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The Characteristics of Family Medicine (adapted from the
WONCA Europe Definition)
These eleven characteristics of the discipline
of general practice relate to eleven abilities that every family
doctor should master, and should be the basis for developing the
curriculum for training in general practice.
General practice:
- is normally the point of first medical
contact within the healthcare system, providing open and unlimited
access to its users, dealing with all health problems regardless of
the age, sex, or any other characteristic of the person
concerned
- makes efficient use of healthcare
resources through co-ordinating care, working with other
professionals in the primary care setting, and by managing the
interface with other specialities. It also means taking on an
advocacy role for the patient when needed
- develops a person-centred approach,
orientated to individuals, their family and their
community
- has a unique consultation process, which
establishes a relationship over time through effective
communication between doctor and patient
- is responsible for the provision of
longitudinal continuity of care as determined by the needs of the
patient
- has a specific decision-making process
determined by the prevalence and incidence of illness in the
community
- manages both the acute and chronic health
problems of individual patients
simultaneously
- manages illness which presents in an
undifferentiated way at an early stage in their development, some
of which may require urgent intervention
- promotes health and well-being by both
appropriate and effective intervention
- has a specific responsibility for the
health of the community
- deals with health problems in their
physical, psychological, social, cultural and existential
dimensions
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