Open AccessStrengths and limitations of a family physician
Author(s) -
Derek Hellenberg,
Farion R Williams,
Mohan Kubendra,
Resmi S Kaimal
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_297_17
Subject(s) - medicine , specialty , context (archaeology) , quality (philosophy) , work (physics) , family medicine , population , medical education , nursing , public relations , environmental health , mechanical engineering , paleontology , philosophy , epistemology , political science , engineering , biology
Family physicians (FP) practising in different parts of the world may require different sets of knowledge and skills to satisfy the needs of the communities in which they work as well as the requirements of the professional bodies with which they are registered. This article gives an overview of the strengths and limitations of the FP globally and more specifically within India, South Africa, and the United States of America. The historical context and evolution of FM as a clinical and academic discipline is discussed in this article. The article recommends suggestions for a better future for Family Medicine as a specialty thereby providing quality primary healthcare to the community, based on the needs of the population of each country.