Urologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.

  • Diagnose or treat diseases or disorders of genitourinary organs and tracts including erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, incontinence, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, urethral stones, or premature ejaculation.
  • Document or review patients' histories.
  • Order and interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening, to detect prostate cancer.
  • Perform abdominal, pelvic, or retroperitoneal surgeries.
  • Examine patients using equipment, such as radiograph (x-ray) machines or fluoroscopes, to determine the nature and extent of disorder or injury.
  • Treat lower urinary tract dysfunctions using equipment such as diathermy machines, catheters, cystoscopes, or radium emanation tubes.
  • Prescribe or administer antibiotics, antiseptics, or compresses to treat infection or injury.
  • Provide urology consultation to physicians or other health care professionals.
  • Treat urologic disorders using alternatives to traditional surgery such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, laparoscopy, or laser techniques.
  • Direct the work of nurses, residents, or other staff to provide patient care.
  • Refer patients to specialists when condition exceeds experience, expertise, or scope of practice.
  • Perform brachytherapy, cryotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), or photodynamic therapy to treat prostate or other cancers.
  • Teach or train medical and clinical staff.
  • Prescribe medications to treat patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, or ejaculation problems.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Physical Proximity — 97% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 97% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 96% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 97% responded "Extremely important".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 87% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections — 95% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Train medical providers.
  • Gather medical information from patient histories.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.
  • Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
  • Supervise patient care personnel.
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Knowledge

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.
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.
Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Writing
  • Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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Abilities

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 there is a problem.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • SmugMug Flickr Hot Technology
Medical software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
  • McKesson Practice Plus
  • Meditwatch Portaflow Advanced
  • Allscripts PM
  • Modernizing Medicine Practice Management
  • Nextech EMR
  • NextGen Healthcare NextGen Practice Management
  • simplifyMD
  • Vitera Healthcare Solutions Vitera Intergy
  • Kareo Practice Management
  • IOS Health Systems Medios EHR
  • Henry Schein Medical Systems MicroMD Urology EMR
  • athenahealth athenaCollector
  • Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
  • Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
  • Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
  • CareCloud Central
  • Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
  • eClinicalWorks Practice Management
  • Epic Practice Management
  • GalacTek ECLIPSE
  • GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution
  • Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE
  • HealthFusion MediTouch
  • WRSHealth EMR
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Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
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