www.ohioafp.org
What is Family Medicine?
Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing and personal patient-physician relationship that focuses on integrated care. · · · Family medicine integrates care of both genders across a full spectrum of ages and within the context of the community. Family medicine is based on a patient-centered approach to healthcare that advocates for the patient in an increasingly complex healthcare system. Family medicine is solidly grounded in science and technology, allowing for scientific and evidence-based, patientcentered care.
Why are Family Physicians Important?
· · · · In an increasingly fragmented world of healthcare, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person. Family physicians manage chronic illness, often coordinating care provided by subspecialists. Because of their extensive training, family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages—from newborns to seniors. Providing patients with a personal medical home, family physicians deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests, and personalized counseling on preventing disease and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Because a continuous healing relationship is the essence of care, family physicians develop and sustain partnerships with patients over time, establish and maintain systems and procedures that support those relationships, and enable timely access to the services patients need. Studies suggest that access to primary care through family physicians is associated with: · · · · Improved health outcomes Lower mortality rates Decreased rates of preventable hospital admissions No differences in quality of care when compared to subspecialist care · Higher patient satisfaction · Reduced emergency department use · Less-invasive, lower-cost care
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What is the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians?
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is a statewide professional association of approximately 4,400 members, including practicing physicians, residents and medical students. Since 1948, OAFP has represented the professional interests of Ohio family physicians, provided postgraduate medical education and encouraged medical students to enter this field and advanced the patient-physician relationship. OAFP is one of the largest, most active state chapters of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Mission Statement The mission of OAFP is to shape healthcare in Ohio through advocacy, empower the specialty of family medicine through leadership and facilitate achievement of professional excellence and satisfaction. Strategic Vision Statements · Advocacy - OAFP is the voice that affects the actions of key decision makers to value family medicine. · Filling the Pipeline - OAFP identifies and cultivates future family physicians to continue the tradition of caring for Ohio communities. · Image Continuum - OAFP advances the family physician as the leader of the patient’s healthcare team to legislators, Ohio families and healthcare colleagues.
What is the American Academy of Family Physicians?
www.aafp.org
AAFP is one of the largest national medical organizations in the United States, representing more than 93,000 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students nationwide. Founded in 1947, its mission has been to preserve and promote the science and art of family medicine and to ensure high-quality, cost-effective healthcare for patients of all ages. Vision AAFP’s vision is to transform healthcare to achieve optimal health for everyone. Mission The mission of AAFP is to improve the health of patients, families and communities by serving the needs of members with professionalism and creativity.
What are the Benefits to Being a Member?
As a student, you will hold dual membership in OAFP and AAFP. AAFP provides a broad range of member services and benefits that include: · The American Family Physician, a journal published 24 times annually · An entire department within AAFP dedicated solely to meeting the needs of student members, including a portion of the AAFP Web site devoted to students · The National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Residents providing opportunities to meet with other students from around the country to learn more about the specialty of family medicine · Student representation, including having a voice in Academy activities through voting members on commissions, committees, the Congress of Delegates and the board of directors · Access to the “members-only” link on the AAFP Web site, including a section designed specifically for students OAFP member services and benefits include: · Legislative policymaking and advocacy activities to make a difference in healthcare policy · A quarterly magazine, The Ohio Family Physician, serving as a resource for both clinical and non-clinical news and information and functioning as a vehicle for OAFP to communicate important dates, partnerships, conferences, opportunities and other member news · A weekly e-newsletter, The Weekly Family Medicine Update, intended to provide timely family medicine information to your e-mail inbox once a week · Special interest listservs, including the student listserv, a discussion list for Ohio medical students · Online message board, an e-message board for members to discuss specific issues with each other. · Leadership Development, opportunities exist for you to contribute to OAFP’s work to better serve Ohio’s medical students with positions such as chair and vice chair of the Student Affairs Committee, student delegates to the OAFP Members Assembly, and delegate and alternate delegate to the AAFP National Conference · Professional networking opportunities; serving on OAFP committees and commissions and attending Academy events gives you the chance to make contacts, exchange ideas and interact with people from all different areas within family medicine · Promotion of family medicine as a career choice; OAFP works closely with each of Ohio medical schools’ family medicine interest group (FMIG) to share best practices and encourage the speciality of family medicine · Conferences and other resources for earning continuing medical education credits
How do I Become a Member?
To become a member, students must complete the AAFP student membership application. Students can apply online or download an application form at www.aafp.org/studentbenefits.xml. Students do NOT need to send dues payment. One-time, national dues of $15 each are paid for Ohio students by the OAFP Foundation to help cultivate future members and leaders and to encourage student interest in family medicine. These dues include membership in OAFP . Students applying for membership must be enrolled in an allopathic or osteopathic medical school approved by an appropriate U.S. accrediting institution and may join during any year of medical school. Student membership terminates upon graduation. To maintain AAFP membership as a resident, you must re-apply. For more information, please visit www.aafp.org/join.xml.
OAFP 4075 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43214 614.267.7867 800.742.7327 www.ohioafp.org