LEAWOOD, Kan. — With the body of health-care knowledge expanding exponentially, it is more important than ever that family physicians efficiently and effectively communicate important health information to their patients. The 25th annual Conference on Patient Education held in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 20-23, will help them do just that.
“Patient education is a cornerstone of family medicine,” said Michael Fleming, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a practicing family physician in Shreveport, La. “Doctors can give patients an incredible amount of information on prevention and disease management during office visits, but if the patients don’t understand it or can’t incorporate it into their daily lives, it’s a moot point.”
Nearly 300 attendees are expected at the four-day Conference on Patient Education, which is designed for physicians, nurses, dieticians, health educators and other health-care professionals. The conference, sponsored by the AAFP and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk. More than 100 seminars and lectures will be offered on topics such as:
Conference Provides Practical Advice on Educating Patients
Family Physician Conference Marks 25th Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Contact:
Leslie Champlin
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224
lchampli@aafp.org
- Getting Patients Moving: Counseling for Physical Activity in Family Practice
- The Threats of Bioterrorism Attacks: Going Beyond Plastic and Duct Tape in Educating Our Patients
- Obesity As a Cultural Issue: An Ounce of Perception
- Teaching Relaxation
- (The) Heart is Like a Pump—Medical Analogies
- Fast Food Nation: Teaching Low-income Shelter Women Healthy Nutrition Skills
- Food for Thought: Culturally Appropriate Nutritional Information for Patients with Diabetes
“Family physicians are always seeking new tools and innovative approaches to educate our patients because we know that once they leave our offices, their health is in their hands,” Fleming said. “We need the best approaches available to help us empower our patients to lead healthier lives every day.”
For more information or to register for the Conference on Patient Education, visit http://www.aafp.org/pec.xml.
For more information or to register for the Conference on Patient Education, visit http://www.aafp.org/pec.xml.
# # #
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 110,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.
Approximately one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 240 million office visits each year — nearly 87 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.FamilyDoctor.org.
