Family Physician:

The Family Physician is a doctor who is educated and trained in Family Practice—a broadly encompassing medical specialty. Family Physicians possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge which qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventative services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or type of problem, be it biological, behavioral, or social. These specialists, because of their background and interactions with the entire family, are best qualified to serve as each patient’s advocate in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of consultants, health services, and community resources. 

Family Practice:

Family Practice is the medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is the specialty in breadth which integrates the biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences. The scope of family practice encompasses care of all ages (i.e. newborns to elderly), both sexes, and virtually all disease entities.

Family Practice: Content and Responsibility For

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) maintains responsibility for determining the philosophy, content and scope of family practice, and for establishing the definition of “Family Practice” and “Family Physician.” It is recognized that accreditation of family practice residency programs is the responsibility of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Both accreditation of training and certification of individuals should be based on the philosophy, content and scope of family practice as defined by the AAFP. In the United States, the American Board of Family Physicians (ABFP) requires Family Physicians to complete three years of an ACGME accredited residency training program, before they are eligible to sit for the board certification examination, where it is determined whether or not a “board eligible” Family Physician becomes a “board certified” Family Physician.