Family medicine is the medical specialty that provides continuing, comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is a specialty in breadth that integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system and every disease entity.
The family physician functions as the patient’s means of entry into the health care system and, as the physician of first contact in most situations, is in a unique position to form a bond with the patient. The patient-physician relationship in the context of the family is central to this process and distinguishes family medicine from other specialties.1
1. AAFP. 2011-07-28. URL:http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/f/fammeddef.html. Accessed: 2011-07-28.