About The Specialty of Family Medicine

Unlike other specialties that are limited to a particular organ or disease, family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors. This looks like:

• Caring for patients regardless of age or health condition, sustaining an enduring and trusting relationship
• Understanding community-level factors and social determinants of health
• Serving as a patient's first contact for health concerns
• Navigating the health care system with patients, including specialist and hospital care coordination and follow-up
• Using data and technology to coordinate services and enhance care
• Considering the impact of health on a patient’s family

It’s the combination of passion for the patients and a depth of knowledge of the human body that makes primary care such a unique, effective specialty. Access to a regular primary care physician has been linked to:

Lower infant mortality
Higher birth weights
Immunization rates above national standards
Lower overall health care costs
Longer, healthier lives

The IAFP represents over 2,600 physicians and student members statewide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.