AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Academy of Family Physicians celebrates National Family Medicine Week and thanks Texas family physicians, residents, and medical students for their dedication to improving access to primary care for all.
“The comprehensive care provided by family physicians is critical to the health of Texans and their communities,” said Tom Banning, CEO and Executive Vice President of TAFP. “Everyone should have a clinic and a primary care physician who knows and understands their medical history.”
National Family Medicine Week is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Texas family physicians and remind us of the urgent need for continued investment in primary care.
Primary care serves as the foundation of the Texas health care system and provides the first point of contact for patients entering the health care delivery system. Nationally, primary care practices provide more than one in three medical visits and are often the sole source of care for patients, including those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and mental health needs. It functions as a source.
Family physicians make up a large portion of the primary care physician workforce and closely reflect the geographic distribution of the U.S. population. Family physicians often work in rural and underserved urban communities and treat a greater variety of patients than any other specialty. As community leaders, family physicians play a critical role in raising awareness of health disparities, managing chronic and acute diseases, and improving health outcomes while reducing costs.
“This week and every week, we honor family physicians who are doing the difficult and rewarding work of improving the health care system for everyone,” said American Academy of Family Physicians President Jen Brull, M.D., FAAFP. said. “Family physicians are teachers, coaches, connectors, and trailblazers. They create safe spaces for their patients and their communities, advocate for policies that provide for patients, and help primary care physicians provide We have a unique ability to recognize valuable services.”
As the healthcare environment changes and clinical challenges increase, family physicians have stepped up to meet the healthcare needs of their patients and communities. That’s why continued investment in primary care is more important than ever.
The Texas Academy of Family Physicians is a premier membership organization dedicated to uniting family physicians in Texas through advocacy, education, and member services to ensure they are able to provide medical care to patients of all ages. It has 33 local chapters and is also a chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. For more information, please visit www.tafp.org.
