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The geriatrician is for the well-rounded, compassionate doctor that sees the patient as a whole focusing on the functionality, social and medical aspects of every patient. Your patients have the most life experience and each day at work you will learn new things, and hear new stories from your patients.
 
PERSONALITY
 

  • Patience

  • Thick skinned

  • Sense of humour.

  • Excellent communication skills

 
AVERAGE WEEK
 
On average a geriatrician will have a daily ward round, with 2 outpatient clinics per week with additional time spent for MDTs, teaching, and administrative tasks; returning to the ward in the afternoon for discussions with families and updates from other colleagues.
 
BEST BITS
 

  • Rehabilitating a patient back to independence is so rewarding, and elderly patients tend to be the most grateful.

  • Working as part of a team and making the team work effectively.

  • Being an advocate of fairness for the aged patient.

 
CHALLENGES
 

  • High mortality rate can be very difficult.

  • Often your patients will need a lot of social support which can take time to arrange, leading to long hospital admissions, which can be very frustrating.

  • Occasionally you will have to deal with inappropriate family expectations. 

Geriatrics cartoon doctor
Geriatrics Speciality Career Cartoon
WHAT THE FACT?
 

  • Patients over 75 years visit their doctors 3 times more often than those between 24-44 years old.

  • The ratio of women to men in the population over 85 is 2:1.

  • One of every 3 of the elderly will have a fall each year (but only half will tell their doctor).

  • Men and women live an average of 10 years longer than they did before the creation of the NHS in 1948.

 
OVERVIEW
 
Salary                          3
 
Competitive                 2
 
Variety in Work            4
 
Work Life Balance       4
 
 
FURTHER INFORMATION
 
British Geriatrics Society
NHS Medical Careers
Royal College of Physicians
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