Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2022 CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected] Benefits of having a family physician recognized during Family Medicine Week LANSING, Mich. — Family medicine is a specialty practiced by physicians with extensive training to provide care for people of all ages, from birth through end of life, and are experts in treating a wide range of symptoms affecting the body from head to toe. In recognition of the importance of family medicine, March 20-26, is recognized as Family Medicine Week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Family Medicine Week highlights family physicians’ dedication to providing comprehensive, coordinated primary care to residents across the state to protect and improve health and wellness, and reduce costs to the health care system. Research shows that adults and children who choose a family physician as their regular source of care have lower annual health care costs, visit the doctor less, are prescribed fewer medications and report less difficulty accessing care. “Having a primary care provider like a family medicine physician is crucial to maintaining health,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian MDHHS chief medical executive. “Visiting your primary care physician for regular check-ups can help you stay healthy and prevent illness, and they are a trusted source of accurate information about and providers of immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccine.” According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, eight out of 10 people are likely to rely on the advice of their personal primary care physician when deciding to get immunized. This makes family physicians key partners in Michigan families getting vaccinated against the seasonal flu, COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases that cause illness and death. Statewide, the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians collectively represent more than 5,000 family physicians, family medicine resident physicians and medical students exploring a career in family medicine. Together they are hosting Michigan Family Medicine Advocacy Day in Lansing Wednesday, March 23, to discuss legislative and policy issues impacting access to care, the patient-physician relationship and the practice of family medicine in our state. To learn more about Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, visit Mafp.com. To learn more about Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians, visit Maofp.org. |
Family physician recognized during Family Medicine Week
