs are other forms of recognition. In civil service jobs, the annual raises within the classification provide one kind of advancement, and progress to supervisory or administrative jobs provides another.
FINDING THE JOB
Those seeking jobs as physicians should register with their local medical society and apply directly to county, state, and federal personnel departments. Many newly licensed physicians become associated with an established doctor and assist or share in the practice.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
American Medical Association 515 N. State Street Chicago, IL 60610
Association of American Medical Colleges 2450 N. Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
National Medical Association 1012 Tenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001
American Medical Women's Association 801 N. Fairfax Alexandria, VA 22314
California Medical Association P.O. Box 7690 San Francisco, CA 94120-7690 (415) 541-0900
Medical Board of California 1430 Howe Avenue Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 263-2499
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Pharmacists No. 159 Veterinarians No. 282
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev.); Anesthesiologist 070.101-010 General Practitioner 070.101-022 Internist 070.101-042 Psychiatrist 070.101-070 Surgeon 070.101-094
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Physicians and Surgeons 321020
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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