Introduction

AAFP Policies on Issues Related to Rural Health -- From the Compendium of AAFP Positions on Selected Health Issues, are Academy policies on issues related to rural health care: "Access To," "First Responder," "Medical Education," "Obstetrics/Perinatal Care," "Regionalization/Networking," "Telemedicine: General Policy Statement," "Telemedicine: Evaluation," "Telemedicine: Reimbursement for Physician Services," and "Telemedicine: Physician Licensure."

Rural Recruitment Video -- "The Path Less Traveled," produced by the Academy's Committee on Rural Health. This 16-minute video, produced in a vignette format, features five rural family physicians and includes a discussion guide.

AAFP Procedural Position Paper: Cesarean Delivery in Family Medicine -- Details the AAFP's position that clinical privileges for cesarean delivery should be based on each individual physician’s documented training and/or experience, demonstrated abilities and current competence; not on specialty designation alone.

Directory of Resources for Underserved Areas -- This directory is intended for use as a reference/rescue guide. It has been prepared to identify and describe financial aid programs, scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards, and other incentives to attract health care personnel to scarcity areas and retain them. This interactive site lets you search for opportunities by state.

Directory of Family Medicine Residency Programs -- Another interactive website is the AAFP Directory of Family Medicine Residency Programs. Search by state for listings of programs, which include faculty, staff, administration, accreditation, size, salaries, etc.

Residency Programs Offering Rural Training -- This link will take you immediately to the listings of Family Medicine Residency Programs offering a fellowship in Rural Medicine.

Fellowship Directory for Family Physicians -- This directory, produced by the AAFP in cooperation with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, lists programs offering fellowships in: Adolescent Medicine, Faculty Development, Geriatrics, Obstetrics, Preventive Medicine, Research, Rural Medicine, Sports Medicine, Substance Abuse, and disciplines.

AAFP Position Paper: Keeping Physicians in Rural Practice -- Details the AAFP's position on how to recruit and retain physicians to rural practices.

AAFP Policy Statement: Rural Health Care: Reimbursement for Telemedicine -- Details the AAFP's policy on Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services.

Mid-level Provider Issues -- Details the AAFP's policies and other information concerning mid-level providers.

AAFP Clinical and Faculty Placement Services -- AAFP Placement Services is a clearinghouse for information exchange between physicians and other family medicine educators seeking a position, and "opportunities" -- including physicians, communities, hospitals, faculty programs, and others who are seeking candidates to join their organization.

AAFP's Center for Health Information Technology -- The Center for Health Information Technology is the focal point of the AAFP's technical expertise, advocacy, research, and member services associated with medical office automation and computerization. The site features such information as how to select a computer system and has direct links to software vendors' websites. A questions and answers discussion list is available for posting your computerization questions.

FP Assist (Locate a Consultant or Attorney) -- FP Assist is the AAFP's interactive Web site to help you locate a management consultant or attorney. Simply indicate the state you're in and check off the services requested from the drop-down menu. The database will provide you with a listing of names of firms that meet your criteria. Link directly to the firm's Web site or e-mail.

Office Lab Proficiency Testing -- The AAFP has developed a Proficiency Testing program, AAFP-PT, to help physicians will office laboratories comply with CLIA '88 requirements. The program is approved by both CLIA and COLA, as well as various states which require office labs to enroll in approved PT programs. PT's experienced staff of medical technologists have, combined, more than 80 years of clinical laboratory experience.

Quality Improvement -- As the many changes in our health delivery system play out over the coming years, family physicians will be increasingly called upon to respond to them in their practices. Practicing cost-effectively while providing the highest quality care is a challenge everyone in health care will face. The AAFP Quality Initiative is the Academy's pursuit to establish the discipline of family medicine as the premier medical discipline for quality health care.

Family Practice Management Journal -- FPM is the leading resource to teach you the business practices that you didn't learn in medical school. Each monthly issue is packed with useful tips and advice to help you efficiently and effectively manage your practice. Read about managing multiple priorities, computerization, managed care and more! Earn CME credit while you learn.

American Family Physician Journal -- AFP is the official journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Every issue is filled with relevant articles and information to help you keep your clinical skills up-to-date