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American Academy of Family Physicians Releases Hepatitis C Resource Packet for Physicians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 02, 2003

Contact:
Adam Lee
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237 Ext. 5221
alee@aafp.org

NEW ORLEANS — In an effort to improve the treatment of patients with hepatitis C, the American Academy of Family Physicians has released “Helping Your Patients Who Have Hepatitis C,” an educational resource packet for family physicians. The packet is being distributed to family physicians attending the AAFP’s annual Scientific Assembly this week in New Orleans and will be mailed to active AAFP members and residents following the meeting.

“Family physicians diagnose more cases of hepatitis C than physicians in any other specialty,” said James C. Martin, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “These resources are designed to help our members more effectively manage hepatitis C and help their patients better understand the disease and its treatment.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 4 million people in the United States are infected with the hepatitis C virus, and 3 million of them are unaware of it. Of the 1 million who are being actively treated for the disease, about 700,000 are being treated by family physicians and internists.

The resource packet is part of a multifaceted initiative designed to help family physicians care for their patients who are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Future elements of this initiative will include research to identify barriers to the screening, testing and treatment of patients who have hepatitis C and the development and dissemination of physician and patient tools to improve management of the disease.

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Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 94,300 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical specialty society devoted solely to primary care. Please visit www.aafp.org for more information about AAFP.

Editor’s note: The Hepatitis C Resource Packet was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Schering Corporation.

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 93,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 215 million office visits each year – nearly 48 million more than the next medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for America’s underserved and rural populations.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.

To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit www.aafp.org.

For more information about the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care and downloadable multi-media on family medicine and health care, visit the AAFP Media Center.

For more information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please visit familydoctor.org.