Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
What is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians, also known as physiatrists, are medical doctors specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with physical impairments and disabilities. They focus on restoring function and improving quality of life through a comprehensive approach that considers the whole person, including their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Physiatrists employ a variety of treatments, including physical therapy, medications, and injections, and they are skilled in developing personalized rehabilitation programs tailored to the specific needs of each patient. They work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals, to ensure coordinated care. Their expertise is often sought after in the treatment of conditions arising from musculoskeletal disorders, neurological injuries, sports injuries, and chronic pain, as well as rehabilitation after surgery or other medical procedures.
Tasks
- Document examination results, treatment plans, and patients' outcomes.
- Examine patients to assess mobility, strength, communication, or cognition.
- Assess characteristics of patients' pain, such as intensity, location, or duration, using standardized clinical measures.
- Provide inpatient or outpatient medical management of neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal trauma, acute and chronic pain, deformity or amputation, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or other disabling conditions.
- Monitor effectiveness of pain management interventions, such as medication or spinal injections.
Technology Skills
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Medical software
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution
- Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE
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Electronic mail software
- Email software
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Word processing software
- Microsoft Word
Tools Used
- Pedal exercisers for rehabilitation or therapy
- Electrotherapy combination units
- Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs
- Therapeutic balls
- Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
Knowledge
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Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
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Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Skills
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Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Abilities
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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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Doctoral degree
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Post-doctoral training
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Bachelor's degree
Work Activities
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Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
- Record patient medical histories.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
- Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
- Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
- Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Work Interests
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Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
New job opportunities are likely in the future. : Average
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.