What
is Family Medicine?
Family
medicine is a primary health care specialty in which individuals and
families are provided continuing and comprehensive health care.
Family
physicians see people in their own communities, and treat mean, women
and children of all ages, races and economic circumstances.
Though
family practitioners represent only about 7 percent of the state's
physicians, they care for nearly a third of all Rhode Island children
and more than one third of all Rhode Island adults.
Why
is Family Medicine so important to
Rhode Island?
Primary
care is an important but neglected approach in the United State. As
a result, the equity and effectiveness of our health care system is
compromised.
Rhode
Island's health care system has fallen victim to these national trends.
We have a hospital and specialty dominated health care system, though
we are a relatively low income state, and lack the means to support
the excess costs that a hospital and specialty dominated medical culture
incur.
