“Family doctors on the front line – first in, last out”

World Family Doctor Day

Dr Tariq Jagnarine
BSc, MD, MMED Fam Med, CCFP

World Organisation of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians/World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) first declared World Family Doctor Day (FDD) on May 19, 2010, and it has become a day to highlight the role and contribution of family doctors in health care systems around the world.
The event is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the central role of the family medicine speciality in the delivery of personal, comprehensive, and continuing health care for all of our patients, especially in these times facing a global pandemic. It is also a chance to celebrate the progress being made in family medicine and the special contributions of family doctors globally.
This year, the theme chosen highlights the relevant challenges and responsibilities of family doctors in the new global coronavirus outbreak, that is, “Family doctors on the front line”. The focus this year is to especially emphasise that family doctors have a key role in the management of pandemic outbreaks and their pivotal role of “first in, last out.” Therefore, it is appropriate on May 19 to reflect on both the value physicians bring to society and how they are viewed from a public policy perspective.
Family physicians around the world handle an overwhelming multitude of patients in offices, inpatient and emergency department throughout the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They diagnose illness, admit patients to the hospital, prescribe drugs, develop treatment plans, perform complex procedures, coordinate care, save, and enhance countless lives in the process. Despite the growing role of other types of clinicians, family physicians remain at the core of health care delivery and are indispensable as diagnosticians, local surgeons, team leaders and patient advocates.
They also play a central economic role within the communities in which they practice. Each primary care physician supports jobs for other health care workers and reduces the health economic burden by millions of dollars in communities with health centres, according to a study conducted by IMS Health for the American Medical Association (AMA).
Most of the doctors are rarely acknowledged and recognised, let alone receive accolades for their dedication and hard work. Monthly salaries are limited and underpaid for the vast multi-talented roles they play in society. However, there has been no lack of complaints about the services provided by public and private doctors and nurses. While some of these complaints are justifiable, the majority are not.
The current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is a reminder of the dedication of the doctors, nurses and other health care professional professions, without them the world would have been in the worst state. Family doctors ‘care for their patients, colleagues, and families – beyond prescription’.

Facts about family doctors:
• Family doctors play an important role in access to health care as they are geographically distributed across the country more equitably than physicians from any other speciality.
• They are linking the community to the higher medical centres for specialised health care.
• They improve the overall health of the community in terms of preventive services and better management of chronic illnesses.
• Family doctors help to reduce health disparities in underserved populations lacking access to primary health care.
• They are more aware of the specific needs of the community and changing epidemiological patterns and variations in available resources so they can be important people in planning various health services.
• Family physicians can provide quality and cost-effective healthcare; their close contact with society can be helpful in the management of non-communicable diseases and for strengthening, preventive and promotive health-related activities in the community. Because of these qualities, family doctors can add value to systems of primary health care.
• A family doctor-patient relationship is oftentimes one of the most trusted in health care. It is a relationship that both the doctor and patient have been nurturing since the patient’s first visit—and often the patient’s first encounter with the health care system. We know patients count on family doctors and value these relationships.
• Family physicians often act as the central hub for managing your health and provide a higher level of continuity of care.
• Family physicians play an important role in health promotion and illness prevention, coordinating care with other specialities and health professionals, and advocating on behalf of their patients with respect to the care and services they need in all other parts of the healthcare system.

Quotes from our family doctors
“I have the honour of wearing this white coat, which I know has become a little bit iconic. However, it became very clear to me that I am wearing a symbol of all my friends, colleagues, and family members who are out on the front lines. I am thinking about you a lot – more than I can express because I have spent many years on the front lines and sometimes feel frustrated that I cannot just come in there and work alongside of you in doing this bigger picture planning. But this white coat represents all of you”. – Dr Amy Anton, MD
“My decision to become a doctor was driven largely by values instilled in me by my faith and my family. The idea of being a part of a profession focused on helping others regardless of circumstance, focused on facilitating people leading healthier and, therefore, happier lives … I can’t imagine a more fulfilling job.” – Dr Erica Marsha, MD
“When I decided to be a doctor, I never really quite understood what it meant. I would not have predicted the amazing highs of directly influencing someone’s life, nor the deep lows when a patient did poorly. Every day, it is a gift to have the opportunity to care for patients in their most vulnerable times. Despite the stress, long hours away from home and family, I could never imagine a different career.” – Dr Nicolas Osborne, MD
“I’m passionate about helping youth reach their potential and live their best lives. As a doctor and researcher, I have the honour of collaborating with communities to find ways to solve the everyday problems that make leading a healthy life so hard. The incredibly strong and resilient young adults I work with every day are why I became a doctor.” – Dr Tammy Chang, MD
“I became a doctor because I enjoy caring for people. This was further solidified when I understood that medical translational research has direct impact on us the patients. This concept of working on a medical problem whose solution would lead to better health for individuals is extremely satisfying.” – Dr Aditya Panday, MD.
Thank you to the many doctors and nurses in primary health care here in Guyana and around the world who effortlessly care for us from the ‘cradle to the grave’ especially in these challenging health crises. Happy World Family Doctor’s Day.