Why choose family medicine

I actively stay up to date on guidelines published by the professional organizations of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiology and endocrinology - just to name a few. Anyone can memorize guidelines but the real challenge is applying them to the person in front of you.

For example, I once had a patient with underlying HIV, depression, hypertension and tobacco use who was hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome and ultimately diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The consulting cardiologist recommended placing the patient on a statin as one of several recommendations. At our post-hospital visit I was able to select a statin that did not interact with their antiretroviral therapy because I had taken care of many HIV patients in residency and was familiar with the pharmacology and guidelines for medication selection.

I also knew that with the addition of another chronic medical disease, the patient was at high risk for relapse of depression. This led to detecting depression relapse and the patient was referred for cognitive behavioral therapy- an evidence based non-pharmacological treatment. Mood disorders can impact adherence to medication which is extremely important in the treatment of HIV. It would be several weeks before the patient followed up with their infectious disease specialist so I checked blood markers and sure enough their viral load had crept up and their CD4 count was consistent with AIDS.

Based on infectious disease guidelines, I knew to start the patient on additional antibiotics for prevention of opportunistic infections in the interim. This is just one example of integrating numerous practice guidelines to provide optimal care for a patient in collaboration with specialists. Opportunity for niche practice and flexibility. Family Medicine training is broad allowing you to practice in any number of positions. There are a variety of fellowship options for continuing certification.

Family doctors hold a variety of positions in medicine. You will find family docs that are hospitalists, professors, outpatient only, providing HIV care, palliative medicine, sports medicine, nursing home medical director, the list goes on.

From personal experience, my job is constantly evolving. I practice part time in a community health clinic where I see all ages and provide prenatal care.

Additionally, I have an expanding population of transgender patients who are receiving gender affirming hormone therapy. Lastly, I am working on a statewide grant funded initiative to improve maternal health. So, when I say that you can do it all as a Family Doctor, it is not hypothetical. The hardest part of my job is saying no, because there are so many exciting things to engage in as a family doc. It's about relationships and caring for entire families across multiple generations.

It's more than a medical science. There is an art to good bedside manner, to instilling hope, to building confidence, to providing comfort, to educating, to giving counsel and to inspiring change while tailoring treatment plans that are best suited to the patient.

As family doctors, we provide something intangible and unquantifiable, which subspecialists cannot match, nor can algorithms or protocols replace. We are the consummate physicians, deftly navigating the full breadth of the health care system, incorporating expertise from all the various specialties into our daily clinical repertoire.

We are eager to learn and many of us strive to expand our scope of practice, but we are comfortable with what we don't know and are always ready and willing to consult with subspecialists or refer if needed.

We are family physicians. We are the friendly local docs who become like members of your own family. We are the cornerstone of the medical home. May we always remain at the heart of primary care, bringing highly integrated comprehensive health care and preventive medicine to the modern age.

If you are like me and know you made the right choice, consider precepting students in your own practice. Never forget the importance of what we do for our communities as family physicians and what it can mean for students to see it. Kurt Bravata, M.

Read other Fresh Perspectives posts by this blogger. The opinions and views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions and views of the American Academy of Family Physicians. This blog is not intended to provide medical, financial, or legal advice.

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About AAFP. Board of Directors. Contact Us. Active Physician. Medical Student. You might be surprised to hear that having some difficulty homing in on a particular field is actually quite common among family physicians. Family medicine could turn out to be your true calling.

People either love routine or find it restricting. More often than not, family physicians fall in the latter camp. Most of them will tell you that no two days are the same.

Lisa Doggett , a family physician and medical director for AxisPoint Health. This was the case for Dr. Raspa says. Choosing family medicine allows these future MDs to do a little bit of everything.

Not everything is straightforward in medicine. Two patients with similar symptoms could have vastly different health issues. Family physicians need to maintain a clear head and devise a treatment plan in these situations. Family physicians may have to get a little creative as well. Plan A might not be an option for patients who are unable to afford health care, for example. Doggett experienced this firsthand when she was still in clinical practice.