Fast Facts on Family Medicine

History

1. Hippocrates
2. Galen
3. General Practice
4. Family Medicine

What do Family Doctors do?

1. Provide COMPREHENSIVE care
2. Provide CONTINUITY of care
3. Provide CONTEXTUAL care
4. COORDIANTE care
5. Provide  ACCESS to care

Types of Practices

1. Jobs available in all regions of the U.S.
2. Family doctors distributed in pattern similar to the general U.S. Population
3. Jobs in rural, suburban and urban areas
4. Average work week: 1-53 hours
5. Average work week spent in patient care: 33-41 hours
6. Average time away: 4-5 weeks (vacation and continuing education)
7. 75% in urban areas, 25% in rural areas
8. 86% have hospital privileges
9. 88% perform outpatient procedures
10. 25% deliver babies
11. Provide the bulk of care in underserved areas
12. 83% in private practice, most in group practice
13. 30% involved in teaching
14. Opportunities in academics, research, health policy, and military
15. CONTROLLABLE LIFESTYLE: Family (our own) is important to most family doctors.  Family Medicine allows us to tailor our practices to enjoy practice and our families.

Can I learn it all?

1. No, no one can.
2. You can learn what you need to know and know when to ask for help.
3. Family doctors can treat 90% of the problems presented to them
4. You will not be bored!
5. A desire for life time learning and love of medicine and patients is a must for a family doctor.

Who's going into Family Medicine?

1. 13.6% of graduates entered Family Medicine in 2002
2. Percent varied by region of U.S. -20% in mountain states, 8.6% in NE
3. 50% of graduates entering Family Medicine are women.

Post-graduate fellowships available

1. Sports Medicine
2. Geriatrics
3. Adolescent Medicine
4. Obstetrics
5. Preventative Medicine
6. Research
7. Faculty Development
8. Rural Medicine
9. Substance Abuse

Dual Boarding Programs

1. Family Medicine-Psychiatry

Residency

1. Available in all regions of the U.S.
2. 3 year programs
3. Community, University, and University-affiliated programs
4. Average resident salary – 36,498/year
5. Average vacation – 3 weeks/year
6. Average hours worked – 62/week

Financial

1. Average salary - $137,000/year (about average for primary care)
2. National Health Service Corps – loan repayment positions
   1. Minimum two year commitment
   2. $25,000/year repaid the first two years
   3. $35,000/year repaid the second two years
   4. 1,234 family medicine positions in 2003
   5. Of those, there were 520 vacancies (i.e. unfilled)
   6. Location 60/40 rural/urban
   7. 78% retention rate at these sites, i.e. folks stay there to practice
3. Many states have similar programs
4. Other opportunities are available for loan repayment such as Indian Health Service.

Family Medicine Firsts

1. First to require recertification on a regular basis (every seven years)
2. First to require a yearly minimum of continuing education
3. First to emphasize outpatient care in residency training.