The family physician in the twenty-first century

WE Fabb, DVK Chao, CSY Chan
Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

Family medicine, a discipline which has redefined its epistemology over the past thirty years, approaches the twenty-first century in the knowledge that it is an area of study and practice central to the delivery of medical and health care. The family physician must be able to provide a wide variety of services, and bring a broad canvas of knowledge, a comprehensive repertoire of skills, and a particular set of values and attitudes to the care of people in their community setting. This article describes the role of the family physician as generalist, family doctor, health promoter and team member, and addresses the issue of medical economics. The training, assessment and continuing medical education requirements are outlined, and the role of the family physician in research accented.

Hong Kong Med J 1995;1:230-7

Key words: Family physician; Family medicine; Health promotion; Preventive care; Medical education