A Day in the Life of a Physician

A doctor lives a very unpredictable life. While she may have a schedule, there is no way that they can know what may come their way throughout the day. Every day holds different challenges, so staying on track and doing the necessary routines can be a challenge. However, there are appointments to keep, forms to maintain and phone calls to make. A doctor must do his best to get everything done in a twenty-four hour period while still taking care of himself.

Most doctors begin their work days at home. By taking their reports and files home, they can often get more done in a relaxed and comfortable setting. That way, they can avoid phone calls and interruptions while they get their paperwork done. Physicians will also use this time to fill out referral forms to other specialists and doctors.

The first stop of the day is generally the hospital, where the physician will look over laboratory, X-Ray and CAT scan reports that have come in over throughout the night. Some reports and calls will require immediate attention, while other paperwork will be taken care of during the day. Some of the reports may require calling in a pharmaceutical prescription for patients.

Of course, doctors spend a good part of their days seeing patients and attending to their needs. As much as doctors try to keep up with their appointment schedules, they also have to deal with emails, phone calls, emergencies and fax reports from labs. As an example, a doctor may see his first patient at 9 am, but then he receives a phone call requesting a report on another patient. In order for the physician to take care of all of her patients properly, she must respond to requests for lab reports and prescriptions. The same thing applies for phone calls from hospitals, other doctors and patients. Only after these are completed can the doctor move on to the next patient.

Throughout the day, there are going to be many types of patients that visit a doctor. There will also be very ill patients who must be transferred to the hospital or go to a laboratory for further testing. These patients are often directed to a nurse who will make the necessary calls and give them the proper paperwork for the next step. After testing is complete, the doctor will either release the patient or order more lab tests, order medication, physical therapy or a treatment plan.

Then there are the patients who need a diagnosis and prescription for medication. A doctor's visit is required to get treatment, even though the patient often has a good idea of what is wrong. They are often shorter visits that don't require much time.

Many patients make a doctor's appointment for a fairly unimportant health problem, but then want to discuss personal problems with their doctor. These are the patients who may be complaining of a sore throat, stomach ache or headache. Sometimes they just need a listening ear because they are tired or stressed. The doctor will have to take more time with these patients because they need to talk about what is going on in their lives. If the doctor has time to listen to the patient, he can help put the patient's mind to rest. By listening and advising the patient to reduce stress or rest more, the patient will leave feeling relieved, comforted and thankful for the kind words of his physician.

Physical exams is another task in the day of a busy doctor. These visits involve a patient who is not sick, but someone who needs to know that there are not any problems. It could be for sport, college, a job or other reasons. The doctor must simple make sure that the patient is in good health, with no obvious medical problems. The doctor will do a complete general physical of the patient's body, addressing any concerns that the patient may have. This may involve some blood work or testing, but nothing intensive or specific. These types of tests are more generic in nature, but will help to show if there are any problems. The doctor will only order more blood work if something unusual appears through these basic tests.

Physicians will answer calls, fill out reports, attend to lab reports and see patients throughout the day. There's just not much time to relax or rest. Every doctor must take some time during the day to get away from patients and papers and just relax. Of course, there is no typical day, as every patient is different and every situation requires a new set of instructions and reactions. A physician's day is busy, mixed with both the predictable and unpredictable.


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