About the Role
A doctor is responsible for all sides of care of a patient. They diagnose, educate, and treat patients to ensure that they have the best possible care. A few of the main duties of a doctor are performing diagnostic tests, recommending specialists for patients, document patient's medical history, and educating patients. They also have to administer vaccines and other treatments. A doctor should have at least 4 years of experience in residency as well as a doctorate degree from an accredited medical school.
One of the most important skills that a doctor will have is their ability to diagnose their patients. Another skill is empathy as the doctor will need to relate to their patients. They also need to be able to multitask by working with several different patients.
Hospital doctors treat those who have been admitted or referred to hospital. Specific responsibilities vary greatly depending on the area of specialism, but can include the following:
Undertaking patient consultations and physical examinations
Organising workloads
Performing surgical procedures
Providing general pre- and post-operative care
Monitoring and administering medication
Assessing and planning treatment requirements
Liaising daily with staff including other doctors, non-medical management staff and healthcare professionals
Writing reports and maintaining records
Promoting health education
Managing a department
Leading a medical team
Keeping GPs informed about the care of their patients
Teaching and supervising trainee doctors
Hospital doctors can work in a number of specialties, including the following:
anasthetics
emergency medicine
general medicine
obstetrics and gynecology
pathology
pediatrics
psychiatry
surgery
trauma and orthopedics
Key skills
Ability to work long hours, often under pressure
Good practical skills
Ability to solve problems
Effective decision-making skills
Leadership and management skills
Communication skills, compassion and a good bedside manner
Drive to continue learning throughout career
Analytical ability
Time management