Introduction to the Department

The Department of Family Medicine provides continuing, comprehensive care in a personalized manner to patients of all ages and to their families regardless of the presence of disease or the nature of the manifested symptoms. Family Medicine prioritizes total health care from the first contact and initial assessment through the ongoing care of chronic problems. Family Medicine also emphasizes healthy behaviors for disease prevention and patient participation in their decision making so that the patients would take the lead in controlling their problem and in living healthier lives through all life cycles.

Disease prevention, early detection, and management as well as health maintenance are performed through the coordination and integration of all necessary health services with the least amount of fragmentation by family physicians. Family physicians also play the role of gatekeeper and thus also provide adequate referrals when patients need specialized care.

Family physicians integrate the biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences to provide continuing, comprehensive, and coordinated care through the valued patient-physician relationship, and help patients live a more active and healthy life.