Family medicine is the branch of medicine that focuses on providing long-lasting primary care by developing a very close doctor-patient relationship. General healthcare providers operate under three basic tenets: personal relationship under the biopsychosocial model, holistic and integrated care, and resource efficiency.
This course requires the student to be close to the end of their training, after exposure to all major medical specialties, and while preparing to enter the medical workforce. Knowledge of the most common complaints seen in outpatient care is also very helpful.
The holistic approach of a general practitioner can help understand ailments that result from various factors spanning the biochemical to social aspects. Providers are especially aware of the impact of psychological and sociological factors in the betterment or worsening of illness, which allows them to include comprehensive interventions in the outpatient setting to improve outcomes.
Some schools of thought may dismiss family medicine as a glorified general practice; however, in today’s scenario that involves sub-specialization and matter-of-fact doctor-patient relationships, the ability to understand patients and their environment is a valuable trait. Thus, building a relationship with a patient that can last a lifetime is a skill that all healthcare providers must hone.
Learning objectives
After the completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Analyze the core principles of family medicine and map the coordination between family medicine providers and other healthcare specialties.
- Collect and document comprehensive medical histories, integrating family, personal, surgical, social and spiritual elements into patient care plans.
- Evaluate how socioeconomic, cultural and societal factors impact health outcomes and incorporate these insights into care strategies.
- Apply clinical pathways and illness scripts when treating common family medicine conditions across organ systems.
- Differentiate between primary and specialty care needs, implementing appropriate referral protocols.
- Execute “choosing wisely” principles when ordering medical tests for common family medicine conditions.
- Implement outpatient management protocols for chronic pulmonary conditions, hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure.
- Deliver age-appropriate care across the lifespan, addressing common conditions from infancy through geriatrics.
- Navigate end-of-life and palliative care conversations, guide advanced directive documentation, and educate patients about care options.
- Deliver difficult news about prognosis effectively and outline treatment options with clarity and empathy.
Course outline
- Introduction to Family Medicine
- Acute Care
- Chronic Care
- Preventive Medicine
- Geriatric Care
