Leave a Message

Public Health Integration

Identify Social Determinants of Health to Improve Patient Outcomes


Family medicine and public health have a shared goal of improving the health of families and communities. No other specialty treats a broader range of conditions than family physicians, and none offer dynamic and longitudinal care to so many people. This page serves as a centralized hub for family physicians to find education and motivation as they discover ways their impact can extend well beyond the clinic walls, improving places where patients live, learn, work, and play.

The Drivers of Health

Social and Economic Environment: Non-medical conditions that significantly impact health and quality of life.

Health Behavior: Daily habits, actions, and attitudes that influence health and quality of life.

Clinical Care: Any evidence-based medical treatment provided by health professionals.

Physical Environment: External surroundings and conditions in which we live that influence health and quality of life.


Teaming Up With Public Health

This primer can help you build on the public health work you may already be doing and identify new opportunities for teaming up with public health.

Family Physician Public Health Partnership Guide

This guide builds upon the AAFP's Teaming Up with Public Health series, offering the opportunity to advance community health efforts by enabling family physicians to provide person-centered, team-based and community-aligned care to achieve better health, better care and lower costs.

Community Collaboration Guide

The Family Physician Community Collaboration Guide builds on the American Academy of Family Physician’s Teaming Up with Public Health series. This guide offers practical information for family physicians to identify a starting point for collaborating with communities. 



Clinical Guidance

AAFP clinical guidance includes evidence-based recommendations such as preventive services, clinical practice guidelines, and Choosing Wisely —  all covering topics across the lifespan of your patients.

Care Resources

All patients require a personalized approach based on their lifestyles and situations. However, the AAFP also offers these proven resources to help you manage patient concerns and care for universal health issues or risks.  

Prevention

The AAFP advocates for regulatory standards and payment policies that support preventive services, compiling helpful resources enabling you to deliver evidence-based, cost-effective care to patients.
 

Advocacy

The Academy offers an array of resources to help you reach lawmakers and maximize the impact of your communication with them, whether by social media, phone or — best of all — in person.