J Am Board Fam Med
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This issue highlights changes in medical care delivery since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and features research to advance the delivery of primary care. Several articles report on the effectiveness of telehealth, including its use for hospital follow-up, medication abortion, management of diabetes, and as a potential tool for reducing health disparities. ⋯ One article addresses the wage gap between early-career female and male family physicians. Several articles report on inappropriate testing for common health problems; are you following recommendations for ordering Pulmonary Function Tests, mt-sDNA for colon cancer screening, and HIV testing?
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This issue highlights climate change, its effects on patients, and actions clinicians can take to make a difference for their patients and communities. The issue also includes several reports on current trends in family physician practice patterns and the influence of practice structure. ⋯ Noteworthy among them is the description of an innovative yet simple device that allows patients to safely discard unused opioids. Other research covers adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), smoking cessation programs, and the impact of Medicare reimbursement rates on influenza vaccination.
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One of the unique characteristics of family medicine is that although we cannot meet every specific need of each patient at each visit we continuously advance the health of the communities that surround our practices. Family physicians aim to improve overall health outcomes across our practice populations, not just individual by individual, nor just for those who arrive in our office for care. ⋯ Family medicine improves outcomes for everyone, including the unseen. This JABFM issue epitomizes many of these distinguishing characteristics of family medicine-what does it take (how)? When? Where?