| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Head of Department (Clinical) |
| Direct reports | Senior Resident Doctor, Junior Resident Doctor |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years after MD, including independent ward and OPD work |
Consultant Physician job description template
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Job title: Consultant Physician
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Head of Department (Clinical)
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Consultant Physician, often called an internal medicine specialist, treats adults with illnesses that do not need surgery: fevers, infections, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders and diseases affecting several organs at once. They run OPDs, admit and manage ward patients and give opinions to other departments. In many Indian hospitals the physician is the first specialist to see undiagnosed cases from emergency. A good physician reaches the diagnosis without unnecessary tests and knows when to call a super-specialist.
Key responsibilities
- See adult patients in the medicine OPD, take a full history and examination, and order only the tests that will change the plan.
- Admit and manage medical inpatients with fever, infections, uncontrolled diabetes, kidney or liver problems and multi-organ illness.
- Lead daily ward rounds with residents and nurses, and write clear plans for medicines, fluids, investigations and monitoring.
- Respond to emergency and ward calls for deteriorating medical patients, and decide on ICU transfer with the intensivist.
- Advise surgical and other departments on blood pressure, sugar control, infections and medical fitness for procedures.
- Treat seasonal illnesses such as dengue, malaria, typhoid and leptospirosis according to the hospital's protocols.
- Refer patients to cardiology, nephrology, neurology and other super-specialties when needed, with a summary of findings.
- Explain the illness, treatment plan and expected stay to patients and families, with extra care for elderly and chronically ill patients.
- Write discharge summaries with clear medicine lists and follow-up advice, and review patients again in the follow-up clinic.
- Join health check-up reviews, antibiotic stewardship rounds and medical audits in the department.
Requirements
- MD or DNB in General Medicine
- Valid registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council
- A fellowship or certificate course in diabetes, critical care or infectious diseases is an advantage
- 2 to 6 years after MD, including independent ward and OPD work
KRAs and KPIs for a Consultant Physician
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| OPD service | Average OPD waiting time within 30 minutes of appointment time on consulting days |
| Inpatient care | Average length of stay for common medical admissions within the department target each month |
| Readmissions | Unplanned readmissions within 30 days below 5 percent of medical discharges |
| Opinion response | Opinions for other departments given within 6 hours for routine and 1 hour for urgent calls |
| Antibiotic use | At least 90 percent of audited antibiotic prescriptions in line with the hospital antibiotic policy |
| Patient feedback | OPD and inpatient feedback score at or above 4.5 out of 5 |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Electronic medical records, ECG machine, Glucometer, Point-of-care ultrasound, Hospital information system (HIS).
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Department (Clinical), Unit Head (Clinical), Medical Director
Interview questions for a Consultant Physician
- A 60-year-old has had fever for 10 days with low platelets and negative dengue tests. How do you work it up?
- How do you decide whether a medical patient needs the ICU or can stay in the ward?
- A surgeon wants you to clear a patient with blood sugar of 300 for surgery tomorrow. What do you advise?
- How do you keep antibiotic use rational when the family asks for the strongest drug?
- Tell me about a case where your first diagnosis was wrong. What made you change course?
- How do you see 60 OPD patients in a morning without cutting corners?
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What does a consultant physician do?
A consultant physician diagnoses and treats adult medical illnesses without surgery, such as infections, fevers, diabetes, high blood pressure and problems involving several organs. They run OPD clinics, manage ward patients, advise other departments and refer to super-specialists when a case needs it.
What is the difference between a general physician and a consultant physician?
In India a general physician is often an MBBS doctor handling primary care and common illnesses, while a consultant physician holds an MD or DNB in General Medicine and manages complex admitted cases. Many hospitals use the titles loosely, so the job description should state the qualification expected.
Who does a consultant physician report to?
A consultant physician reports to the head of the internal medicine department. In smaller hospitals without formal departments, the physician may report to the medical superintendent or medical director on administrative matters while staying clinically independent.