What's family medicine? Is there a difference between how family physicians treat patients and how other specialists treat patients? How do people find support to attend medical school and, later, to practice with those most in need of care?
120 Attend CME Session on New Idea: Family Medicine
October 13, 2000
Mary Lynass, M.D., answered questions after a panel presentation during the Baku CME plenary. Thomas Sommers, president and CEO of a medical center in Great Bend, Kan., also served on the panel.
These were some of the many questions asked at a lively, six-hour CME session in Baku today for about 100 physicians and 20 others interested in primary care. Many of the physicians provide care to refugees in Baku and work with the humanitarian agencies that will distribute the Physicians With Heart donations.
Family physicians in the Physicians With Heart delegation explained the principles of the specialty and offered specifics about their practices. Mary Lynass, M.D., replied to the question about the ways FPs and other specialists treat patients.
"Most specialists only want to focus on one disease process," said Lynass. "For example, they don't want to discuss with a patient her diabetes, her Pap smear, her mammogram and her depression -- and I do. Also, when I see my diabetic patient, I ask about the health of the rest of the family."
In this country where many physicians need what by U.S. standards would be rudimentary equipment, one listener asked, "What equipment do you get? Who pays for it?" Caroline Scott, M.D., of Saginaw, Mich., answered, "You basically get the equipment you need, and you usually cover the cost for it yourself. I see a lot of women patients and do a lot of colposcopies, so it made sense for me to buy a colposcope."
A morning plenary was devoted to introducing family medicine; afternoon break-outs covered the education of FPs and the delivery and financing of health care.
Joseph Hess, M.D., of East Lansing, Mich., explained costs of U.S. medical education and support for care of the underserved. The Azeris gasped when they heard most U.S. medical students graduate with educational debts of from $50,000 to $100,000. Hess said federal and state governments identify health manpower shortage areas and offer some scholarships and loan repayment programs to attract new family physicians to underserved areas.
"The health care system in the United States is by no means perfect; there's lots wrong with it," said AAFP Past President Lanny Copeland, M.D., of Albany, Ga. "You're at a point in your country to be able to design a new system, a great opportunity for you, despite the difficulties you're facing. With your Azeri dedication and ingenuity, you'll find the best way to meet your people's needs.
Family physicians in the Physicians With Heart delegation explained the principles of the specialty and offered specifics about their practices. Mary Lynass, M.D., replied to the question about the ways FPs and other specialists treat patients.
"Most specialists only want to focus on one disease process," said Lynass. "For example, they don't want to discuss with a patient her diabetes, her Pap smear, her mammogram and her depression -- and I do. Also, when I see my diabetic patient, I ask about the health of the rest of the family."
In this country where many physicians need what by U.S. standards would be rudimentary equipment, one listener asked, "What equipment do you get? Who pays for it?" Caroline Scott, M.D., of Saginaw, Mich., answered, "You basically get the equipment you need, and you usually cover the cost for it yourself. I see a lot of women patients and do a lot of colposcopies, so it made sense for me to buy a colposcope."
A morning plenary was devoted to introducing family medicine; afternoon break-outs covered the education of FPs and the delivery and financing of health care.
Joseph Hess, M.D., of East Lansing, Mich., explained costs of U.S. medical education and support for care of the underserved. The Azeris gasped when they heard most U.S. medical students graduate with educational debts of from $50,000 to $100,000. Hess said federal and state governments identify health manpower shortage areas and offer some scholarships and loan repayment programs to attract new family physicians to underserved areas.
"The health care system in the United States is by no means perfect; there's lots wrong with it," said AAFP Past President Lanny Copeland, M.D., of Albany, Ga. "You're at a point in your country to be able to design a new system, a great opportunity for you, despite the difficulties you're facing. With your Azeri dedication and ingenuity, you'll find the best way to meet your people's needs.
Azerbaijan 2000
CME Session on Family Medicine
