The Busy Life of a Family and General Practitioner: How Many Hours Do They Work?
The number of hours that a family doctor or general practitioner (GP) works can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the specific practice or clinic where they work, and the number of patients they see per day. In general, family doctors and GPs work full-time hours, which can range from 30 to 40 hours per week, although it may be more or less.
A typical working day for a family or general practitioner (GP) might involve seeing patients in the office for check-ups, consultations, and follow-up visits. GPs also typically handle phone and email consultations, order and review lab tests, and write prescriptions. They may also spend time documenting patient information in electronic medical records, communicating with other healthcare providers, and attending meetings or continuing education courses.
Private practice
Many family doctors and GPsr working in a private practice may have a schedule that includes clinic hours and some administrative tasks. They may also choose to work evenings or weekends to accommodate patient needs. Their specific tasks and schedule may vary depending on the size and type of the practice, but a possible example of a typical day for a family doctor in a private practice is:
8:00 am - Arrive at the office and review patient charts for the day
9:00am - Begin seeing patients in the clinic for follow-up visits, new consultations, and taking history, examination, and making diagnosis.
11:00am - Review test results, communicate with other healthcare providers such as specialists, order lab work and imaging studies.
12:00pm - Take a lunch break
1:00pm - Continue seeing patients in the clinic
3:00 pm - Attend meetings with practice staff or complete administrative tasks, such as returning phone calls, managing patient records and billing.
5:00pm - End of clinic hours
Note that this is just an example and that the schedule and tasks for a family doctor in a private practice can vary greatly depending on the size, type and location of the practice.
In a hospital-based practice, family doctors and GPs may work longer hours and may be required to be on call for emergencies. In this case, they may work 12-hour shifts, or be on call for 24 hours at a time.
In the general practice, some doctors may work in a group practice, where they share the on-call schedule, which can help to reduce the number of hours worked.
It's worth noting that the number of hours worked may vary depending on the country, as different countries have different systems of primary care, and different regulations for working hours.
It's important to note that regardless of the number of hours worked, family doctors and GPs are responsible for providing comprehensive care to their patients, and should be available to respond to patient needs in a timely manner.