PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - William R. Phillips
TI  - Zebras on the Commons: Rare Conditions in Family Practice
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.17.4.283
DP  - 2004 Jul 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
PG  - 283--286
VI  - 17
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/17/4/283.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/17/4/283.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2004 Jul 01; 17
AB  - Background: Family physicians (FPs) specialize in the management of common problems, but we know little about their role in the care of patients with rare conditions.Objective: To describe the roles FPs play in the identification and management of patients with rare conditions in a typical practice.Methods: Office record review of 100 patients with rare conditions in the everyday, community-based, private practice of 4 FPs. Analysis of patient demographic characteristics, diagnoses, and the roles played by the FP in the patient’s care, including diagnosis, treatment, referral, and long-term patient management.Results: These FPs cared for patients with a wide variety of rare disorders across the spectrum of patient age and sex, organ system involved, and medical specialty area. FPs identified the problem in 89%, diagnosed the disorder in 54%, provided acute care in 56%, and provided continuing care for 76% of patients. FPs consulted other physicians in 85% of cases. The condition was life threatening in 58% of patients.Conclusions: Family physicians provide a broad range of services to a wide variety of patients with rare medical problems.