Recharging Family Medicine: A Perspective from the Keystone IV Conference

Abstract

A historic perspective of family medicine's development, the work of Gayle Stephens, and prior Keystone conferences constitute an important backdrop for the fourth Keystone Conference. Decisions made in the past constrain what can be done now, but they may also offer opportunities for family medicine. A major challenge for Keystone IV was to discern what is a constraint and what is an opportunity-in particular when it comes to the role of the personal physician. This article provides reflections based on decades of observation and study and confirms that knowing something and doing something are not the same.

Keywords: Doctoring; Family Medicine; Family Physician; Health Care Delivery; Personal Physician; Population Health; Primary Care; Professionalism; Social Justice.