Brochure - Colorado Academy of Family Physicians

What is a
FAMILY
PHYSICIAN?
One Medical Home for
the Entire family
Family Medicine is ideally suited to
meet the primary health care needs of
you and your family.
Family physicians are trained to
treat the whole person and have the
expertise to address medical conditions
involving any organ system in persons
of all ages – both male and female.
Your family physician provides one
medical home for the entire family.
For more information, visit
www.coloradoafp.org.

Well trained to treat
all your health
concerns
Family physicians have a unique set of skills
that they acquire in their family medicine
education.
Physicians who specialize in family medicine
complete seven years of training. It begins
with four years of medical school followed by
three years in a residency program. During
their formal residency, family physicians
receive training in several major medical
areas, including:
■ Care for all ages from newborns and
children to the elderly
■ Care for chronic diseases such as
diabetes, heart disease and asthma
■ Emergency medical care
■ Mental health and behavioral care
■ Minor surgical procedures
■ Well-woman care, reproductive
counseling and family planning
■ Ear, nose and throat care
■ Eye care
■ Bone and joint care
■ Pregnancy and delivery care
Staying on the Cutting Edge of Medicine
A family physician’s education never really ends.
The American Board of Family Medicine requires
a recertification examination every seven years. To
maintain that certification, family physicians also
are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours
of continuing education every three years and are
annually tested on two concentrated medical topics.
In short, family physicians are career-long learners,
continuously updating themselves on advances
and developments in medicine and pursuing new
knowledge that will improve the delivery of health care.
The Patient-Physician Relationship
From the beginning of his or her professional
career, your family physician places an emphasis on
preventive care and counseling on lifestyle changes
in an effort to prevent illnesses before they develop.
They will be there to guide and coordinate all aspects
of your care if a health condition arises. It’s all part of
what a patient-physician relationship is all about.
That relationship, referred to as a Patient Centered
Medical Home, enables a family physician to develop
an individualized plan of care to help you stay healthy.
Research shows that people who have an ongoing
relationship with a primary care physician have better
overall health outcomes, lower death rates and lower
total costs of care.
By working together, you and your family physician can
achieve the best possible outcome in the most costeffective
manner.