How to become a Specialist Medical Practitioner
Specialist medical practitioners (specialists) diagnose and treat physical and mental illnesses and disorders using specialised testing and diagnostic, medical and surgical techniques.
Personal requirements for a Specialist Medical Practitioner
- Good communication skills
- Self-confidence
- Able to exercise high ethical standards
- Able to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds
- Compassionate towards others
- Able to work independently
- A high degree of motivation and self-discipline
- A supportive and professional approach when treating patients
- Able to cope with the physical demands of the job.
Duties & Tasks of a Specialist Medical Practitioner
Depending on their field of specialisation, specialist medical practitioners may perform the following tasks:
- Diagnose diseases and disorders by examining patients referred by other medical practitioners, using the results of laboratory and other tests
- Take blood and tissue samples, examine samples under microscopes and perform microscopic examinations of bacterial cultures using X-ray and other imaging techniques for diagnostic purposes
- Prescribe and administer medication
- Administer anaesthetic and monitor patients throughout surgical procedures and post-operative recovery
- Operate on patients using specialist surgical procedures
- Treat diseases and disorders of the skin
- Treat organic or congenital diseases and disorders of the eye
- Treat medical and developmental diseases and disorders in children and adolescents
- Provide obstetric and gynaecological care
- Talk to patients to determine the nature of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders
- Examine internal structure and organs using radiological techniques such as X-ray and ultrasound
- Work closely with other health professionals caring for the patient.
Working conditions for a Specialist Medical Practitioner
When caring for patients, specialist medical practitioners work with many other health professionals. Working conditions are usually comfortable, although specialists may sometimes deal with unpleasant conditions due to a patient's injury or illness. Depending on their area of specialisation, specialist medical practitioners may have to work long, demanding and irregular hours. This may include working on weekends and at night or being on call 24 hours a day. Adopting strict hygiene practices is important.
Specializations
Specialist medical practitioners practise in a range of special interest areas, including anaestheology, dermatology, gynaecology and obstetrics, internal medicine, ophthalmology, paediatrics, pathology, psychiatry, radiology and surgery.
Specialist Medical Practitioner
Specialist medical practitioners (specialists) diagnose and treat physical and mental illnesses and disorders using specialised testing and diagnostic, medical and surgical techniques.
