Update on special interests and focused practices

摘要

Dear Colleagues, The new Section of Family Physicians with Special Interests or Focused Practices has occupied a considerable amount of my energy since I began my tenure in my current position. This article aims to remind us where we came from, clarify misconceptions, update you on our progress in education, and be up front about uncertainties. The incorporation of enhanced skills into family practice is not a new phenomenon. In a clinical career spanning more than 30 years, I started as a GP anesthetist who also provided substantial intrapartum care in my community. My role evolved to incorporate more emergency care and assume more administrative responsibilities. Primary drivers of such areas of special interest include community needs and professional interest. The 2010 National Physician Survey results showed that about 30% of FPs have developed areas of special interest or focused practices.