Family Physician Workforce and Residency Education

The AAFP should continue to monitor those factors necessary to determine on a regular basis the need for family physicians, enabling the Academy to establish the areas of highest priority for education in family medicine.

The Academy should continue its high level of support for education in family medicine residency programs and family medicine departments and divisions in medical schools. Such support could include:

1. Enhancing the teaching skills of practicing physicians who work with family medicine residents and medical students, through the establishment of teaching skills' workshops and being supportive of efforts with similar goals sponsored by the other academic family medicine organizations.
2. Continuing to support the activities of the Residency Program Solutions, which helps residency programs continually assess and improve the quality of their educational programs.
3. Monitoring the practice locations and practice scope of graduates of family medicine residency programs to assure that the public's needs continue to be met.
4. Encouraging and recognizing innovation in training that ensures future family physicians will meet the needs of their patients in the context of their communities.

The Academy must maintain the family physician's primary role in the delivery and management of health care, emphasizing continuing and comprehensive care and keeping the focus on the patient and quality of care regardless of the configuration of the health care delivery system.

(1974) (January 2022 COD)