Draft of Resolution: Changing the ratio of generalists to specialists in America.

Introduced by Shawn Foley, MD

WHEREAS numerous studies have shown that the United States spends more money per capita on health care than any other country, but does not have better per capita health outcomes.

WHEREAS successful health outcomes in other countries have been shown to be most clearly found in systems that are primary care based.

WHEREAS the ratio of generalists to specialists physicians is 70:30 in most successful countries, but is 30:70 in the United States.

WHEREAS it has been shown both in the US and abroad that the most successful way to increase the generalist physician workforce is to have physicians and students do the job of a generalist as part of training.

BE IT RESOLVED that the OAFP representative to the AAFP advocate for the AAFP to lobby Congress to require specialty programs to only accept new fellows and residents that have at least one year of generalist private practice before entering their programs.

Oregon Academy of Family Physicians
4225 NE Tillamook Street
Portland, Oregon 97213
Telephone: (503) 528-0961 Fax: (503) 528-0996
E-mail: kg@oafp.org