Previously noted: "Perhaps part of the current reality is that FM does have to tell people how great it is. In part, the status that specialty care enjoys comes from repeatedly (over a long period of time) telling people how great that kind of care is. It would be ideal that people just recognized FM for what it is. My sense of things is that physicians who are attracted to FM are not generally attracted to self promotion; nevertheless, more has to be done." - Bill Braun
My Comment (RCB):
I am still concerned that Family Practice as a whole and particularly its leaders think that much has been done, making us inflexible to the changes that still need to be made - in curricula, in accreditation, in leadership selection and training, etc. We seem to be focusing on the "crisis of the month" that are often outside our areas of influence, (match, GME, retraining, more departments), rather than working from within to address the real issues.
Observation 1
Why are many of the programs that seem to target real and pressing needs, (longitudinal curricula - Sparrow and others, rural training tracks - Spokane and others, special admissions programs Jefferson and others, longitudinal rural clinical training in M-3s - MN RPAP and others) still models after many years of successful operation? Is this true for others in their area of expertise (not just rural)? I suspect that this is true in community med, doctor-patient relationship, OB, mental health, etc. Seems like we seem so rigid about what is FP is not supposed to be, but really don't know what FP is. Why do we seem to set more limits than our accrediting bodies do?
Observation 2
I am greatly concerned when I see many of the same people in the same roles with the same models based on the same ideas year after year. Is it because we are dreamers without the wherewithal to get the resources to fulfill our dreams? I hope not, but I know that I dream about someone or something to facilitate what I feel are some very needed efforts.....
Observation 3
Are we so frustrated that we can ventilate but not communicate? It is likely that those who are more interested in self-promotion will be leaders, but a better Family Medicine will need leaders who listen more even if it means that they can do less......
Robert C. Bowman, M.D., Editor of RFD
STFM Group on Rural Health
UNMC Department of Family Medicine