Family Medicine Overall Objectives

• Describe how illness presents differently through the life cycle and in the family medicine setting compared to other settings.
• Demonstrate an approach to the diagnosis and management of undifferentiated patient problems that present to family physicians.
• Demonstrate an approach to the diagnosis and management of common patient problems that present to family physicians (see Essential Clinical Encounter presenting problems for Family Medicine).
• Demonstrate effective communication skills in conducting a patient centered interview, including exploring the patient’s illness experience as well as the family and social context.
• Demonstrate an approach to health promotion and disease prevention during patient encounters that reflect best evidence and patient preferences and values.
• Conduct a sensitive, focused physical exam relevant to the patient’s presenting problem.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills in documenting clinical encounters, making oral case presentations, prescription writing and making referrals to other care providers through clear, concise, efficient communication strategies.
• Demonstrate life long learning practices in providing care to patients.
• Discuss evidence-based approaches to patient care and the challenges of applying guidelines to individual patients.
• Identify and/or communicate with other health care providers and community programs to support and/or optimize patient care.
• Understand the special needs of vulnerable groups related to disparities and inequities in seeking and receiving care. (e.g. Aboriginals, recent immigrants, same-sex relationships, transgendered, marginally housed, disabled, age extremes).
• Discuss common ethical issues in family medicine through the life cycle including topics such as confidentiality, consent and capacity.