What aspect of care does the Family Medicine curriculum particularly focus on?

The Family Medicine curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care because it is foundational to the practice of family medicine. Patient-centered care involves understanding and respecting the patient’s preferences, needs, and values, ensuring that the patient's values guide all clinical decisions. It focuses on the relationship between the patient and the physician, promoting collaboration and communication, which are essential for delivering high-quality healthcare.

This approach leads to improved health outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and enhanced trust between patients and healthcare providers. Family physicians are trained to address a wide range of issues that affect their patients' health, including physical, emotional, and social factors, all of which are central to delivering patient-centered care. This principle shapes how family physicians view their role and how they interact with patients throughout various stages of life, differentiating family medicine from other specialties that may focus primarily on specific diseases or clinical conditions.