What does an occupational medicine physician do?
An occupational medicine physician is a health care professional who specializes in the management and prevention of occupational illnesses, injuries, and disabilities. As the occupational medicine physician, your duties typically include enhancing the health of workers through clinical care, preventive medicine, and education. In addition, you will assess and treat work-related illnesses, assist employers in identifying areas of risk for workers' health and safety. You will be responsible for evaluating the interaction between health and work.
Occupational medicine physician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real occupational medicine physician resumes:
- Initiate new treatment protocols for managing complex patients with co-morbid psychiatric and medical illnesses.
- Perform minor procedures including but not limit to suturing, stapling splinting, incision and drainage etc.
- Perform physical examinations and provide diagnosis and treatment for all work associate illnesses.
- Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
- Assist with managing chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, and CHF.
Occupational medicine physician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 39% of Occupational Medicine Physicians are proficient in DOT, EMR, and Internal Medicine. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Compassion, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Occupational Medicine Physicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- DOT, 39%
Performed Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluations and certifications resulting in the determination of appropriateness to perform a job.
- EMR, 26%
Involved in EPIC EMR planning, abstraction and go-live training Using EPIC EMR to see patients
- Internal Medicine, 14%
Supported the initial start-up operations and marketing of the Bellwood Internal Medicine office.
- Physical Examinations, 8%
Treat work related injuries, do physical examinations fo employment.
- OSHA, 6%
Experienced in On Job injury and OSHA standards and Return to work authorization.
- Clinical Care, 2%
Provided clinical care to the university's employees.
"dot," "emr," and "internal medicine" are among the most common skills that occupational medicine physicians use at work. You can find even more occupational medicine physician responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an occupational medicine physician to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what occupational medicine physicians do because "physicians and surgeons need to be excellent communicators." Additionally, an occupational medicine physician resume shows how occupational medicine physicians use communication skills: "maintained excellent inter-department communication to ensure quality patient care. "
Compassion. Another essential skill to perform occupational medicine physician duties is compassion. Occupational medicine physicians responsibilities require that "patients who are sick or injured may be in extreme pain or distress." Occupational medicine physicians also use compassion in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided competent, compassionate patient care and worked effectively as a member of the health care team. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of occupational medicine physicians is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday occupational medicine physician duties, as "patients must receive appropriate treatment and medications." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "established customer relations and managed client complaints in a pleasant manner- created and managed detailed weekly billing invoices for 400+ clients"
Dexterity. occupational medicine physician responsibilities often require "dexterity." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "physicians and surgeons may work with very precise and sometimes sharp tools, and mistakes can have serious consequences." This resume example shows what occupational medicine physicians do with dexterity on a typical day: "conducted hands-on minor surgical procedures such as homeostasis, debridement, suturing and dressing the wound. "
Leadership skills. A commonly-found skill in occupational medicine physician job descriptions, "leadership skills" is essential to what occupational medicine physicians do. Occupational medicine physician responsibilities rely on this skill because "physicians who work in their own practice must manage a staff of other professionals." You can also see how occupational medicine physician duties rely on leadership skills in this resume example: "observed patient care and learned about common diseases 42 hours shadowed total leadership positions"
Physical stamina. While "physical stamina" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to occupational medicine physician responsibilities. Much of what an occupational medicine physician does relies on this skill, seeing as "physicians and surgeons should be comfortable lifting or turning disabled patients, or performing other physical tasks." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of occupational medicine physicians: "performed physical examinations and evaluations related to occupational and personal injuries. "
The three companies that hire the most occupational medicine physicians are:
- Integrity Locums9 occupational medicine physicians jobs
- Provider Solutions & Development6 occupational medicine physicians jobs
- KPG4 occupational medicine physicians jobs
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Compare different occupational medicine physicians
Occupational medicine physician vs. Firefighter/paramedic
Firefighters/paramedics handle emergency triage, ensure patient stability, and acute medical assessment. These professionals provide emergency medical care to infant, child, and adult trauma and medical patients based on assessment findings. They manage paramedic/EMT continuing education programs. They are trained in HAZMAT response and do exercises on a monthly basis. It is their responsibility to coordinate blood-borne infection and CPR yearly skills training and re-certification for county volunteers and employees.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between occupational medicine physicians and firefighter/paramedic. For instance, occupational medicine physician responsibilities require skills such as "dot," "emr," "cme," and "internal medicine." Whereas a firefighter/paramedic is skilled in "patients," "cpr," "emt," and "fire suppression." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Firefighter/paramedics earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $56,312. On the other hand, occupational medicine physicians are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $200,176.firefighter/paramedics tend to reach lower levels of education than occupational medicine physicians. In fact, firefighter/paramedics are 17.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 32.5% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Occupational medicine physician vs. Physiatrist
Physiatrists must have a bachelor's degree in physical sciences or a related field, a M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and 4 to 7 years' internship and residency training specializing in rehab and physical medicine. This position pays annual salaries of around $58K to $370K. It requires skills in empathy, compassion, emotional resilience, monitoring, and strong initiative to work in challenging environments. Physiatrists diagnose illnesses, design plans for treatment, and prescribe various medicines.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that occupational medicine physician responsibilities requires skills like "dot," "emr," "cme," and "internal medicine." But a physiatrist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "rehabilitation," "physical medicine," and "patient care."
On average, physiatrists earn a higher salary than occupational medicine physicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, physiatrists earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $218,711. Whereas occupational medicine physicians have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $200,176.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Physiatrists tend to reach lower levels of education than occupational medicine physicians. In fact, they're 14.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 32.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Occupational medicine physician vs. Attending physiatrist, residency program director
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, occupational medicine physicians are more likely to have skills like "dot," "emr," "cme," and "internal medicine." But a attending physiatrist, residency program director is more likely to have skills like "community resources," "contract labor," "educational programs," and "social work."
Most attending physiatrist, residency program directors achieve a similar degree level compared to occupational medicine physicians. For example, they're 3.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 27.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Occupational medicine physician vs. Medical director acute rehabilitation unit physiatrist
Types of occupational medicine physician
Updated January 8, 2025
