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While some physicians prefer a narrower clinic focus, the wide variety and complexity of the care provided by family physicians is precisely what drew many of us to the specialty. We enjoy caring for patients of all ages who see us for the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses, management of chronic diseases, preventive care, and behavioral and mental health concerns.
The quantity, variety, and complexity of the care we provide has been well-documented in the literature. In a study performed by the Wisconsin Research Network, (1) 29 family physicians reported addressing an average of 3.05 problems per patient during 572 office visits. A chart review confirmed physician self-report: 2.82 problems were...