Post job

Geriatric physician vs medical doctor

The differences between geriatric physicians and medical doctors 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 medical doctor. Additionally, a geriatric physician has an average salary of $210,898, which is higher than the $181,967 average annual salary of a medical doctor.

The top three skills for a geriatric physician include patient care, EMR and nursing home. The most important skills for a medical doctor are patients, patient care, and internal medicine.

Geriatric physician vs medical doctor overview

Geriatric PhysicianMedical Doctor
Yearly salary$210,898$181,967
Hourly rate$101.39$87.48
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs38,49860,642
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 56%
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 medical doctor do?

A Medical Doctor, also known as a physician, is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats patients from injuries and illnesses. As a Medical Doctor, your day-to-day duties will typically include assessing a patient's symptoms, prescribing and administering treatment to patients, and providing follow-up medical care to patients. You will be responsible for interpreting patients' laboratory results and referring them to other providers when needed. Also, you will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals and promote health education.

Geriatric physician vs medical doctor salary

Geriatric physicians and medical doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Geriatric PhysicianMedical Doctor
Average salary$210,898$181,967
Salary rangeBetween $104,000 And $423,000Between $95,000 And $347,000
Highest paying CityAnderson, SCBrownsville, TX
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaNew Jersey
Best paying companyFreeman Health SystemPacific Medical Centers
Best paying industryHealth CareTransportation

Differences between geriatric physician and medical doctor education

There are a few differences between a geriatric physician and a medical doctor in terms of educational background:

Geriatric PhysicianMedical Doctor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Geriatric physician vs medical doctor demographics

Here are the differences between geriatric physicians' and medical doctors' demographics:

Geriatric PhysicianMedical Doctor
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 21.1% Female, 78.9%Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%
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 medical doctor 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.

Medical doctor example responsibilities.

  • Partner with team to achieve overall well-being patients and contribute to successful department research accreditation.
  • Perform selection and interpretation of labs including EKG readings, diagnostic imaging, blood work, and urinalyses.
  • Batch to clearing house, upload files from insurance, data entry answer phones, collect payments over phone, EMR.
  • Examine patients, order laboratory test and other diagnostic procedures and follow up with acute and chronic diseases
  • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
  • Perform and interpret ECG test.
  • Show more

Geriatric physician vs medical doctor skills

Common geriatric physician skills
  • Patient Care, 30%
  • EMR, 28%
  • Nursing Home, 22%
  • Medical Care, 8%
  • Epic, 8%
  • Private Practice, 2%
Common medical doctor skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Internal Medicine, 7%
  • Primary Care, 7%
  • Diagnosis, 4%
  • Medical History, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs