family physician

Work setting

• Private practice
• Clinic

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals
• Examine patients’ health condition to identify diseases and injuries
• Help patients develop healthy habits, break old habits and reshape their approach to wellness
• Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures to determine the most appropriate medical treatment
• Consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
• Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
• Inoculate and vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases
• Advise patients on health care
• Report births, deaths, contagious and other diseases to government authorities
• Co-ordinate or manage primary patient care
• Provide acute care management
• Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues
• Provide emergency care

Credentials

Certificates, licences, memberships, and courses 

• College of Family Physicians Certification (CCFP)
• Licensure by provincial or territorial authorities