Epperly Urges FPs to Focus on the Future

Incoming AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., of Boise, Idaho, pledged to give "every ounce" of his energy during his presidential term to help restore America's health care system. He promised to help make primary care -- and especially family medicine -- the foundation of a system that supports the patient-centered medical home.

"I have never seen our system more moldable and fluid than it is right now," said Epperly during his president's address on Wednesday. "The nation is looking for a solution to our looming health care catastrophe. I say the solution is right under America’s nose."

Epperly characterized the nation's health care system as a dysfunctional, specialty-oriented, "sick-care industrial complex." He said the current system values treating disease more than maintaining patients' good health through wellness and prevention programs.

America needs a coordinated and integrated health care system "where family physicians are the leaders of the health care team," said Epperly. With medical care costs escalating and Medicare headed for insolvency by 2017, he added, it's time to get America's $2.3 trillion "medical industrial complex" back on track.

"America has the resources to change, but does America have the moral will and courage to make this change?" he asked.

Epperly outlined five pillars that he said were necessary to transform the health care system. He said health care in America should revolve around

Family physicians excel at "connecting the dots" and in integrating and coordinating care, Epperly noted. "Family medicine's magic is in the process." He quoted Canadian physician Sir William Osler, who once quipped, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease."

Take the lead, Epperly urged his colleagues. "Each one of us must make an individual decision to help advance this cause. We must all transform our practices to patient-centered medical homes as rapidly as we can."

When it comes to advocating the health care system changes needed, Epperly challenged his colleagues to "push as we have never pushed before." Family physicians need to build relationships with people of influence at all levels of business and government, at the local, state and national levels, he said. "We must build a broad coalition of people who want a transformed health care system."

The solution to what ails America is family medicine, said Epperly. The answer is primary care and the patient-centered medical home.

Family physicians can restore health care in America to a "health care system that our patients need and our country deserves," said Epperly. "I look forward to this challenge."