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What does an associate doctor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
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Associate doctor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real associate doctor resumes:

  • Manage the movement of patient's through the ER from triage to discharge or to the floor once admit.
  • Educate patients in home therapy, ergonomic work station correction and therapeutic exercise programs.
  • Work in conjunction with orthopedic medical doctor in the treatment of injure patients and rehabilitation.
  • Implement therapy treatment protocols for a neurosurgeon for post lumbar and cervical fusion and laminectomies surgeries.
  • Implement therapy treatment protocols for a neurosurgeon for post lumbar and cervical fusion and laminectomies surgeries.

Associate doctor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 51% of Associate Doctors are proficient in Patients, Chiropractic, and Physical Exams. They’re also known for soft skills such as Empathy, Interpersonal skills, and Dexterity.

We break down the percentage of Associate Doctors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 51%

    Educated patients on a daily basis regarding specific conditions, techniques utilized and general wellness through Chiropractic.

  • Chiropractic, 10%

    Presented health workshops/screenings at local community centers in order to educate others about chiropractic health care.

  • Physical Exams, 7%

    Perform physical examinations, radiographic studies and consultations.

  • Pain Management, 5%

    Furthered expert knowledge of pain management.

  • Private Practice, 4%

    Enjoyed successful private practice until I sold it for asking price in 1999.

  • Patient Education, 3%

    Led patient education/sales seminars to audiences of over 100 on a routine basis.

Most associate doctors use their skills in "patients," "chiropractic," and "physical exams" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential associate doctor responsibilities here:

Empathy. The most essential soft skill for an associate doctor to carry out their responsibilities is empathy. This skill is important for the role because "chiropractors often care for people who are in pain." Additionally, an associate doctor resume shows how their duties depend on empathy: "evaluated student interaction to identify their understanding of the presented diagnosis. "

Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling associate doctor duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "chiropractors must be personable in order to put patients at ease and expand their practice." According to an associate doctor resume, here's how associate doctors can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "performed as connection between patients and physicians to tactfully determine matters exercising well-built communications and interpersonal skills. "

Dexterity. This is an important skill for associate doctors to perform their duties. For an example of how associate doctor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "chiropractors must have good coordination when performing manual adjustments to a patient's spine and other joints." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an associate doctor: "managed care of patients by performing physical examinations, hands-on treatment, creating narrative reports, and delegating short/long-term treatment plans. ".

Detail oriented. For certain associate doctor responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of an associate doctor rely on this skill, as "chiropractors must pay attention when diagnosing and treating patients to avoid mistakes that could harm them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what associate doctors do: "performed detailed patient interviews and thorough examinations for patients reporting neurological or orthopedic complaints. "

Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in associate doctor job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what associate doctors do. Associate doctor responsibilities rely on this skill because "chiropractors must listen to patients and explain procedures clearly both orally and in written reports." You can also see how associate doctor duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "trained new and existing staff on new computer systems and facilitated communication between clinic and system support specialists. "

See the full list of associate doctor skills

The three companies that hire the most associate doctors are:

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Compare different associate doctors

Associate doctor vs. Chiropractic physician

A chiropractic assistant is an employee who works directly under a senior chiropractor by providing administrative support and clinical assistance. Chiropractic assistants maintain order in the clinic's waiting room by greeting their patients and checking them in for appointments. They are often specially trained to assist patients with x-rays and take their vital signs. Since chiropractic assistants usually deal with patients, they must able to communicate well and have the ability to stay calm under pressure.

If we compare the average associate doctor annual salary with that of a chiropractic physician, we find that chiropractic physicians typically earn a $95,636 higher salary than associate doctors make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both associate doctor and chiropractic physician positions are skilled in patients, physical exams, and private practice.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, associate doctor responsibilities require skills like "chiropractic," "pain management," "practice management," and "patient history." Meanwhile a typical chiropractic physician has skills in areas such as "physical therapy," "rehabilitation," "diagnosis," and "soft tissue." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Chiropractic physicians earn the highest salaries when working in the non profits industry, with an average yearly salary of $199,088. On the other hand, associate doctors are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $64,154.chiropractic physicians tend to reach similar levels of education than associate doctors. In fact, chiropractic physicians are 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Associate doctor vs. Chiropractic internship

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who provides care and relief to patients with neuromusculoskeletal problems by re-aligning the spine and adjusting other joints. Your duties typically include working with patients on their lifestyle, guiding them on nutrition, exercise, and sleeping habits, and evaluating patients' condition based on their medical history and symptoms. Additionally, you will be responsible for examining the spine and posture, running tests and taking X-rays, and using massage, heat, and cold therapy to treat patients.

On average, chiropractic interns earn a $17,109 higher salary than associate doctors a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Associate doctors and chiropractic interns both require similar skills like "patients," "physical exams," and "patient education" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that associate doctor responsibilities requires skills like "chiropractic," "pain management," "private practice," and "practice management." But a chiropractic internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "soft tissue," "ultrasound," "physical therapy modalities," and "activator."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Chiropractic interns tend to reach similar levels of education than associate doctors. In fact, they're 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Associate doctor vs. Chiropractor assistant

On average scale, chiropractor assistants bring in lower salaries than associate doctors. In fact, they earn a $22,328 lower salary per year.associate doctors and chiropractor assistants both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "patients," "patient education," and "patient exams," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, associate doctors are more likely to have skills like "chiropractic," "physical exams," "pain management," and "private practice." But a chiropractor assistant is more likely to have skills like "physical therapy," "scheduling patient appointments," "vital signs," and "insurance verification."

Chiropractor assistants make a very good living in the hospitality industry with an average annual salary of $33,469. On the other hand, associate doctors are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $64,154.Most chiropractor assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to associate doctors. For example, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 59.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Associate doctor vs. Chiropractor

Chiropractors tend to earn a lower pay than associate doctors by an average of $1,446 per year.While their salaries may vary, associate doctors and chiropractors both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "pain management," and "private practice. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "chiropractic," "physical exams," "patient exams," and "practice management" are skills that commonly show up on associate doctor resumes. On the other hand, chiropractors use skills like medical histories, spine, manual adjustments, and musculoskeletal system on their resumes.In general, chiropractors earn the most working in the professional industry, with an average salary of $64,134. The highest-paying industry for an associate doctor is the health care industry.chiropractors reach similar levels of education compared to associate doctors, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 15.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of associate doctor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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