Family Med Academy

[Stonybeach]

"The issue I see is this"

The reality is, the global medical paradigm differs from that in the US. In the US, the family medicine physician has completed a three-year residency in family medicine and becomes board-certified by the American Academy of Family Medicine and maintains certification with "acceptable" continuing education required for board certification renewal. If the medical graduate only receives 1 or 2 years of postgraduate medical residency training, many states will allow them to get licensed as a Physician and Surgeon, but they are considered "General Practitioners (GP)." The main difference is that almost all non-governmental hospitals require board certification to receive privileges of admitting patients and performing surgery within the hospital. The US-trained Family Medicine Physician is a "Jack of all trades." They enter the exam room wearing different hats for each patient. From obstetrics to pediatric to geriatric medicine, basic dermatology and psychiatry to internal medicine, addictions, emergency/urgent care, etc. They are the default provider for the community they serve and refer patients to specialists when appropriate. Many family medicine physicians may pursue a fellowship in sports medicine, obstetrics, dermatology, etc.

For the most part, the global counterpart is the General Practitioner! These GPs also have internships integrated into their schooling and are exposed to the broad spectrum of medicine and common surgeries. In many communities worldwide, they may literally be the only game in town and have become very proficient in handling higher acuity cases because there is no specialist to refer the patients to! If they were to leave the community they serve, to attend a one-year specialty fellowship training, the community would be left without a medical provider. Medical schools, universities, industry and professional associations offering specialty programs via distance learning are crucial for the GP to receive continuing education and professional development. I don't have a problem with it; hanging a certificate on the wall is the least of my concerns! It shows a commitment to continuous learning for those serving and dedicating their lives to the communities and patients they serve. These are not stupid people interested in attending a diploma mill to hang a certificate on the wall of their clinic where many patients cannot even read or write! Many of them struggle in third-world countries to make a living on the stipend the government provides.

The real issue I see is whether the GP can obtain a legitimate continuing education and professional development course of study and how it can be accessible.