Most primary care providers, upon entering practice, would agree that there is a significant discrepancy between what they learned in school and what they need to know. These areas include aspects of practice management, change management, quality improvement, foundations of health, and critical thinking. Most physicians will (hopefully) try to backfill this information, albeit in a haphazard way, using random resources with varying success. This text aims to fill this gap in the market by serving as a resource to supply that missing knowledge in a clear and accurate manner. It is a practical guide for all primary care providers, particularly early in their career, to help them establish an efficient and effective medical practice.
Most books geared towards primary care providers consist of numerous brief pearls on a wide variety of topics or are in-depth resources on the broad scope of family medicine. They tend to barely touch lifestyle modification, risk factor management and office system issues that influence every patient interaction. This text contains curated information about all of these foundational topics in one resource. It is divided into three main sections. The first section focuses on change management strategies and includes chapters on quality office improvement and motivating change in patients. The second includes office management strategies such as advance access scheduling and optimal use of EMR. The third, and largest section, details patient management strategies including diet, exercise, sleep, smoking cessation and positive psychology. The final section discusses physician management strategies such as rational prescribing, appropriate testing and screening and vaccine promotion.
Practical Primary Care is a valuable resource covering major topics that can positively influence the care that physicians provide to their patients.
