Ever wondered what doctors do when they’re not listening to your health concerns in the consulting room? Doctors have a plethora of tasks to get through each day along with hefty responsibilities. So, what happens on a typical day in the life of a physician?
Check diary
When a doctor arrives at hisar her surgery they will look over the diary and plan the day. Usually, there will be 20 or more patients booked in. If there is time, the Dr may look over a patient’s records to identify when they last saw a doctor and if there are any ongoing illnesses that may be the cause of their visit. They may also check if there are any home visits on the schedule.
See patients
The process of diagnosing patient conditions isn’t an easy one. A doctor will listen carefully to patients’ symptoms and concerns. They will use a variety of diagnostic techniques. These will usually be a combination of symptoms, patient history and the doctor’s own experience.
A doctor’s consulting room will usually consist of various instruments that help them make an accurate diagnosis. Instruments such as thermometers, microscopes, blood pressure monitors and stethoscopes are all used to identify common illnesses. There is usually a bed for appropriate internal examinations.
A doctor’s day is never dull and it can be hard to find time to fit everything in. With patients to see all day, it can be tricky for physicians to keep track of CCM programs to support and increase the merit-based incentive payment system, so being organised is essential to provide a good service, provide excellent care, and still try to maximise Medicare reimbursements.
Doctors must be patient and kind to patients. Most doctors will have impeccable people skills as part of their duty of care. They should also be able to communicate complex ideas to patients who are less knowledgeable.
Writing prescriptions
Doctors will spend some of their days writing prescriptions for patients. They may need antibiotics or a top-up of regular medicine. There is a code that is learned at medical school to make this task easier – it’s a language shared by medical professionals and pharmacists.
Check results
Sometimes patients are sent to the hospital for tests such as x-rays, scans, ECGs, or samples of blood or urine are sent to the lab for diagnosis. Part of a doctor’s daily tasks is to identify results and contact patients if there needs to be further investigation or treatment. The tests can reveal a lot about people’s health such as how certain organs are functioning and the presence of infection. X-rays pick up any broken bones as well as certain gastrointestinal disorders.
A doctor will often liaise with the radiographer if there are some concerning findings and discuss options and treatments before talking to the patient.
Life as a doctor can be demanding, but it’s also a very rewarding career. Doctors enjoy the satisfaction of providing a caring service to the community and are respected for the great work they do.
