Physician

Common tasks

• Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
• Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
• Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
• Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
• Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
• Refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.
• Coordinate work with nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, and other health care providers.
• Plan, implement, or administer health programs or standards in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention or treatment of injury or illness.

Most important skills

Critical Thinking

Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

Reading Comprehension

Reading work-related information.

Active Listening

Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

Writing

Writing things for co-workers or customers.

Speaking

Talking to others.

Monitoring

Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

Judgment and Decision Making

Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

Complex Problem Solving

Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.