What is Family Medicine?
Family medicine provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is the specialty that integrates the biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences, and encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease entity. Family medicine is the result of the evolved and enhanced expression of general medical practice and is uniquely defined within the family context.
The hallmark of family medicine, as its name implies, emphasizes care of the individual, not as an isolated entity, but within the context of a family. We define "family" to mean a group of individuals with a continuing legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship. Furthermore, because of their broad-based training, family physicians can care for all members of the family, and are not limited by a patient's age, sex, involved organ system or disease entity.
Family medicine's emphasis on preventive medicine, comprehensive care, patient education and family systems including the entire life cycle makes them the ideal primary care providers. They are a logical resource of our evolving health care system. (Adapted from the AAFP)
The Family Physician's Role
Family physicians who are educated and trained in family medicine, a broadly encompassing medical specialty, possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventive services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or type of problem, be it biological, behavioral, or social. These specialists, because of their background and interactions with the family, are best qualified to serve as each patient's advocate in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of consultants, health services, and community resources. (Adapted from the AAFP)