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Family practice physician vs general practice

The differences between family practice physicians and general practices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a family practice physician, becoming a general practice takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a family practice physician has an average salary of $205,717, which is higher than the $117,178 average annual salary of a general practice.

The top three skills for a family practice physician include patients, family practice and primary care. The most important skills for a general practice are patients, private practice, and internal medicine.

Family practice physician vs general practice overview

Family Practice PhysicianGeneral Practice
Yearly salary$205,717$117,178
Hourly rate$98.90$56.34
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs55,01655,666
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Average age4848
Years of experience46

What does a family practice physician do?

Family practice physicians provide comprehensive medical care services to each family member. These services may include disease diagnosis and treatment, family planning, and immunizations. They typically have undergone specialty training on the various primary care disciplines, including preventive care, pediatric medicine, and OB care. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses and medical conditions, providing routine health screenings, and advising patients on lifestyle changes to prevent diseases. Family practice physicians supervise physician assistants, medical assistants, and nurses and coordinate with occupational and rehabilitation therapists on a patient's behalf.

What does a general practice do?

A general practitioner handles common medical health conditions of patients and refers them to hospitals and specialists for urgent treatment. They are commonly referred to as a family doctor or physician. They are often the first point of contact for anyone with a physical or mental health challenge. They may be expected to carry out clinical examinations of patients to access and diagnose disease, perform the necessary tests, interpret findings, and recommend a treatment plan.

Family practice physician vs general practice salary

Family practice physicians and general practices have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family Practice PhysicianGeneral Practice
Average salary$205,717$117,178
Salary rangeBetween $136,000 And $310,000Between $58,000 And $234,000
Highest paying CityFargo, ND-
Highest paying stateNorth Dakota-
Best paying companyCentral Ohio Primary Care-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between family practice physician and general practice education

There are a few differences between a family practice physician and a general practice in terms of educational background:

Family Practice PhysicianGeneral Practice
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Most common majorMedicineAdvanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Southern California

Family practice physician vs general practice demographics

Here are the differences between family practice physicians' and general practices' demographics:

Family Practice PhysicianGeneral Practice
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 37.8% Female, 62.2%Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 25.0% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between family practice physician and general practice duties and responsibilities

Family practice physician example responsibilities.

  • Manage conditions including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, asthma, and GERD.
  • Provide and perform x-rays and EKG upon doctor's request.
  • Perform EHR practice assessments and work and documentation flow analysis and redesign.
  • Review EHR on an as needed basis per missing information or documentation.
  • Review and help select EMR and transition providers and clinics to the new system.
  • Float to various departments such as the emergency room, ICU, and geriatric psych.
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General practice example responsibilities.

  • Set up OSHA plan for the office, and lead OSHA training.
  • Provide comprehensive quality health care by utilizing skills in pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology.
  • Provide technical guidance to promote educational programs on HIV prevention and diabetes and hypertension prevention and management.
  • Fix prosthetics focusing on crown and bridge.
  • Fix and removable dentures, both complete and partial dentures.
  • General floor care including 12 lead EKG's, medication delivery, ABG sampling.
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Family practice physician vs general practice skills

Common family practice physician skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Family Practice, 19%
  • Primary Care, 14%
  • Urgent Care, 11%
  • EMR, 8%
  • Internal Medicine, 4%
Common general practice skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Private Practice, 13%
  • Internal Medicine, 10%
  • Emergency Room, 6%
  • IV, 5%
  • Restorative Dentistry, 5%

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