The diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of diseases, fractures and deformities of the bones and joints. Physicians in this specialty are concerned with the health-care needs of families. During a three-year residency, doctors in this specialty become proficient in general medicine, community medicine, nutrition, and the behavioral sciences, with emphasis on marriage counseling and family problems. They are capable of caring for 90 percent of all problems presented to them by patients. The field of Nuclear Medicine is another growing specialty for Physicians, who perform tests using nuclear isotopes and use techniques that let them see and understand organs deep within the body.
Physicians usually work in their offices or in hospitals.
When on call, they must make their whereabouts known, carry electronic pagers, and be available at all times. Most Physicians belong to the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association and to the affiliated district, county, and state organizations. In addition to the above associations, medical associations exist for specialists. The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. By the year 2005, over 71,500 Physicians will be practicing in California.