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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: I take great umbrage, as do the nearly 94,000
members of the In particular, the letters from Mark Aeder, MD, Because of their extensive and integrated training, family physicians are the only medical specialists qualified to treat most ailments that most patients have most of the time. Family physicians deliver a wide range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services for people of all ages. In addition to diagnosing and treating acute illness, we also provide preventive care, including routine check ups, health-risk assessments and screening tests, and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Family physicians manage chronic illness, often coordinating care provided by subspecialists. From heart disease, stroke and hypertension, to diabetes, cancer, depression and asthma, family physicians provide primary care for the nation’s most serious health problems. Like most other medical specialists, family physicians complete a three-year, accredited residency program after graduating from medical school. As part of our residency education, we participate in integrated inpatient and outpatient training in major medical areas: women’s health and children’s care, adult and geriatric medicine, psychiatry and behavioral health, surgery and community medicine. We also receive instruction in many other areas including emergency medicine, orthopedics and neurology. Family physicians must complete rigorous annual clinical medical education requirements as well. An extensive research base has proven the value
of what we do as family physicians. We are held in high regard by
our subspecialist colleagues. As a matter of fact, most consider
primary care physicians, and in particular family physicians, best
qualified to provide both preventive care as well as care to
patients with multiple complex problems. Family physicians
are the backbone of The AAFP and our members are working tirelessly with other physician and health care organizations, and the business community to promote an improved health care system based on a patient-centered medical home. The cornerstone of the patient-centered medical home is an ongoing, personal, patient-physician relationship focusing on integrated care that is coordinated and facilitated by a primary care doctor. This will result in better quality care at less expense to the patient and the system. Both patients and the health care system would be a lot better off if every American had a personal family physician. Sincerely, Rick Kellerman, M.D.
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