The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
September-October 2002
Family Practice in a Failing Health Care System: New Opportunities To
Advocate for System Reform
By John P. Geyman, MD
Family practice embraced reform of medical education and the health care
system in its early development, and it has the potential to become an
active and credible change agent for reform, particularly if it becomes part
of a coalition with the other primary care specialties. Family physicians
are typically close to their patients and communities and, if activated and
focused, could become major players toward system reform. Instead of
spending its energies trying to redress the problems linked to the current
disintegrating health care system, family practice could more effectively
serve the public interest and its own future self-interest if its efforts
are targeted to basic structural reform of the system.
http://www.familypractice.com/journal/abfpjournal_frame.htm and click
“2002,” then “Sep/Oct,” and then the article under “Special Communication.”
Comment: This excellent article is based on the 12th G. Gayle Stephens
Lecture delivered by Dr. Geyman. It discusses the problems of our
deteriorating health care system, the alternatives for reform, and suggests
some constructive future directions for family practice to take through a
leadership role in advocating for system reform.