Family Doctors In India

 Concept of Family Physician or Family Doctor is based on health care system of Western and European countries.

Since several years, they are following this system of health care and it has been proved that this concept of health care is more effective, be it for a person or family or society, as it takes care of all three altogether.

Based on good outcomes, India also adopted the concept of Family Physician, few years back.

As expected, this concept is being appreciated and on rise.

Let's know what Family Medicine/Physician is?

                What is Family Medicine?

•Family medicine is the medical specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and the family.

•Family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease entity.

•All problems be it biologic, psychological, or social problem. 

           Qualities of a Family Physician

•Primary care physician

•Skilled clinician

•Personal care from cradle to grave

•Accessible, knows the family

•Provides care in the undifferentiated stage of disease

•Provides cost effective care and continuity of care

Person-centered care

It is much more important to know what sort of “person” has the disease than what sort of disease a patient has. 

       Comprehensive care

•  All organs

•  All ages

•  Both sexes

•  Nine levels of care

                Nine levels of care

              1.Prevention

              2.Pre-symptomatic detection of disease

              3.Early diagnosis

              4.Diagnosis of established disease

              5.Management of disease

              6.Management of disease complications

              7.Rehabilitation

              8.Terminal care  and

              9.Counseling

Continuity of care of the person in a family from cradle to grave.

Accessible & Available care whenever needed like in case of emergencies or at night.

Patient-centered care for his/her

•IDEAS   • CONCERNS   • EXPECTATIONS   • FEELINGS

Coordinates care between specialists  for example if some person is coming for heart problem and also having problem with some other body system like kidneys, then family physician can help the person in consultation with concered speciality.

Wide Knowledge base  of all the medical specialities.

Cost-effective that is economically affordable care options.

A  family physician links with

       •An individual

              •A  community

                 •Other family physicians

                            •Specialists…...

 … to provide quality care.

So…what is the difference between family medicine and general medicine?

•General medicine

–Well differentiate

–Episodic care

– Disease depth

–Cannot handle uncertainty

–Age and organ limited

–Biological problem

•Family medicine

–Undifferentiated

–Continuity of care

–Patient depth

–Accepts uncertainty

–No age or organ limitation

–Bio-psycho-social


To be a effective family physician, one must have…

•Clear concepts

•Good clinical skills

    -  listen to your patients !

    - understand the background…

    - work with the concept

      of ‘alarm signs’ 

•Cost effectiveness 

•Compassion

                                                        
                                                             Dr Mohit Bansal