Canadian family physician Médecin de famille canadien
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Timely access to specialist care is an important issue for patients with mild to moderate symptoms, and wait times for referrals are currently quite long. ⋯ Supported by RACE, FPs can more effectively remain the locus of patient care, calling on other specialist expertise when appropriate and providing better coordination of care for their patients. Evaluations to date suggest RACE helps reduce system costs by reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and face-to-face specialist consultations.
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To explore how access to a family medicine clinic co-locating with the Children's Aid Society (CAS) of Hamilton in Ontario helped meet the unique needs of children in care. ⋯ Access to a family medicine clinic designed specifically for children in care that co-located with the CAS enhanced not only the planning, management, and evaluation of care, but also provided a consistency that was not found in other parts of the children's lives; this helped generate trusting relationships over time. The co-location provided a strong spoke in the circle of care.
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To find a common global definition of family medicine. ⋯ Family medicine can be practised in various forms. The unifying elements are the socially accountable responsiveness to local need, the adaptation of existing health infrastructure, and the ongoing development of the skills required to succeed in that role-always grounded in relationships of care. In this way, family medicine will continue to evolve to suit the health needs of communities and health systems.