National Family Medicine Week #FamilyMedicineWeek is from September 29-October 5, 2024. This was announced last week at the American Academy of Family Physicians FMX conference last week in Phoenix. I’d like to recognize and thank all Family Physicians, residents, and medical students for their commitment to improving access to primary care for all.
There is still an urgent need for continued primary care access for Ohioans and for those around the county. Did you know that in Ohio, we will need an additional 618 primary care physicians by the year 2030 in order to maintain the current healthcare needs of the state of Ohio? This data is from our friends at the Robert Graham Center.
Policy makers in Ohio should consider strategies to bolster the primary care workforce including payment reform for primary care, dedicated funding for primary care Graduate Medical Education, and increased funding for primary care training and medical school debt relief.
As leaders in their communities, Family Physicians have an important role in raising awareness about health disparities, managing chronic and acute conditions, and improving health outcomes while lowering costs. Amid a shifting healthcare landscape and increasing practice challenges, Family Physicians have continually risen to meet the healthcare needs of their patients and communities. It’s more important than ever for sustained investment in primary care.
For more information, I encourage you to explore more with our friends from the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.