Class Specifications - H.40
Senior (Physician) Diplomate - 0768
Senior (Physician) - 0769
Associate (Physician) Diplomate - 0770
Associate (Physician) - 0771
Assistant (Physician) - 0772

May, 1977

Series Concept

Physicians supervise and/or perform professional and scientific work in one or more fields of medicine; and perform other related duties as required.

Physicians may examine patients and diagnose their illness; prescribe and administer medical treatment; teach patients how to use prescribed treatments ; make psychiatric examinations and administer psychiatric treatment; perform physical medicine reviews to determine how the patients' physical condition will affect psychotherapy; perform or assist in performing minor and major surgical operations; administer anesthesia; supervise pre-and post-operative care of surgical cases; order examinations, analysis, X-rays, and special diets ; write prescriptions; make the rounds of a ward and review reports, records and general progress of patients; instruct and supervise nurses, technologists and technicians assigned for special training; attend and participate in staff con ferences for the discussion of the surgical, medical and mental condition of various patients and their final diagnosis· and treatment; prepare reports and related correspondence; and assist in the instruction of students.

The Diplomate classes are used when incumbents possess a valid certificate issued by an American Medical Specialty Board as a specialist in one of the fields of medicine and are required to use the specialty in the work assigned.

Class Concepts

Senior (Physician) Diplomate
Senior (Physician)

Under general direction, incumbents serve as chiefs or heads of major services in a Student Health Service or University Hospital, as assistant directors who are authorized to act in the absence of the director, or as directors of small Student Health Services.

As chiefs of service for a major general subdi~ision of a hospital, incumbents actively plan and coordinate the work of the various units of the subdivision ; integrate the work of the subdivision with other divisions of the hospital; ~on duct a program for continuous staff education in current developments in medical science; preside at consultative or clinical conferences on problem cases and determine that all significant aspects of the case have been considered; arrange, as necessary, for consultation on difficult cases with medical authorities outside the hospital; visit patients, review their clinical records and determine if appropriate treatment is being given; perform audits of completed clinical work; perform highly difficult general medical and surgical work; present recommendations to the chief medical officer on such matters as hospital policy, the need for facilities, equipment, personnel, or budget; and effectively recommend employment or termination actions as well as train and evaluate assigned personnel,

Associate (Physician) Diplomate
Associate (Physician)

Under general direction, Associate Physicians perform the full range of duties as outlined in the Series Concept. This is the operational level; and incumbents are experienced physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, etc.

Assistant (Physician)

Under medical supervision, Assistant Physicians perform many of the duties outlined in the Series Concept. The class is for entry level positions and is reserved for persons, who, while assigned responsibility for making ordinary professional decisions independently, receive medical supervision and to some extent are in a learning capacity. Difficult and complex cases are referred to higher level physicians.

Minimum Qualifications

Senior (Physician) Level

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance; at least two years of practice exclusive of internship; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Associate (Physician) Level

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance; at least one year of practice exclusive of internship; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Assistant (Physician)

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance, and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.