Quality Before Quantity

Reenvisioning Family Medicine Residency Education

“…The goal set by Family Medicine for America's Health-that 25% of American medical students will go into family medicine-is aspirational, and others have questioned both the feasibility and the wisdom of setting such a goal, 22 emphasizing instead the quality of people going into family medicine. 23 We believe both are important. Transformation of health care in the United States will not happen unless there are more family physicians (as well as other members of primary care team)-but that expansion, as well as change in health care, does not happen unless the best and brightest in every medical school class go into family medicine.…”

Author’s Response to Drs Kardonsky, Kost, and Evans

“…Lastly, Drs Magill and Saultz pointed out in an editorial titled "Quality Before Quantity" in the same issue as the "25 x 30" article that there is an integrity issue in family medicine, a disconnect between values and actions. 3 We teach that family medicine is a comprehensive specialty providing care for all, across many domains, yet fewer and fewer family physicians provide full-scope care eliminating pediatrics, obstetrics, and hospital care. The exception is rural family medicine.…”