Once upon I time I thought all family doctors wanted to practice medicine like I do. To be able to do a little of everything to care for 85-90% of complaints that walk through the front door of the office. A child, pregnant woman, an elder it didn't matter who the person was or what body system their medical problem related to.
This was the purpose of the general practitioner who was the forerunner to the family physician which began to gain more popularity as a speciality over thirty years ago now. (General practitioners completed a year of residency after medical school before going out to practice while family physicians finish three years and become board certified by the American Board of Family Physicians.)
Now sub-specialization has begun to hit my specialty too. Recent graduates from my local residency program have gone into geriatrics, done obstetrical fellowships, and even into integrative medicine. Many others have chosen just to practice outpatient medicine and never see the inside of a hospital anymore.
I think this trend is actually good for family medicine and for the care of our patients in general. There is no better physician for geriatrics than one who trained to care for people across the life span and as part of families. There is no better physician to help integrate alternative techniques into mainstream medicine than a family physician either. Finally, there is no better physician for adolescents who at once can be their pediatrician without treating them like babies.
For me though, I'll continue as I do. Just give me what walks through the door and I'll take it. Keep me the office, the hospital wards, and the delivery room and I'll be happy.
This was the purpose of the general practitioner who was the forerunner to the family physician which began to gain more popularity as a speciality over thirty years ago now. (General practitioners completed a year of residency after medical school before going out to practice while family physicians finish three years and become board certified by the American Board of Family Physicians.)
Now sub-specialization has begun to hit my specialty too. Recent graduates from my local residency program have gone into geriatrics, done obstetrical fellowships, and even into integrative medicine. Many others have chosen just to practice outpatient medicine and never see the inside of a hospital anymore.
I think this trend is actually good for family medicine and for the care of our patients in general. There is no better physician for geriatrics than one who trained to care for people across the life span and as part of families. There is no better physician to help integrate alternative techniques into mainstream medicine than a family physician either. Finally, there is no better physician for adolescents who at once can be their pediatrician without treating them like babies.
For me though, I'll continue as I do. Just give me what walks through the door and I'll take it. Keep me the office, the hospital wards, and the delivery room and I'll be happy.
The Country Doctor