We are always very interested in the future, we have to always be at least one step ahead to continue to provide value to our society at large. We see the following trends in the future.
Mandate
Family medicine is a force for good. Our actions (or inactions) have deep implications on our country and our patients. We have to start to recognise the role we play in collaboration, coordination and patient advocacy.
The mandate is in our hands because we know. And because we know, we cannot turn a blind eye.
Primary Care Practice
- Likely multi-doctor
- We need rest.
- We used to think (and many still do) that we have superpowers that will allow us to work 10 hours daily every day of our life, month on month and year on year on year. But the truth is that we can’t.
- <Please share all your personal anecdotes of wives/life/children/knowledge/whatever slipping away slowly as we plough through long hours in our lonely clinics>
- Please give ourselves a break, chill out and enjoy life. Only then we can be better doctors.
- Likely to have dispensary and practice separated.
- There is a fundamental ethical problem when a doctor earns from whatever he/she prescribes.
- More patient centric. Medicine to be delivered to the patients.
- We have to be the ones to bring this to the patients, or we are sitting ducks for some young techies to disrupt the scene. Its a matter of time.
- More use of technology. Tele-medicine, etc Robotic stuff. Constant monitoring of vital signs.
- Again as above.
- More co-ordinating role
- Medicine has 13000 diagnoses, 6000 drugs and 4000 procedures , its clear that someone needs to own the route map and be the guide to all of them.
- More preventive medicine
- More screening
- Primary care research centre
- Training centre for future PCPs and continuing professional development
- More reliance on team based care and use of allied healthcare
Primary Care Physician
The future primary care physician will be:
- Better trained.
- Co-ordinator role.
- Gate keeper. Even to disbursement of funds
- Preventive medicine emphasis.
- Do more researches.