Family medicine in Tanzania: Seize the moment.

In the context of addressing the pressing health needs for the global population, the World Health Organization has repeatedly called for universal health coverage (UHC) to be prioritised by its member countries. This is to be achieved through a high-quality primary health care (PHC) approach that provides comprehensive and integrated generalist care as close to where people live as well as links the clinical care to health promotion and disease prevention. In this paper, we argue for the introduction of family medicines as a critical player in the healthcare system of Tanzania to strengthen the strategies towards UHC. The paper reviews how PHC is understood, the context of family medicine in sub-Saharan Africa and makes a case for how family medicine can assist in addressing the current burden of disease in Tanzania.

Promoting access to family medicine in Québec, Canada: Analysis of bill 20, enacted in November 2015.

Primary care can potentially make an important contribution to improving health system performance. However, Canada does not fare as well as other developed countries in terms of timely access to primary health care services. In November 2015, Bill 20 was introduced in the province of Québec. The goal of Bill 20 was to optimize the utilisation of medical and financial resources to improve access to primary care. Bill 20 states the obligations of general practitioners to register a minimum number of patients, ensure the continuity of care of that population, and practice a minimum number of hours in hospitals. Many actors agreed that access to primary care had to be improved in Québec, but disagreed with Bill 20. In particular, family physicians strongly opposed the financial penalties that were introduced for physicians failing to meet the specified targets. In January 2018, 3 years after Bill 20, indicators for patient registration and continuity of care have considerably improved. However, the attractiveness of general practice seems to have decreased among medical graduates, which creates uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the achievements brought on by Bill 20.

Abogacía de salud, la partaqe olvidada de la promoción de salud en medicina familiar / Health Advocacy, the forgotten part of health promotion in family medicine

Introducción: La abogacía de salud es una estrategia de la promoción de salud y un componente esencial y fundamental de ella, mas no siempre se ve así, a veces se confunde o se intercambia con la promoción de salud misma. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre el término abogacía de salud y su relación con la promoción de salud y la medicina familiar. Métodos: Análisis documental de la literatura encontrada en bases de datos y análisis y síntesis de estos documentos desde un enfoque socio-histórico y lógico. Conclusiones: A pesar de que es un tema sugerido para su inclusión en los programas de formación de medicina familiar según los estándares globales de la Organización Mundial de Médicos de Familia y Generales (2013), existen muy escasas referencias en la literatura hispana y latinoamericana de medicina familiar. La abogacía de salud es habitualmente subestimada y obviada como parte de la promoción de salud en medicina familiar, es una actitud, una competencia y una responsabilidad social del médico en general(AU)

Introduction: Health advocacy is a health promotion strategy and an essential and fundamental component of it, but it does not always looks like this, sometimes it is confused or exchanged with the promotion of health itself. Objective: To carry out a bibliographical review on the term health advocacy and its relationship with the promotion of health and family medicine. Methods: Documentary analysis of the literature found in data and analysis bases, and summary of these documents from a socio-historical and logical approach. Conclusions: Although it is a suggested topic for inclusion in family medicine training programs according to global standards of the World Organization of Family and General Physicians (2013), there are very few references in the Hispanic and Latin American literature on Family Medicine. Health advocacy is usually underestimated and ignored as part of health promotion in family medicine, it is an attitude, a competence and a social responsibility of the general practitioners(AU)

Board Certified Family Physician Workforce: Progress in Racial and Ethnic Diversity.

Diversification of the physician workforce has been a goal of Association of American Medical Colleges for several years and could improve access to primary care for under-served populations and address health disparities. We found that family physicians' demographics have become more diverse over time, but still do not reflect the national demographic composition. Increased collaboration with undergraduate universities to expand pipeline programs may help increase the diversity of students accepted to medical schools, which in turn should help diversify the family medicine workforce.

Strategies for Increasing the Role of Family Medicine in Mexican Health Care Reform.

There is little or no role for primary care and family medicine in current health reforms in Mexico. However, robust evidence shows that primary care helps prevent morbidity and mortality and increases health equity. Mexico has participated in several international meetings sponsored by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations and the North American Primary Care Research Group that are aimed at increased understanding of national health systems and the need to strengthen primary care for improved health outcomes. From 1 of these meetings the Cancún Manifesto emerged, with a strategic plan to increase the stature and impact of the Mexican College of Family Physicians (COLMEXAC) in strengthening primary care in Mexico. We aim to describe this strategic plan and discuss its early implementation, and for this account to serve as a possible formula for other countries. The 5 specific strategies discussed are 1) the need for consensus on the leading role of the Mexican family physician in the national health system; 2) health ecology research; 3) to improve the perception of patients about the benefits of primary care and family medicine; 4) to organize meetings of health providers, users, and other stakeholders; and 5) to promote the professionalization of COLMEXAC as a legal entity.

Vaccination policies of Utah family practice clinics.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination policies in Utah family practice clinics. METHODS: The study was conducted in Utah family practice clinics in the most densely populated counties in the state and was a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 91 family practice clinic managers. Descriptive statistics were performed, as well as a content analysis for open-ended items. CONCLUSIONS: HCWs are employed in environments where infectious diseases can be easily spread from person to person, thus, vaccinations can be instrumental in protecting the health of HCWs and patients alike. In Utah, 56.8% of family practice clinics had either no vaccination policy for HCWs or had a policy with no consequences for noncompliance. Utah family practice clinics need to implement changes to create and maintain HCW vaccination policies. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurse practitioners can be leaders and change agents by working with their county and state health departments to create state-wide policies that mirror the position statements from the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health in a Clinic Setting: The WellRx Pilot in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Although it is known that the social determinants of health have a larger influence on health outcomes than health care, there currently is no structured way for primary care providers to identify and address nonmedical social needs experienced by patients seen in a clinic setting. We developed and piloted WellRx, an 11-question instrument used to screen 3048 patients for social determinants in 3 family medicine clinics over a 90-day period. Results showed that 46% of patients screened positive for at least 1 area of social need, and 63% of those had multiple needs. Most of these needs were previously unknown to the clinicians. Medical assistants and community health workers then offered to connect patients with appropriate services and resources to address the identified needs. The WellRx pilot demonstrated that it is feasible for a clinic to implement such an assessment system, that the assessment can reveal important information, and that having information about patients' social needs improves provider ease of practice. Demonstrated feasibility and favorable outcomes led to institutionalization of the WellRx process at a university teaching hospital and influenced the state department of health to require managed care organizations to have community health workers available to care for Medicaid patients.

Care Coordination and Population Management Services Are More Prevalent in Large Practices and Patient-centered Medical Homes.

Despite efforts to better coordinate health care and improve population health, primary care practices may face difficulty dedicating an individual to provide these services. Using data from the American Board of Family Medicine, we found that the presence of care coordinators or population health managers was higher in larger practices and those with patient-centered medical home certification.

Must doctors disclose their fees before treatment?

The bioethical principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice or fairness require doctors to disclose their fees before treating patients. The provisions regarding disclosures about fees in the Health Professions Act and National Health Act are in conflict. Those in the National Health Act are likely to be applied by the courts to impose a legal duty on healthcare practitioners to disclose their fees before treating patients. This is because the National Health Act is consistent with the access to healthcare provision in the Constitution, as the nature of the access is often determined by the patient's ability to afford the treatment. Given the unequal bargaining power between doctors and patients, very few patients may ask doctors what their fees are before being treated. It is feasible for doctors to provide such information, or an estimate, and ethically and legally they have a duty to do so.