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Special Communications: Erika Ringdahl, John E. Delzell, Jr, and Robin L. Kruse Changing Practice Patterns of Family Medicine Graduates: A Comparison of Alumni Surveys from 1998 to 2004 J Am Board Fam Med 2006; 19: 404-412 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Variety in Family Physicians

Frank E Mozdy   (1 September 2006)

changing patterns of practice

Kurtis H Fox   (5 July 2006)

Variety in Family Physicians 1 September 2006
Frank E Mozdy, Hospitalist/ Family Physician Chambersburg Hospital Send response to journal: Re: Variety in Family Physicians fmozdy{at}comcast.net Frank E Mozdy	I read the trends for less hospital care with interest. I am a Family Physician who left private practice after 19 years to become a hospitalist. I work in a hospitalist group composed of 5 FPs and 3 IMs, primarily serving the patients of our town's Family Physicians, in a wonderfully cooperative arrangement. I see pediatric and adult hospitalized patients, as well as newborns. The Society of Hospital Medicine has a relatively small number of Family Physicians as members compared to IMs or Peds. Discussions among the FPs often points out that we feel cast aside by our national FP organizations due to the lack of recognition that some FPs actually prefer to practice hospital medicine. I've also wondered if the FPs interested in hospital medicine will be only the mid-career docs looking for a change, or if any residency programs will turn out young docs looking to practice primarily in the hospital. Is FP Hospitalist going to be one of the many career paths possible for a residency trained Family Physician?
changing patterns of practice 5 July 2006
Kurtis H Fox, Physician fp/geriatrics self-employed. hmo pts from sutter health Send response to journal: Re: changing patterns of practice kfox7md{at}foothill.net Kurtis H Fox	It is interesting the alacrity at which the newer graduates leave the hospital and reduce interventions. I believe that more emphasis in training that includes, as a requirement, training and certification in exercise EKG's, gastroscopy, colonoscopy,fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy and colposcopy--all as outpatient, office procedures. It is my opinion that this training is what will help preserve family practice as an entity in a world in which the major players (Insurance companies) consider us the equivalent to high -priced nurse practioners. Those of us who practice rurally or at the edge of large metropolitan centers are more likely to use these skills now, but there is no reason for other family practice physicians to avoid employing these skills. As for the hospital: what intelligent person would return to the nighly sleep interuptions (other than parents of newborns) that are unhealthy at best. Sincerely, Kurtis H Fox, MD Colfax, CA