HOSPITAL DOCTORS
As a hospital doctor in Denmark you will be responsible for specialised examinations, treatment and care of patients that can not be treated in the primary sector because of the need for specialist knowledge, specialist equipment or for intensive care and monitoring. There are 5 regions in Denmark which are responsible for running and operating the hospitals, in which you as a hospital doctor will be employed.
In Denmark, a hospital doctor is expected to coordinate closely with the primary sector regarding both the admission of patients and the discharge of patients back to the primary health care sector and the social sector (rehabilitation, care). Research is very much encouraged. In some hospitals, the doctor is contractually obliged to spend a certain amount of time on research. But this will very much depend on the department and partnering healthcare institution.
Hospital doctors are involved in tutoring doctors undergoing specialization training. They also participate in educational activities. The average working week is 37 hours. Additional duties vary very much depending on specialty and department. Benchmarks are very difficult to give, but it is reasonable to assume there will be a few on-call duties each month.
The basic salary for hospital doctors is regulated nationally according to a given pay-scheme. In addition to the basic salary, doctors are entitled to negotiate individual salary negotiations with their employer based on their individual merits and local demand. The employer also covers pension and holiday. Salary levels for hospital doctors in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population.
In Denmark, a hospital doctor is expected to coordinate closely with the primary sector regarding both the admission of patients and the discharge of patients back to the primary health care sector and the social sector (rehabilitation, care). Research is very much encouraged. In some hospitals, the doctor is contractually obliged to spend a certain amount of time on research. But this will very much depend on the department and partnering healthcare institution.
Hospital doctors are involved in tutoring doctors undergoing specialization training. They also participate in educational activities. The average working week is 37 hours. Additional duties vary very much depending on specialty and department. Benchmarks are very difficult to give, but it is reasonable to assume there will be a few on-call duties each month.
The basic salary for hospital doctors is regulated nationally according to a given pay-scheme. In addition to the basic salary, doctors are entitled to negotiate individual salary negotiations with their employer based on their individual merits and local demand. The employer also covers pension and holiday. Salary levels for hospital doctors in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population.
GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
In Denmark, the General Practitioner is the first point of contact for patients, and a G.P.'s job is to ensure that the patient is offered the treatment they need. This means that the Danish General Practitioner needs to be able to handle patients with many different needs and illnesses. Patients that require more specialized treatments are referred to hospitals by the General Practioner.
GPs in Denmark own their own practices and treatment is financed by the Public Health service. As a non-Danish foreign GP, you are likely to need some additional training at a Danish hospital before you commence working.. After completion of your extra training you can either: a) buy your own practice (the county will assist in obtaining a credit) or b) commence work as an employee at a practice. The owner of the practice is responsible for the maintenance of the practice, staff and the equipment and is eligible for 6 weeks of public holiday.
Each general practitioner has about 1 300 patients, both children and adults. It is normally necessary to be referred by a general practitioner to a hospital for examination and treatment, except in cases of accident or an acute illness. It will also normally be necessary to be referred by a general practitioner for treatment by a specialist.
Besides referring patients to a hospital or a specialist, general practitioners refer patients to other health professionals working under agreement with the health care service, and arrange for home nursing to be provided. Among other duties, general practitioners deal with psychiatric patients and carry out minor surgical procedures. They also offer preventive examinations and treatment of pregnant women.
GPs in Denmark are high earners. Like other specialist doctors, you will amongst the highest earners in Denmark.
GPs in Denmark own their own practices and treatment is financed by the Public Health service. As a non-Danish foreign GP, you are likely to need some additional training at a Danish hospital before you commence working.. After completion of your extra training you can either: a) buy your own practice (the county will assist in obtaining a credit) or b) commence work as an employee at a practice. The owner of the practice is responsible for the maintenance of the practice, staff and the equipment and is eligible for 6 weeks of public holiday.
Each general practitioner has about 1 300 patients, both children and adults. It is normally necessary to be referred by a general practitioner to a hospital for examination and treatment, except in cases of accident or an acute illness. It will also normally be necessary to be referred by a general practitioner for treatment by a specialist.
Besides referring patients to a hospital or a specialist, general practitioners refer patients to other health professionals working under agreement with the health care service, and arrange for home nursing to be provided. Among other duties, general practitioners deal with psychiatric patients and carry out minor surgical procedures. They also offer preventive examinations and treatment of pregnant women.
GPs in Denmark are high earners. Like other specialist doctors, you will amongst the highest earners in Denmark.
PSYCHIATRISTS
Mental health treatment in Denmark includes stationary and outpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals, centres, and wards. It also includes district psychiatry, investigative psychosis teams, and other travelling teams. In addition, the regions provide consulting services to regional and local institutions.
Primary care in Denmark has basic responsibility for all medical care. This means that responsibility for persons with slight or moderately serious mental disturbances often lies with primary care practioners. Patients for whom primary care does not have the resources and skills to diagnose and treat are referred to specialist psychiatric health care, i.e. to a psychiatrist.
Psychiatry in Denmark is divided into 4 sub-sectors:
The majority of psychiatrists are employed in public services.
The average working week is about 37-40 hours. It is important to stress that this is an average and certain periods will be more or less busy. Any overtime must be agreed with the head of the clinic in advance. On-call duty is usually compensated by time off in-lieu (TOIL) If that is not possible, extra compensation is paid by the employer.
Salary levels for psychiatrists in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population
Primary care in Denmark has basic responsibility for all medical care. This means that responsibility for persons with slight or moderately serious mental disturbances often lies with primary care practioners. Patients for whom primary care does not have the resources and skills to diagnose and treat are referred to specialist psychiatric health care, i.e. to a psychiatrist.
Psychiatry in Denmark is divided into 4 sub-sectors:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry*
- General psychiatry
- Geriatric psychiatry
- Forensic psychiatry
The majority of psychiatrists are employed in public services.
The average working week is about 37-40 hours. It is important to stress that this is an average and certain periods will be more or less busy. Any overtime must be agreed with the head of the clinic in advance. On-call duty is usually compensated by time off in-lieu (TOIL) If that is not possible, extra compensation is paid by the employer.
Salary levels for psychiatrists in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population
DENTISTS
Most dentists in Denmark work in private practice. All dentists in private practice are self-employed or employed by the owner of the practice and earn their living partly through charging fees for treatments and partly by claiming government subsidies for adult care. Dentists in private practice represents about 70 % of the registered dentists in Denmark.
In the public sector, of the 98 municipalities in Denmark, most employ salaried dentists. These dentists work in municipal government health centres or schools.
All residents in Denmark are free to choose their own dentist. All types of services in the public sector are free of charge for children up to 18 years old. For those who are 18 years old or over, the public health care scheme partly pays for preventive and other dental treatment.
A minority of dentists in Denmark also work in hospitals, universities and other dental faculties.
There are currently offers for dentists who wish to work in a private practice on a rotating scheme.
Salary levels for dentists in the private sector in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population.
In the public sector, of the 98 municipalities in Denmark, most employ salaried dentists. These dentists work in municipal government health centres or schools.
All residents in Denmark are free to choose their own dentist. All types of services in the public sector are free of charge for children up to 18 years old. For those who are 18 years old or over, the public health care scheme partly pays for preventive and other dental treatment.
A minority of dentists in Denmark also work in hospitals, universities and other dental faculties.
There are currently offers for dentists who wish to work in a private practice on a rotating scheme.
Salary levels for dentists in the private sector in Denmark are among the highest in relation to the general population.
DENTAL ASSISTANTS
As a dental assistant, you provide all kinds of assistance to the dentist at the chairside. Dental assistants work closely with, and under the supervision of a dentist. The dental assistant performs a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain patients' dental records.
Their tasks also include making sure that patients are as comfortable as possible in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. Assistants' duties also include polishing the teeth to remove stains and soft deposits.
There are currently offers for dental assistants who wish to work in a private practice on a rotational scheme.
Their tasks also include making sure that patients are as comfortable as possible in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. Assistants' duties also include polishing the teeth to remove stains and soft deposits.
There are currently offers for dental assistants who wish to work in a private practice on a rotational scheme.