PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY MEDICINE

PROF. DR. S. K. NELLAIAPPA GANESAN M.D.,

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL MEDICINE
FAMILY MEDICINE

 Specialty of first contact for the patient

 Emphasis on providing comprehensive physical , psychological and social care for the patient and his family.
 Focus is on the patient with background knowledge of his family and not on disease alone.
 Providing preventive care, health education and rehabilitative care
PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY MEDICINE
• Caring • Co-ordination of care

• Clinical competence • Community based care and research

• Cost-effectiveness • Counselling and communication skills

• Community of care • Continuing medical education (CME)

• Comprehensive care

• Common problems management expertise

CARING

 Caring attitude towards the patient, his family and the community
 Corner-stone of doctor patient relationship
CLINICAL COMPETENCE

 Caring without clinical competence not enough

 Appropriate post-graduate training required
COST EFFECTIVENESS

 Treatment of uncomplicated problems by family physicians at community level costs much less than at a tertiary
level hospital
 Family physicians can provide considerable amount of care at a lower cost
CONTINUITY OF CARE

 One well trained physician is ultimately responsible for all problems including chronic ones of an individual and
his family.
 This prevents patient from going from pillar to post for

comprehensive medical care.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE

 Multiple problems of a patient can be managed in one consultation by a well trained family physician.
 This is cost effective and time saving
 Physician is trained to look at problems comprehensively from physical, psychological and social aspects.
 Providing personal preventive care such as immunization, child health surveillance, preventive medical checkups
and health promotion, including advice on effects of lifestyle on health.
 Providing rehabilitative care in community
COMMON PROBLEMS MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE

 Common medical problems of any age and sex are managed effectively.
 Chronic problems like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, backache, dyspepsia, anemia, arthritis and infections of
respiratory tract, ear, nose, throat, urinary tract and skin can be managed effectively by family physicians.
CO-ORDINATION OF CARE

 Providing primary medical care

 Referral to appropriate specialist or health care provider
 Guiding patients through the health care system and act as a gate keeper for good quality, cost effective care.
COMMUNITY BASED CARE AND RESEARCH

 Comprehensive care at the door step – hallmark of family physician.

 Both curative and preventive measures within the community and specified population.
 Research in community setting -- more appropriate for health care

needs of great majority of population.

COUNSELLING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

 Physician-patient rapport
 Improved counselling equates to improved compliance.
CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

 Family physician needs good breadth of knowledge to solve each and every problem.
 This requires updating of knowledge and skills throughout life time.
THANK YOU