American Academy of Family Physicians
Encyclopedia
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) was founded in 1947 to promote the science and art of family medicine
. It is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with over 100,000 members. The AAFP was instrumental in establishing family medicine as a recognized medical specialty; a certifying board was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties
in 1969. The AAFP is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas
.
In its advocacy efforts, the AAFP aims to shape health care policy through interactions with government, the public, business and the health care industry.
These efforts include, advancing health care for all, the Patient-Centered Medical home
model of care, and increasing the family physician workforce.
The AAFP is committed to helping its members fulfill their practice and career goals by assisting their practices in becoming designated Patient-Centered Medical Homes, promoting ongoing imperative for practice transformation through education and communication and assisting members in achieving financial success through optimal practice management.
To promote high-quality, innovative education for physicians, residents and medical students that encompasses the art, science, evidence and socioeconomics of family medicine, the AAFP supports its members’ pursuit of lifelong learning by providing Continuing Medical Education
. The AAFP works to increase funding streams for undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education, and strives to develop mechanisms that will increase the Part II maintenance of certification passing rate of family medicine residency graduates.
To better the health of the public, the AAFP has assumed a leadership role in health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management. The AAFP works to involve family physicians in targeted public health activities such as tobacco cessation, obesity prevention, and encouraging exercise and immunizations. The AAFP also provides patients with free educational resources on its award-winning consumer health site.
Family medicine
Family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...
. It is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with over 100,000 members. The AAFP was instrumental in establishing family medicine as a recognized medical specialty; a certifying board was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties
American Board of Medical Specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties is a non-profit physician-led umbrella organization for 24 of the 26 approved medical specialty boards in the United States...
in 1969. The AAFP is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas
Leawood, Kansas
Leawood is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,867.-History:...
.
Mission
The mission of the AAFP is to improve the health of patients, families and communities by serving the needs of members with professionalism and creativity.Strategic Objectives
To fulfill its mission, the AAFP has four main strategic objectives: advocacy, practice enhancement, education and health of the public.In its advocacy efforts, the AAFP aims to shape health care policy through interactions with government, the public, business and the health care industry.
These efforts include, advancing health care for all, the Patient-Centered Medical home
Medical home
The medical home, also known as the patient-centered medical home , is defined as "a health care setting that facilitates partnerships between individual patients, and their personal providers, and when appropriate, the patient’s family". It is "an approach to providing comprehensive primary care...
model of care, and increasing the family physician workforce.
The AAFP is committed to helping its members fulfill their practice and career goals by assisting their practices in becoming designated Patient-Centered Medical Homes, promoting ongoing imperative for practice transformation through education and communication and assisting members in achieving financial success through optimal practice management.
To promote high-quality, innovative education for physicians, residents and medical students that encompasses the art, science, evidence and socioeconomics of family medicine, the AAFP supports its members’ pursuit of lifelong learning by providing Continuing Medical Education
Continuing medical education
Continuing medical education refers to a specific form of continuing education that helps those in the medical field maintain competence and learn about new and developing areas of their field. These activities may take place as live events, written publications, online programs, audio, video, or...
. The AAFP works to increase funding streams for undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education, and strives to develop mechanisms that will increase the Part II maintenance of certification passing rate of family medicine residency graduates.
To better the health of the public, the AAFP has assumed a leadership role in health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management. The AAFP works to involve family physicians in targeted public health activities such as tobacco cessation, obesity prevention, and encouraging exercise and immunizations. The AAFP also provides patients with free educational resources on its award-winning consumer health site.
Structure
The AAFP is governed by a Congress of Delegates composed of two delegates from each of its 55 constituent chapters, as well as from resident and student groups, new physicians, and the special constituencies (women, minorities, international medical graduates, and GLBTs). The Congress meets annually immediately prior to the Academy's Scientific Assembly and has sole power to establish policies and define principles. These policies are carried out between annual meetings by the Board of Directors and a number of standing and special commissions and committees. Delegates to the Congress of Delegates elect the Board, which in turn appoints commission and committee members. Constituent chapters are organized similarly.Publications
- AAFP News Now - the official news publication of the American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Family PhysicianAmerican Family PhysicianAmerican Family Physician is a semimonthly, peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians. AFP’s chief objective is to provide high-quality continuing medical education for more than 190,000 family physicians and other primary care clinicians...
- a clinical medical journalMedical journalA public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed... - Annals of Family MedicineAnnals of Family MedicineAnnals of Family Medicine launched in May/June 2003 and is published six times per year. AFM is a peer-reviewed research journal providing a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care discipline...
- a collaborative effort with six family medicine organizations
See also
- Advanced Life Support in ObstetricsAdvanced Life Support in ObstetricsAdvanced Life Support in Obstetrics is a program developed by The American Academy of Family Physicians . This course helps physicians, certified nurse midwifes , OBGYN Registered Nurses, and other health care providers involved in potential emergencies in perinatal care of mothers...
(ALSO) - American Board of Family MedicineAmerican Board of Family MedicineThe American Board of Family Medicine is a non-profit, independent medical association of American physicians who practice in family medicine and its sub-specialties...
(ABFM) - American College of Osteopathic Family PhysiciansAmerican College of Osteopathic Family PhysiciansThe American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians is a professional association and a medical specialty college in the United States. Its membership consists of osteopathic physicians who practice family medicine. It is closely affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association, and is the...
- World Organization of Family DoctorsWorld Organization of Family DoctorsThe World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians or in short World Organization of Family Doctors is an international organization of national colleges, academies or organizations concerned with the academic aspects of...
(Wonca)
External links
- American Family Physician - a journal by the AAFP
- Family Practice Management - a journal by the AAFP
- Annals of Family Medicine - a collaborative journal of the six family medicine organizations
- familydoctor.org, - The AAFP's patient education site. Includes hundreds of handouts, brochures, flowcharts and other resources for patients