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Geriatric physician vs family practitioner

The differences between geriatric physicians and family practitioners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a geriatric physician and a family practitioner. Additionally, a geriatric physician has an average salary of $210,898, which is higher than the $180,399 average annual salary of a family practitioner.

The top three skills for a geriatric physician include patient care, EMR and nursing home. The most important skills for a family practitioner are family medicine, patients, and family practice.

Geriatric physician vs family practitioner overview

Geriatric PhysicianFamily Practitioner
Yearly salary$210,898$180,399
Hourly rate$101.39$86.73
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs38,49850,599
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

What does a geriatric physician do?

A geriatric physician is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease ailments in elderly patients. To be precise, they are a primary care doctor specially trained in the aging process. They may be required to plan the successful transfers of patients from the hospital, educate patients on how they can stay active and healthy, and ensure patients are up to date with necessary health tips.

What does a family practitioner do?

Family practitioners are medical professionals who are responsible for providing care for an entire family in small and rural communities. By using their knowledge in the medical profession, these doctors are required to diagnose and treat a variety of medical issues while referring patients to an appropriate specialist if medical problems are outside their range of practice. They must participate in well-care visits with their patients to monitor the development of their health as well as perform routine tests such as cholesterol tests and blood pressure readings. Family practitioners must also help women give birth to a child.

Geriatric physician vs family practitioner salary

Geriatric physicians and family practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Geriatric PhysicianFamily Practitioner
Average salary$210,898$180,399
Salary rangeBetween $104,000 And $423,000Between $90,000 And $359,000
Highest paying CityAnderson, SCPhiladelphia, PA
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaFlorida
Best paying companyFreeman Health SystemPeaceHealth
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between geriatric physician and family practitioner education

There are a few differences between a geriatric physician and a family practitioner in terms of educational background:

Geriatric PhysicianFamily Practitioner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Geriatric physician vs family practitioner demographics

Here are the differences between geriatric physicians' and family practitioners' demographics:

Geriatric PhysicianFamily Practitioner
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 21.1% Female, 78.9%Male, 40.1% Female, 59.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 20.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 19.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between geriatric physician and family practitioner duties and responsibilities

Geriatric physician example responsibilities.

  • Initiate new treatment protocols for managing complex patients with co-morbid psychiatric and medical illnesses.
  • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
  • Assist physician with minor office surgeries and other various procedures ECG's and immunizations.

Family practitioner example responsibilities.

  • Manage family health problems, examine patients, perform physical examination.
  • Manage conditions including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, asthma, and GERD.
  • Provide examination, testing, diagnosis, treatment, referral and follow- up care for newborn through geriatrics.
  • Provide residential care and emergency medical treatment to incapacitate elderly patients
  • Operate electrocardiogram equipment to administer diagnostic testing (EKG).
  • Ensure patient and family understanding of diagnosis treatment and all accompanying relevant information.
  • Show more

Geriatric physician vs family practitioner skills

Common geriatric physician skills
  • Patient Care, 30%
  • EMR, 28%
  • Nursing Home, 22%
  • Medical Care, 8%
  • Epic, 8%
  • Private Practice, 2%
Common family practitioner skills
  • Family Medicine, 32%
  • Patients, 25%
  • Family Practice, 12%
  • Internal Medicine, 8%
  • Urgent Care, 7%
  • Pediatrics, 6%

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