About This Career

Diagnoses and provides nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provides care mainly for adults and adolescents, and are based primarily in an outpatient care setting.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Analyzes records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
• Treats internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
• Prescribes or administers medication, therapy, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
• Manages and treats common health problems, such as infections, influenza or pneumonia, as well as serious, chronic, and complex illnesses, in adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
• Provides and manages long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
• Explains procedures and discusses test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
• Advises patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
• Makes diagnoses when different illnesses occur together or in situations where the diagnosis may be obscure.
• Refers patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.
• Monitors patients' conditions and progress and reevaluates treatments as necessary.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Weekend work