General practitioner
General Practitioner
A General Practitioner (pronounced: jen-er-uhl prak-tish-uh-ner), often abbreviated as GP, is a medical doctor who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education to patients.
Etymology
The term "General Practitioner" originates from the general practice of medicine, where a doctor treats a wide range of medical conditions rather than specializing in a specific area of medicine. The term "practitioner" comes from the Latin "practicare", meaning "to perform".
Role and Responsibilities
A General Practitioner's main role is to provide primary healthcare. They are often the first point of contact for patients within the healthcare system and as such, they play a crucial role in the early detection and management of medical conditions. GPs provide a continuous point of care for patients in the community and coordinate care with other specialists when necessary.
Education and Training
To become a General Practitioner, one must first complete a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS or MBChB) degree, followed by a two-year foundation program of general training. After this, they must complete specialist training in general practice which usually takes three years and leads to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
Related Terms
- Primary Care: The day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider.
- Family Medicine: A medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages.
- Internist: A specialist in internal medicine.
- Pediatrician: A medical practitioner specializing in children and their diseases.
- Obstetrician: A doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and a woman's reproductive system.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on General practitioner
- Wikipedia's article - General practitioner
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