RIAFP Policy
Brief: 6/16/00
Family Physicians and the Health of Rhode Islanders
Family practice
physicians are the cornerstone of successful health care systems all
around the world. A number of studies by internationally known researchers
have shown that access to primary care is a powerful determinant of
health, and that, among the primary care specialties, family practice
is the most strongly correlated to measures of health. Nations and
states with physician communities that include a high percentage of
family physicians enjoy the best health.
Among the States,
the lowest rates of infant mortality, mortality from cancer, and mortality
from heart disease tend to occur where the proportion of family physicians
are highest.
Of course, there
are many things which influence health. But when those influences
are studied, the presence of a high proportion of family physicians
is almost as powerful an influence as reduction in smoking, and the
reduction of the number of people living in poverty.
About seven percent
of Rhode Island Physicians are family physicians, which make us 45th
in the nation for the percentage of our physicians who are family
physicians.
Rhode Island
is 49th in the nation for cancer mortality from breast cancer, 49th
in the nation for cancer mortality from colon and rectal cancer among
men; 41st in the nation for cancer mortality from colon and rectal
cancer among women; 30th in the nation for cancer mortality from lung
cancer among men; 35th in the nation for cancer mortality from lung
cancer among women; and 8th in the nation for cancer mortality from
prostate cancer. We are 18th in the nation for our death rate from
heart disease, and 12th in the nation for our death rate from stroke.
Can increasing
the number of family physicians in Rhode Island improve the health
of Rhode Islanders? We believe it can.
This is one
in a series of reports designed to advance Family Practice and primary
care in Rhode Island's health care system, as well as to discuss public
health issues of importance to all Rhode Islanders.
We welcome
the opportunity to further discuss the issues presented here. We can
be reached by phone at 401-453-4176, or by e-mail at info@riafp.org.
6/16/00
